How Ajay Landed 5 Software Engineering Offers Without a CS Degree (In a Recession)

From having a non-CS background to cracking 5 software engineering roles from Amazon, Qualcomm, Fidelity & more.

On top of that, paying his USD 45,000 student loan within just 2 months of working as a recent grad. 

Meet Ajay Sureka, In this newsletter, I will tell you exactly how he made it happen. 

Ajay studied Electronics and Communication Engineering in India and worked at Amazon as a Business Analyst for over four years.

But he wanted to move into software development, so he made a plan.  

- 2021: moved to the U.S. for a MIS at Northeastern University  

- 2022: graduated in the middle of a hiring freeze and recession, making the job hunt even tougher  

- 2023: despite the downturn, he landed five full-time jobs at top companies like Amazon, Qualcomm, and Fidelity  

Got it. Let’s break it down way deeper, keeping it super specific and actionable for someone trying to do exactly what Ajay did.

1// Doing the groundwork beforehand

Ajay wasn’t a CS major and didn’t have formal coding experience.
But he didn’t wait to start learning.  

— took a 6-month Java course in Hyderabad before moving to the U.S.  

— worked on side projects at Amazon to gain exposure to software development  

— chose one language (Java) and went deep on it  

Key Insight:  

- If you’re switching to software engineering, start coding early.  

- Pick one language and master it (Java, Python, C++, etc.).  

- Apply your knowledge through projects, even if your job isn’t in software. 

Being early is an awesomeadvantages you can have as a jobseeker in 2025 and that’s why I mention it frequently to international students who’ve joined my ultimate job hunting course community.

2// Ajay’s job hunting strategy

Ajay built a structured system to increase his interview chances, just like I teach in my ultimate job hunting course. At the end of the day, it comes down to strategy and how good you execute. 

► Step 1: Build a target company list

- created an Excel sheet of 100-200 companies  

- prioritized tech and fintech companies  

- filtered out companies that don’t sponsor H-1 B visas  

► Step 2: Use LinkedIn alumni feature for warm introductions

Instead of cold applying, Ajay used his university network to receive referrals. 

— went to Northeastern University’s LinkedIn page → clicked ‘Alumni’  

— searched for employees at Amazon, Qualcomm, Fidelity, etc.  

— messaged alumni asking for advice (not a referral at first)  

💡 Example Message:  

"Hey [Recipient], I saw you’re at [Company] and also studied at Northeastern. I’m currently doing my Master’s and would love to hear your insights on breaking into software engineering roles here. Would you be willing to have a chat?"  

► Step 3: Track & follow up systematically

- marked green = people who agreed to refer him  

- kept a list of job openings + who to reach out to for referrals  

Key Insight:  

- don’t just mass-apply. use alumni networks for warm introductions.  

- never ask for a referral upfront.Watch This build rapport first.  

- keep track of referrals and follow up when jobs are available.  

3// Stand-out Resume.

Ajay optimized his resume for every application. He knew there was no ideal resume, just like I teach in my ultimate job hunting course, it comes down to iterations. 

— copied keywords directly from job descriptions  

— highlighted technical skills they were looking for  

— kept it simple & direct & readable. 

► Example:
— "Built APIs for data retrieval."  

— Better version: "Designed REST APIs for data retrieval & reduced response times by 30%."  

4// Interview preparation strategy

Once Ajay started getting interview calls,
He used his strategy to convert them into possible jobs..  

► Step 1: prioritize leetcode

- bought LeetCode Premium  

- filtered problems by company (e.g., “Facebook problems in the last 6 months”)  

- focused on MEDIUM questions (most commonly asked)  

- solved high-frequency problems  

► Step 2: group study every day

- Practiced daily with friends  

- Explained solutions out loud while coding (to prepare for interviews)  

- talking through code in mock interviews mirrors real interviews  

- friends challenge you to improve efficiency of your code  

- keeps you accountable (no skipping practice)  

►Step 3: Behavioral questions 

- prepared 10-15 stories using STAR format  

- common questions:  

  - “tell me about a time you faced a conflict.”  

  - “how do you handle tight deadlines?”  

- coding is 80%, but behavioral interviews can make or break you.  

- have structured stories ready.  

I have created a top behavioral interview questions guide asked by FAANG companies. Take a look at it here.

5// How he received USD 60K when he signed on

Ajay didn’t accept the first job,
he negotiated & researched smartly.  

► Step 1: used multiple offers as leverage. 

- Qualcomm was his last interview → Used Amazon & Fidelity to negotiate  

- asked the recruiter: "Is the salary open to negotiation?"  

► Step 2: looked at salary data

- checked Levels(dot)fyi & Glassdoor  

- found out market comp. for Qualcomm Software Engineers in San Diego  

► Step 3: pushed for base salary first, then bonuses

- Qualcomm increased his sign-on compensation to $60K  

- got a strong base salary + stock options  

It also helped me repay his USD 45,000 repayments  in just 2 months of joining with some other steps:

— graduated 5 months early (saved tuition + starting working early)  

— lived frugally for the first few months 

P.S: If you’re pursuing internships and full-time roles in top companies, my Ultimate Job Hunting Course will teach you everything from resume hacks, cold email templates, and LinkedIn networking, to insider job search techniques that work.

1800+ students have already joined and are in touch with me directly in my community. If you’re ready, ​take the first step.

-Yudi J