When I first landed in New Zealand as an international student, the job market felt like a gladiator arena, except instead of armor, I had a fresh resume and an oversized dream. And let’s be real, the odds weren’t exactly in my favor. English wasn’t my first language, my network was practically non-existent, and ChatGPT wasn’t around to help me some soul-crushing cover letters.

I applied for over 40 jobs. Handwrote 40+ cover letters. Poured my soul into applications that likely ended up in the digital abyss. Rejection emails became my daily reading material. I knew I had a massive gap to catch up.

The only interview I landed came through a last-minute referral from a university friend, proving that sometimes, the best career move is simply making friends who believe in you. That opportunity led to my first job as a Business Analyst, marking my first official step into the workforce.

I remembered clearly on my graduation day, one of my friends who I used to look up to told me, "Myra, do you know that you beat 80% of us already. Most of us haven't been able to land a job." I was shocked at his comment because I knew how far behind I was compared to my peers. But with two years of hard work, I was secretly ahead of some of those who I used to look up to.

Fast forward to today, and my career has been anything but a straight line. I went from a struggling graduate to a determined, goal-driven professional, constantly pushing myself to grow. Nights and weekends were spent studying for certifications, mastering new skills, and building my own learning systems, because let’s face it, formal education only teaches you enough to realize how much you don’t know.

The Power of Personal Branding

Along the way, I discovered that personal branding could be a game-changer. Speaking at tech meetups and conferences didn’t come naturally to me—I mean, who actually enjoys standing in front of a room full of strangers, hoping they don’t notice your shaking hands and the infamous Asian flush? But with each talk, I gained confidence. My network grew. And, most importantly, I realized how much I enjoyed sharing knowledge and learning from others.

Big vs. Small: Lessons from a Startup

When I worked as a data engineer at a BI startup, I had the opportunity to deliver business intelligence projects end-to-end. It was an invaluable experience that forced me to pick up technical skills quickly.

A university student once asked me in a podcast interview, “Should I work for a small startup or a big corporate?” Since I’ve done both, my answer is: it depends. Each has its own pros and cons. Working at a startup gave me the technical maturity and business exposure I needed, which later led me to start my own BI consulting business. I kept that side business running for a year—until I had to let it go because of a conflict with my role at Microsoft. But the learning experience is invaluable.

My Microsoft Moment

Then came my Microsoft moment. No, I didn’t hack my way into their system. A friend introduced me to someone who worked there, and that person emailed the hiring manager on my behalf. I was invited for a "chat"—not an interview, because, plot twist, the position had already been filled.

During that chat, the hiring manager casually mentioned that getting an Azure certification would be a smart move. I took that advice seriously. Went home, researched the best certification path, and started studying like my career depended on it—because, well, it kinda did.

A few months later, I followed up with that hiring manager. Turns out, people do remember proactive candidates. He was impressed, invited me for a proper round of interviews, and this time, I got the offer.

Becoming an AI & Analytics Lead

Microsoft was a game-changer. It was there that I fell in love with AI and Analytics. I realized that regardless of how many fancy job titles you collect, continuous learning is the secret sauce to staying relevant. Now, as an AI & Analytics Lead in ASEAN at Cognizant, the stakes are higher, the learning curve is steeper, and the impact is larger. But I’ve learned to be strategic—focusing on what truly matters rather than getting lost in the noise.

Lessons I Want to Share With You

1. Prove Your Value (Because No One Owes You a Job)

Showing up isn’t enough. You need to show up prepared. If you’re waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap, you might be waiting forever. Get the right skills, take initiative, and show people why you’re worth betting on.

2. Have a Strategy (Or at Least Pretend to)

Early in your career, it’s easy to feel like you’re blindly throwing darts at a board. That’s fine! Just make sure you’re throwing them in the general direction of your goals. Set short-term milestones, experiment, and adjust your path as you go. No one has it all figured out from day one (and if they say they do, they’re lying).

3. Build Your Personal Brand (Yes, Even If It Feels Cringy at First)

If you’re good at something, let people know. Write about it, talk about it, speak at conferences, post on LinkedIn—whatever works for you. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities will find you instead of the other way around.

4. Understand Your Ultimate Goal (Or at Least Have a Vague Idea)

Do you see yourself as a data engineer forever? A technical specialist? A thought leader? If you don’t have a destination in mind, it’s easy to get stuck in career autopilot. Take time to reflect, re-evaluate, and make deliberate moves toward the future you want.

At the end of the day, career growth is a mix of preparation, strategy, and a little bit of luck. But the good news? The more prepared and proactive you are, the luckier you seem to get.

What’s your career journey like so far?