From ₹3.6 Lakh a Year to ₹20 Lakh a Month: How a Small-Town Engineer Landed a Remote OpenAI Project After 500 Rejections
From ₹3.6 Lakh a Year to ₹20 Lakh a Month: How a Small-Town Engineer Landed a Remote OpenAI Project After 500 Rejections
NORTHEAST INDIA – In a story of extraordinary persistence and talent, a 23-year-old engineer from a tier-3 city has redefined what’s possible in the tech world. After securing a campus placement with a modest annual salary of ₹3.6 lakh, he turned an eight-month waiting period into a life-changing opportunity, ultimately landing a remote project linked to OpenAI that paid him ₹20 lakh per month.
The BTech Computer Science graduate faced a staggering 500 rejections in his proactive search for international remote jobs. Undeterred, he meticulously customized each application, a strategy that led to a single, high-stakes interview. He aced it, securing the lucrative role and proving his core belief: with the right skills, geography is no longer a barrier to success.
Sharing his journey on Reddit, the engineer, who remains largely anonymous, has become an inspiration. He highlighted the power of an internet connection and a relentless spirit. “Build in public,” he advised other students from small towns, encouraging them to showcase their skills openly.
While his contract concluded in August, he hasn’t slowed down. Leveraging his experience and earnings, he has already founded his own tech firm, transitioning from a high-earning employee to a new entrepreneur. His story serves as a powerful testament that ambition and hard work, not a metropolitan address, are the true keys to breaking through in today’s global tech landscape.
