Sipping my first mixed drink in the USA, devouring one of the best views in the world, and feeling on top of the world — somewhat literally, as I was sitting in Windows on the World restaurant on top of the North tower of the World Trade Center, I thought confidently…

“What kind of life do I want to create for myself?”

I don’t know if the naive confidence came from spending a few hours in NYC or my upbringing, but that night, I felt a sense of belonging that gave me the confidence to believe that I could create the life I wanted.

This was August 2001, just a few weeks before our world changed forever. I didn’t know my courage to create the life I desired would be challenged so soon.

I started my Master’s degree at Syracuse University just a few weeks before 9/11. Within a year, the regular job opportunities began vanishing.

Our seniors at school delayed their graduation as on-campus job offers dropped from nearly five to zero. By the time I was approaching graduation, the gloom and doom of the situation could be seen and heard throughout campus.

During this time, my professor, Dr. Arvas, suggested I apply for the Ph.D. program in antenna design. I was flattered, but I was eager to gain work experience and have an opportunity to use my design skills.

Given the job market, he pointed out that it would be tough to get a job. I still don’t know what came over me then, but the words that came out of my mouth were, “ Don’t worry, Dr. Arvas. Not only will I find a job, but I will also be offered multiple jobs, and I will choose the one I like.”

He looked surprised initially, but soon I saw the look of a proud teacher on his face. He wished me ‘good luck’ and challenged me to do it before the application deadline for the Ph.D. program.

Having someone I respected so much believe in me meant a lot, and I will always be grateful to him.

Within six weeks, I had three job interviews and two job offers. And the best part is these jobs were created for me! Here’s how I did it…

First, I changed my environment. I took ‘dress for the job you want’ to a new level. I graduated, quit my part-time student job, and moved to NYC with my childhood friend and her roommates. I paid half her monthly rent to keep myself accountable and surrounded myself with people with jobs. I treated my job hunt like how they treated their jobs. I would job search only during office hours and would take evenings and weekends off. This was very important to maintaining my well-being during this process.

So how does a fresh graduate secure a job in a market where experienced engineers are being laid off daily? Given my skill set and personality, what kind of job should I apply for? These were the questions I had, and no one around me seemed to have the answers. So, I decided to ask the people in the industry.

Instead of searching for companies with job openings, I began looking for companies that made exciting products I wanted to work on. I found their phone numbers and called them directly.

I would ask to speak to the engineering director or manager, saying I needed career advice or had questions about their product design. Surprisingly, I would get connected to them directly.

I was genuinely curious about the job options for an Antenna design engineer. They would spend time explaining my choices and the career path they would lead to, and share the story about their journey, giving me precious career advice on what not to do! I would end the call by thanking them profusely for taking the time to help me, and they, in turn, asked me for my resume! Some would mention they don’t have an opening but will surely pass my resume to some of their friends in the industry.

Many complimented my courage to call directly, some advised me to look for a design job and not take up a test job, and others said I have a great future because this exhibited my problem-solving skills. Overall, people’s generosity and encouragement blew me away, something I have made my mission to pass forward.

Before long, I received two job offers, though I still don’t know who forwarded my resume and recommended me to these companies. Yet, in a market where I was told there were no jobs, I was able to choose the one I wanted!

This experience dictated how I found all my future jobs. I worked with global teams and with some of the industry's most brilliant and fascinating people.

When you secure a job through networking, you gain valuable insight into the people you’ll be working with and your future work-life balance before accepting an offer. This is crucial for your well-being and future career opportunities. It also allows you to shape the work-life balance that best suits you.

So, what excites you?

Are you feeling stuck in your career?

What kind of work-life balance do you want to design for yourself?

If you’re going to reflect on it, dare to dream big. Every great journey starts with a vision—why not make yours extraordinary?

Love,
Nisha

P.S. I did get a couple of NOs, but they were from less than 10% of the people I reached. It didn’t stop me. After all, NO stands for Next One. Keep going, my friend.