Breaking Into Big Tech
You asked, here it is. How I ended up working in Tesla and Microsoft without the pedigree.
Who's this for?
Introduction & Objective
I was great at following directions, terrible at finding direction.
Growing up with access to internet tutorials and walk-throughs, I believed that success was something I could unlock if only someone gave me step-by-step instructions for my goals.
The schooling system I grew up in rewarded rote memorization and regurgitation more than creativity or critical thinking. I would snatch any practice test (complete with correct answers) I could get my hands on and beg anyone and everyone for ‘tips’ rather than properly learning the material. And it worked, for a while.
Looking back, I wasn’t sure what to do if I didn’t know someone who’s done it before.
I was frustrated by paywalls, gatekeepers, and folks who refused to break down exactly what they did and instead, gave me these overly generalized advice that never went beyond the surface level (e.g. “just network/tailor your resume/grind LeetCode/etc.”)
But then I met folks who seemingly did everything right, but still weren’t where they expected to be.
I don’t say this to discourage you. Inferring and applying ideas to your personal situation is a skill. A skill I want you to practice and perfect. So, keep that in mind if you decide to read on.
Anyway, you’re probably here because the question you’re asking me is:
How did you get into Big Tech? Like Microsoft and Tesla?
And sometimes, the tone of this comes across to me as:
How did someone like you, a non-target applicant, pull it off? What’s the secret? Tell me.
When I moved to Seattle for Tesla, I made this post because I wanted to give back to the community when they shared advice. It was so popular, my friends got notifications lol. This reinforced that people only cared about me if I was ‘somebody’. 🙁
Took me a long time to recover. But I think sharing some of the event and actions that aligned for me will help you align yours. 🌻
Objective
The purpose of this document is to:
- Answer questions of “how did you get into Big Tech/Microsoft/Tesla/etc.”
- Share what worked for me and under what circumstances
- Hopefully, convince you that everyone’s story is different. This is not a roadmap. You do not need to emulate this 100%. Rather, understand that these are just pieces of my story. I hope these pieces spark ideas for yours.
Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 Fall | Enrolled into Grand Valley State University in Michigan |
| 2019 Summer | Started co-op at Herman Miller as a Controls Engineer |
| 2021 Fall | Graduated with Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electrical Engineering 1 |
| 2021 August | Started with a new team at Herman Miller as a Software Engineer |
| 2022 November | Started at Tesla as a Software Engineer |
| 2024 April | Started at Microsoft as a Software Engineer |
My “Non-Target” Profile
Demographics
- International student
- Woman
- Asian
- First-generation graduate
- Non-target university
- Non-Computer Science degree
Psychographics
- Low-confidence and a lot of self-doubt
- Lack of immediate access and resources
- Didn’t know what I didn’t know
Education
In 2021, I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.
🚀 Steps I took that helped:
- Learning how to learn
- Pre-work before class
- Staying on top of assignments
- Going to office hours
- Getting diagnosed and medicated for my ADHD and other mental health challenges
- Understand my academic major requirements
🌱 What I would do differently today:
- Gotten ADA accommodations sooner
- Joined Society of Women Engineers sooner
- Prioritize staying on top of immigration paperwork and rules by working with the school’s DSO (such as updating addresses/taking reduced course load/etc.)
- Worked on my confidence issues
Internship and Early Career
Between 2019 - 2021, I had a co-op with Herman Miller as a Controls Engineer.
In August 2021, I transitioned to a different team at Herman Miller as a Software Engineer.
🚀 Steps I took that helped:
- Went to career fairs
- Used the school’s career resources department
- Got my resume reviewed
- Did mock interviews
- Showcased some of my web-dev abilities
- Networked a little with colleagues as an intern
🌱 What I would do differently today:
- Networked way more
- Started my LinkedIn profile earlier
- Documented my journey as an intern for visibility
- Invested in meaningful mentorship sooner (doesn’t necessarily mean only financially, investing time and how I can help my mentors is what I mean too)
Breaking into Tech
Joining Tesla was a catalyst for me. I worked on the Digital Experience team. I really fell in love with React around this time.
🚀 Steps I took that helped:
- Using Codecademy to learn React, JavaScript, Data Structures & Algorithms
- Using YouTube and FreeCodeCamp to learn Python, PHP, and C#
- Showcased my projects and portfolio
- Regularly engaging and posting on LinkedIn
- Had a Project Presentation ready to go
- Being part of online communities focused on software engineering
- Collaborating and rolling with the punches in a fast-paced environment
- Focused on being a team player
- Learned what business and stakeholders value
🌱 What I would do differently today:
- Highlight my technical skills more
- Started a Smile File earlier to document career achievements and contributions
- Embraced my note-taking skills at work
- Not put my self worth in my career title or company
Leveling Up in Big Tech
I later joined Microsoft.
🚀 Steps I took that helped:
- Presentation of my skills as a senior engineer
- Portfolio of high-impact projects
- Communication skills
- Working on my executive and leadership presence
🌱 What I would do differently today:
- idk, this is where I am currently. So, idk yet lol.
Lessons
- I developed clarity.
- I practiced every day.
- I leaned into communities.
- I embraced gratitude.
Nonlinear Version
And this is the problem when I try to answer this question.
The above looks like a linear journey. It was not.
There were low times. Really low times.
I was depressed, a lot. I have attempted.
I was lonely.
I’ve been betrayed. And harmed.
My dad passed away.
My family was far away.
I kept making mistakes.
People hurt me. I hurt people.
I am a bundle of fears of anxiety,
held together by prayer.
Your path will probably be nonlinear too. Onwards anyway.
Next Steps
Hope this answers some of your questions! ☺️
Footnotes
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Note this is not Computer Science or Software Engineering ↩