# From Tier-3 College to IBM: My Real Journey and Honest Tips Have you ever wondered how someone from a tier-3 college lands a job at a big MNC like IBM, Oracle, or Wipro? You're not alone. Most students have these questions running in their minds: * How do I even get noticed by these companies? * Where should I apply? * What preparation is actually needed? * Is it just luck, or is there a strategy? Today, I'm going to share my complete journey—the failures, the rejections, the small wins, and finally, how I got selected at **IBM**. Honestly? It wasn't easy. But it wasn't impossible either. Let me walk you through everything. --- ## Who Am I? Hi! I'm **Saurabh Prajapati**. I'm currently working as a **Software Engineer at IBM India Software Lab**. But before this, I was just another engineering student from a **tier-3 government college**—Government Engineering College, Patan. No fancy placements. No big brands visiting campus. Just me, trying to figure things out. And if I did it, trust me, you can too. --- ## My First Job: Not What I Expected After completing my B.E., I got placed in an **on-campus drive** at **KNOVOS India Private Limited**. The role? **Java Developer in the R&D Department**. Sounds good, right? But here's the twist (and honestly, it was frustrating at first): I had to work on **.NET and C#** instead of Java. Yeah, I know. That wasn't what I signed up for. But I decided to make the best of it. I learned .NET, worked hard, and gained experience. Still, deep down, I wanted to work with **Java and modern web technologies**. --- ## The Career Switch: Moving to Full-Stack Development After almost two years at KNOVOS, I realized I needed a change. I wanted to explore more. Learn more. Grow more. So, I started looking for new opportunities. And that's when I got an offer from **Visilean India Private Limited** as a **Full-Stack Developer**. This was a game-changer for me. I finally got to work with: * HTML, CSS, JavaScript * **React.js** * Backend with Java I was learning, building, and enjoying the work. Life was going well. But then… something unexpected happened. --- ## The First IBM Rejection: A Reality Check One day, while casually scrolling through my phone, I got an email. **"IBM has an opening for Java Developer. Apply now."** My heart skipped a beat. I applied immediately. They sent me a **HackerEarth assessment link**. I gave the test. There were two coding questions. * **First question:** Solved it perfectly. * **Second question:** Only 33 out of 100 test cases passed. I was hopeful. I thought, "Maybe they'll consider me." But a few weeks later, I got the news: **"Position already filled. You were not selected."** Honestly? It hurt. But I didn't give up. I kept working at Visilean and kept learning. --- ## The Second Chance: A LinkedIn Notification Changed Everything A few months later, I was scrolling LinkedIn. A notification popped up: **"IBM has openings. If interested, share your resume. I'll refer you."** I immediately sent my resume. The person referred me, and within a few days, I got a call for an interview. But first, I had to complete another **HackerEarth assessment**. This time, the position was for **Full-Stack Developer**. ### The Assessment They asked me two questions: 1. **A DSA question** (Easy to Medium level) 2. **A React-based UI question** (Fix a Navbar design) I solved both within the time limit. And guess what? I got selected for the **next round**! --- ## The Technical Interview: Nervousness and Hope Two weeks later, I got a call from IBM HR. **"Congratulations! You're selected for the second technical interview. When are you available?"** I picked a time. The interview was scheduled for **Friday**. It was online, so I prepared well. ### What They Asked * Basic **array-based DSA question** * Technical questions on **Java and JavaScript** * **Scenario-based questions** (real-world problem-solving) The interview lasted around **1 hour 15 minutes**. After it ended, I was nervous. I kept thinking: *"Did I do well? Will I get selected?"* --- ## The Final Round: Meeting the People Manager A few days later, HR called again. **"You're selected for the final round. This time, it's a behavioral interview with the People Manager."** But here's the interesting part: They told me to come to the **IBM office** for the interview. And they also mentioned **biometric verification**. I was confused. "Why biometric? The final round is still pending, right?" But I went anyway. ### The Behavioral Interview The People Manager asked me: * Why do you want to work at IBM? * What are your future goals? * How do you handle pressure and challenges? The conversation was smooth. It felt more like a discussion than an interview. And then, at the end, the manager said: **"We have two offers for you."** I was surprised. Two offers? Before the final interview result? I listened to both and chose the one that felt right for me. Then I met the HR, thanked her for the opportunity, submitted my documents, and completed the formalities. And just like that, I was officially selected as a **Full-Stack Developer at IBM**. --- ## How I Prepared for the Interview Let me be honest with you. I didn't prepare for months or follow a huge study plan. But I was consistent. Here's what I did: ### 1\. Practiced DSA on GeeksforGeeks and LeetCode * Focused on **easy and medium-level problems** * Solved questions from **Striver's DSA Sheet** (Thank you, Striver!) ### 2\. Brushed Up on Core Concepts * Java basics * JavaScript fundamentals * React.js ### 3\. Stayed Calm and Confident I reminded myself that I've worked on real projects. I have experience. I just need to show that. --- ## My Honest Tips for You If you're from a tier-3 college like me and dreaming of working at an MNC, here's my advice: ### 1\. Ask for Referrals Referrals **increase your chances** of getting noticed. Connect with people on LinkedIn. Don't be shy. Just send a polite message. ### 2\. Follow Company Career Pages Big companies like IBM, Oracle, and Wipro post openings regularly. Turn on notifications. Apply as soon as you see a relevant role. ### 3\. Keep Practicing Solve coding problems regularly. Stay updated with the latest tech trends. Even if you don't get selected the first time, keep trying. ### 4\. Don't Lose Hope After Rejection I got rejected by IBM once. But I didn't stop. I kept preparing. And the second time, I made it. Rejection is not the end. It's just a redirection. --- ## What's Next? I've been working at IBM for **1 year and 7 months** now. And honestly? It's been an amazing journey. In my next article, I'll share: * What it's like to work at IBM * The internal culture and environment * Projects I've worked on Stay tuned! --- **Written by:** **Saurabh Prajapati** Full-Stack Software Engineer | IBM India Software Lab Specializing in GenAI, React, and Modern Web Technologies 📧 saurabhprajapati120@gmail.com 🔗 [GitHub](https://github.com/prajapatisaurabh) | [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/saurabh-prajapati)