Graduating from a reputed engineering institute is often seen as a direct pathway to a thriving career, but many young professionals discover that reality can be far more unpredictable. A recent post on LinkedIn by a tech professional named , Rupanjana Mitra offered an unfiltered account of professional setbacks, personal struggles, and resilience, drawing widespread attention online.
A Career Journey Filled With Detours
Mitra, who graduated from National Institute of Technology Durgapur, shared that despite studying at a top engineering college, her transition into the corporate world was far from smooth. She revealed that she barely participated in campus recruitment drives and eventually secured an off-campus role in Mumbai with a modest monthly salary of Rs 28,000.
After spending nearly three years working, she moved to San Francisco to pursue higher studies. However, her academic plans took an unexpected turn after she failed a course, forcing her to return to India. The setback deeply affected her emotionally, leading her to step away for a mental health break.
Her challenges did not end there. Mitra later attempted to crack the UPSC examination but was unsuccessful. She then earned admission to a master’s programme at Drexel University, but her ambitions were once again interrupted after she could not secure a US visa.
Struggles Beyond Social Media Perfection
In her post, Mitra also disclosed that she briefly worked as a Rapido rider while trying to rebuild her career. Over the last six months, she said she had submitted applications to more than 500 companies without receiving interview opportunities.
Her candid account resonated with many professionals online who are exhausted by the culture of polished success stories dominating social media platforms. Several users appreciated her willingness to discuss failures that are usually hidden behind carefully curated professional profiles.
One commenter expressed gratitude for her honesty, noting that many inspirational career stories conveniently leave out the painful periods of rejection and uncertainty. Another user related to her experience by sharing their own struggles with deteriorating mental and physical health, explaining that stepping away from work became necessary for recovery.
Continuing Despite Repeated Setbacks
Despite years of disappointments and stalled plans, Mitra’s story reflected persistence rather than defeat. Today, she works as a Senior Software Engineer at a Goa-based company, continuing to rebuild her career step by step while inspiring others through her openness about failure, resilience, and survival.