When Rishab Jolly moved to the United States in 2015, he carried more than just a suitcase. He brought with him an engineering degree, work experience in software testing, and a clear curiosity about the business side of technology. Today, at 37, Jolly is a senior product manager at Microsoft, a role he earned through persistence, networking, and a willingness to adapt in an unpredictable immigrant journey.
“The immigrant path is rarely linear,” he told Business Insider. “There are moments when everything feels uncertain, but staying focused and working smart eventually brings things together.”
Jolly’s career in India
Before the US, Jolly studied engineering and computer science in India and worked as a software quality tester and engineer. While the technical work gave him a strong foundation, he felt drawn toward decision-making and strategy.
“I was always interested in the business side of technology,” he recalled to Business Insider. “I wanted to understand why products were built the way they were, not just how.”
That curiosity pushed him to leave a stable job and pursue an MBA at the University of Arizona, this was aimed at complementing his technical skills with business acumen.
Learning from Big Tech
One of the most defining aspects of Jolly’s MBA experience was its close connection with Big Tech companies. Microsoft, Amazon, and Google regularly brought real-world projects to campus.
Students formed teams, worked on deliverables, and were evaluated directly by company representatives. In 2016, Jolly led a team on a Microsoft project.
“We did an excellent job,” he says. “It gave me a chance to network and show my skills to an actual Microsoft product manager.” That connection would later change his career.
200 applications, three calls and no offers
Graduation brought pressure. Like many international students, Jolly had a narrow window, 60 to 90 days, to secure a job or leave the country. He applied to nearly 200 roles, sending the same generic résume each time. The results were discouraging: only three callbacks.
He cleared two interviews, but both offers fell through. “One company felt my visa was too risky,” he told Business Insider. “Another cited budget reasons.”
Money ran out. He crashed on a friend’s couch. Anxiety became constant. “There was a real fear that I’d have to return to India not because I lacked skills, but because I couldn’t get through the door.”
During that difficult phase, Jolly stayed in touch with the Microsoft contact he’d met during his MBA project. When a role opened up, he asked for a referral.
This time, he did things differently. “I rewrote my résumé specifically for the role,” he told Business Insider. “That made all the difference.”
The hiring manager liked what they saw. Interviews followed. In July 2017, Jolly joined Microsoft as a product manager. By 2021, he was promoted to senior product manager.
‘First get the interview’
Jolly believes job seekers often underestimate the importance of referrals, especially in Big Tech. “Companies receive tens of thousands of résumés every month,” he explained to Business Insider. “A referral can push yours to the top of the stack.”
But landing the interview is only half the battle. To prepare, he leaned heavily on mock interviews, asking peers to challenge him with real-world questions.
“They helped me refine my storytelling and answer metrics-driven questions,” he told Business Insider. The feedback from Microsoft stood out.
“They said my stories felt authentic, clearly based on real experiences. That resonated more than rehearsed answers from the internet,” he added Business Insider.
During the pandemic, Jolly began posting regularly on LinkedIn, sharing lessons from his career and reflections on product management. “I wasn’t trying to build a following,” he explained to Business Insider. “I just wrote about what genuinely mattered to me.”
Over time, people connected with his ideas. A community grew, slowly and organically. Recruiters noticed.
“In today’s tech world, showing your skills outside work, on LinkedIn, GitHub, or through personal projects, signals passion and initiative.”
Jolly is clear, an MBA is not mandatory. “I know successful product managers who studied accounting, English literature, or completely different fields,” he explained to Business Insider. Microsoft, he adds, values diverse backgrounds.
“Innovation thrives when teams bring fresh perspectives.” That said, he would still choose the MBA again. “It wasn’t just academics,” he explains. ‘It gave me exposure, practical experience, and mentors who shaped my career.’
What is the future for Big Tech?
After more than eight years at Microsoft, Jolly is thinking about what’s next but without rushing.
“I’m exploring pathways that align with my goals,” he told Business Insider. “Nothing is finalised. Right now, the focus is on the work and continued growth.”
“Network strategically. Prepare thoroughly. Stay authentic. And keep building your skills and presence.”
Things may feel uncertain, he adds but persistence matters. “The right relationships can open doors you didn’t think were possible.”