When I moved to Canada, I knew starting a career here wouldn’t be easy — but I also knew persistence and continuous learning would eventually pay off. This is my journey of how I went from 500+ job applications to landing offers and starting my professional career. 🚀
Job searching in a new country can feel overwhelming — new culture, new processes, and new expectations. I quickly realized that success here meant not just relying on my past experience, but also being willing to reinvent myself and my approach.
📚 Starting with Learning
My journey began with the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate on Coursera.
But I didn’t stop there.
The certificate gave me a strong foundation in front-end development, but the real value came when I started applying those skills in personal projects. Every project helped me translate theory into practical experience. At the same time, I began exploring industry-relevant tools such as version control, deployment pipelines, and cloud basics, which employers value a lot.
I kept upskilling myself by:
- Learning Git, Docker, and the basics of Cloud and AI
- Staying active on LinkedIn and connecting with professionals
- Regularly updating my resume and tailoring it to roles
🎓 Building My Certifications Journey
In addition to learning through courses and projects, I invested time in gaining industry-recognized certifications that helped me validate my skills and stand out to employers. Each certification not only strengthened my knowledge but also boosted my confidence during interviews. Here are some of the key certifications I achieved:
-
GitHub Foundations – GitHub (Expires Dec 20, 2027)
Strengthened my understanding of GitHub workflows, version control, and collaboration best practices. -
AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner – Amazon Web Services Training and Certification (Issued Oct 21, 2024)
A gamified way to learn the foundations of AWS Cloud, services, and practical scenarios. -
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals – Microsoft (Issued Nov 24, 2022)
Built knowledge around AI workloads, ML basics, and responsible AI principles on Azure. -
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals – Microsoft (Issued Apr 9, 2022)
Learned the core data concepts, relational/non-relational data on Azure, and analytics workloads. -
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals – Microsoft (Issued Mar 17, 2022)
Covered foundational cloud concepts, core Azure services, governance, and pricing. -
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner – Amazon Web Services Training and Certification (Expires Oct 13, 2027)
Validated my overall understanding of AWS Cloud fundamentals, billing, security, and architecture.
You can view all my certifications here:
👉 Credly Profile
🎯 The Job Hunt
I started applying during my final semester. At first, it felt like a numbers game — but after months of sending out 500+ applications, I realized something important:
Getting a job isn’t just about applying everywhere.
It’s about learning, adapting, and improving with every rejection.
Every rejection was feedback. Sometimes it was explicit (like missing knowledge in a certain area), and other times it was implicit (such as resume not making it through ATS). I started treating each rejection not as a failure, but as a data point to improve my strategy.
I was fortunate to receive interview opportunities with amazing companies like SOTI, Tripadvisor, and a few others.
These interviews taught me not just technical concepts, but also the importance of storytelling — how to communicate my journey, explain my projects, and show growth mindset.
Finally, after countless rejections and learnings, I received two offers — from FDM Group and Ellwood Technology. I chose to join Ellwood Technology as an Information Technology (IT) Consultant. 🎉
🛠️ Following a Structured Plan
I followed a structured plan that helped me stay consistent and motivated. You can download my plan here:
👉 Job Prep Plan PDF
Along the way, I:
- Practiced DSA and understood common patterns
- Revised the basics of JavaScript, databases, and OOPs
- Built several personal projects from scratch — which gave me real, hands-on practice
Another key aspect was consistency. Instead of randomly applying, I dedicated specific hours each day to applications, preparation, and networking. That structure kept me accountable and reduced burnout.
Check out my projects here:
👉 GitHub Portfolio
💡 Job Prep Tips That Helped Me
Here are a few actionable strategies that made a difference in my journey and might help you too:
- Tailor your resume: Don’t send the same resume everywhere. Highlight the skills and projects most relevant to the job description.
- Focus on fundamentals: Strong basics in JavaScript, OOP, and databases often matter more than niche frameworks.
- Practice mock interviews: Simulating interview conditions helped me build confidence and improve my communication.
- Leverage LinkedIn: Posting about my learning journey and connecting with recruiters/peers opened doors I didn’t expect.
- Track your applications: Maintain a simple sheet to log applied jobs, interview stages, and feedback. It keeps you organized and motivated.
- Keep building projects: Even small projects show initiative and problem-solving — they also make great talking points in interviews.
☕ Let’s Connect
I’ve been in that place of uncertainty, wondering if all the effort is worth it. If my story resonates with you, know that you’re not alone.
If you’re currently on your job search journey and need guidance, I’d love to help.
Book a coffee chat with me here:
👉 Coffee Chat with Rajat
Final Thoughts
This journey taught me that resilience, structured learning, and continuous improvement are key to breaking into the job market. To anyone still applying: don’t give up.
It only takes one “yes” to change everything. 💪