'Not always luck': Indian techie reveals how she landed dream job at Microsoft. Watch

Shivanjali Verma, now a software engineer at Microsoft, shared a video on Instagram in which she reflected on her path from school to a career at the technology company, emphasising the persistence and discipline required to reach her goal.

In her post, Verma noted that she was often described as fortunate because of her current role, but said that such comments overlooked the years of work involved. “People see the destination and think it’s luck. What they don’t see is the journey that built it. Luck plays a part, yes! But without patience, persistence, and discipline, it can’t take you anywhere,” she wrote.

The video included certificates from her school years, achievements from her time at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and a clip of her standing outside Microsoft’s office. It began with a text overlay stating, “Oh, you work at Microsoft! So lucky.”

Several viewers responded with questions and remarks. One asked: “With mechanical engineering, how did you get into Microsoft? Please share.” Verma replied that opportunities were not restricted to computer science students. “During internships and placements, most top companies open doors to non-CS branches based on CPI, valuing your skills and potential over degree,” she explained.

Another user observed: “Exactly, everyone just sees the results and gives their opinion, but they don’t see the struggle behind it.”