How Harshit Landed 30+ Interviews in a Tough Market Using a Smart Indeed + LinkedIn Strategy

Imagine this:

You move to the U.S. in 2021.  

Graduate in 2023, one of the worst job markets in recent years.  

You keep applying to jobs and hear… nothing. For months.

That was Harshit Modi’s reality.

But fast forward to today,  he’s an RF Engineer at Underline in Texas. 

He’s worked at AT&T (his dream company), landed 3 internships, and received 30+ interview calls, including:

- 11 interviews at Apple  

- 20+ from top telecom companies  

So, what changed?

In this blog, I’ll break down the exact job search strategy Harshit used, based on our conversation and the YouTube podcast so you can follow it too.
(Here mention, more such podcasts to add backlinks)

Let’s go step by step. 

Phase 1: Plan Before You Land

Most students start thinking about jobs after they arrive in the U.S.

Harshit didn’t.

He had a list of 10 target companies ready before he even landed at NJIT for his master’s in telecommunications.

Here’s how he made the list:

- Picked his domain (Telecom)

- Searched for U.S. companies in that domain

- Filtered them by reputation, culture, pay, and location

- Tracked job postings regularly on each company's career site

Start this BEFORE you move abroad.  

It gives you clarity and saves time when it really counts.

Phase 2: The Indeed + LinkedIn Trick That Got Him Interviews

Most job seekers make a big mistake:  

They use LinkedIn to apply and wait.
Or they apply directly on Indeed.

Here’s what Harshit did instead:

 ► Step 1: Use Indeed as a Search Tool (Not for Applying)

- Open Indeed and search by city, not just job title  

- Filter by:

  - Distance: 100 miles

  - Date Posted: Last 14 days

- Repeat this daily by targeting different states and cities (one per day)

Example:  

> He searched for “Network Engineer” in “Denver, Colorado” → Found 122 fresh job listings.

 ► Step 2: Validate the Company on LinkedIn

Before applying, Harshit checked if the company was legit.

- Searched for the company on LinkedIn  

- Checked industry type (Is it a consultancy or direct hire?)  

- Looked at their About and People tab  

Only then did he visit the company’s career page and apply there.

He never applied via Indeed.
He just used it to find openings.

► Phase 3: Cold DMing the Right People

Once he had the job links and knew the company was real,

Harshit would search for the right people on LinkedIn.

 → Here's how:

- Typed phrases like “Apple Wireless Hiring” in LinkedIn search  

- Or used filters like:  

  + “University Recruiter”  

  + “Hiring Manager”  

  + “RF Engineer Lead”  

Then, he would send short, polite DMs like this:

Hi [Name],  

I recently graduated from NJIT with a master’s in Telecommunications.  

I’m looking for full-time roles in 2025.  

Are there any open roles in your team that match my background?  

I’d appreciate any help!  

Thanks and regards. 

Why this works?

—  Straight to the point  

—  No “Hi” and wait  

—  Doesn’t overshare  

—   Easy to respond with “Send me your resume”

Conclusion 

Harshit’s first breakthrough came 9 months after landing in the U.S.

He interned at AT&T, then bagged two more internships before graduating.  

His momentum built because he never stopped applying. even when it felt pointless.

Once he had experience, his profile stood out more.  

But it was the daily consistency and strategy that got him there.
→  Key Takeaways from Harshit’s Strategy

Let’s recap the playbook you can follow:

► Start Early
— Build your company list before you even fly out 

► Use Indeed to Search
— Find fresh jobs by city and date  

► Validate Companies on LinkedIn
— No more applying to shady consultancies 

► Apply on Career Pages
— Avoid being one of the 500 ignored resumes 

► Cold DM Smartly
— Keep it short, respectful, and resume-ready 

► Track Everything
— Don’t guess; stay organized with your process 

► Be Patient
— It took Harshit 9 months to get his first yes

Harshit didn’t go to an Ivy League.  

He didn’t have years of experience.  

He started with the same confusion every international student feels.

But he had a system.  

He stuck to it.  

And now, he’s working full-time in Texas doing what he loves.

You can do this, too, with the right mindset, approach, and support.

If this helped you, feel free to check out my Ultimate Job Hunting Course that’s helped 1800+ international students build strategies like this.

We cover resumes, networking, DM templates, tools, community support, and everything in between.

And if you’re reading this while struggling to find your next role:

Trust the process. Your time is coming. 💪