After more than 300 job applications, 500+ cold emails, and 10 interviews, Dhruv Loya, an Indian-origin Biomedical Engineering graduate from the University at Buffalo, finally achieved his dream of landing a job at Tesla. On September 28 (IST), Loya took to LinkedIn to share the long-awaited news, posting, “I finally got a job!” He updated his profile to reflect his role as a Powerwall Technical Support Specialist at Tesla, marking the end of a demanding five-month journey.
Despite having an impressive background, including three internships, a solid GPA, and significant extracurricular involvement, Loya found himself unemployed after graduation, facing unexpected hardships. With his visa status uncertain, Loya recounted how he lost his lease, his health insurance, and was constantly aware that he could be forced to leave the U.S. if he didn’t secure employment soon. “Lost my lease, my health insurance, and constantly felt the ticking clock of my visa status, knowing I could be forced to leave the U.S. at any moment,” he shared in his post. He spent months moving between friends’ apartments, sleeping on air mattresses, and carefully budgeting every dollar.
After finally receiving the job offer from Tesla, Loya shared his experience and advice for others navigating a similar struggle in today’s competitive job market, especially international students. He encouraged job seekers to approach their search as if it were a “9-to-5” role but to protect their mental health by taking evenings and weekends to unwind. “I understand how emotionally draining this process can be,” he said, highlighting the importance of balance.
Loya generously shared some of the resources that helped him get interviews and finally land his position. He credited platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake, and Jobright.ai for job searches, Hunter.io for cold emails, and ChatGPT+ for refining his resume and cover letters. His encouragement to others was simple but heartfelt: “Just keep manifesting, stay positive, and believe that things will fall into place.”
In addition to his academic achievements, Loya’s LinkedIn profile reflects a diverse skill set and well-rounded background. He previously worked as a Product Engineer intern at CoreHaptics, a quality assurance intern at Boehringer Ingelheim, and held roles as a research assistant and senior IT technician at the University at Buffalo. He graduated in May 2024 with a 3.4 GPA and was active in sports and extracurriculars, including being a part of the UB Rowing team and winning a trophy in the university’s International Fiesta dance competition.
Reflecting on his professional experiences, Loya shared that his Commercial Quality Internship at Boehringer Ingelheim was particularly memorable. There, he assisted the Commercial Quality team with technical product complaints and returns, developed a quality culture at the company, and even created a Power BI dashboard to automate and streamline reports.
Through his journey, Loya’s story has inspired many and underscored the resilience and perseverance needed to secure a career in today’s competitive market, especially for international graduates in the U.S.
