Despite layoffs, Indian techie gets 2 global offers from Silicon Valley and Europe. But rejects both. Says, 'I would rather fix it than fake it'

At a time when layoffs and hiring slowdowns have made the tech job market increasingly uncertain, for many, fake it till you make it becomes a motto. But not for this techie, who got multiple global offers, signalling a rare win. But sometimes, the real story lies not in landing those offers, but in walking away from them. In a surprising turn, a young Indian developer chose to reject two international opportunities, not out of hesitation, but out of clarity, offering a perspective on ambition, self-awareness, and long-term growth that feels both rare and refreshing.

A 22-year-old tech professional, Abhishek, recently took to X to share a candid update about his job search journey. Over the course of April, he went through a rigorous interview process with six different companies. Among these, two roles were fully remote, while the remaining four required onsite presence. The opportunities themselves were impressive, including offers from a San Francisco-based company in Silicon Valley and another from Europe.

Despite securing two full-time offers from globally reputed teams, he made a decision that stood out. He chose to turn both of them down. It wasn’t because the companies fell short. In fact, he described them as technically strong, humble, and filled with genuinely supportive people. The reason, instead, came down to something far more personal. He believed he hadn’t performed at his best during the interviews.

Techie identified his strengths and gaps

Looking deeper into his experience, Abhishek outlined where his strengths and gaps currently lie. Five of the six roles he interviewed for were focused on databases, distributed systems, and Rust, areas that clearly align with his core interests. The sixth opportunity was in machine learning, giving him a broader sense of his positioning in the tech landscape. The pattern helped him identify exactly where he needed to sharpen his skills.

What stood out even more was the nature of the feedback he received. Rather than generic rejections, the companies provided detailed, honest insights into his performance. This clarity allowed him to pinpoint specific areas for improvement. Instead of accepting offers while carrying those gaps forward, he chose to step back, improve, and return stronger.

How did he get the opportunity?

He shared that every single interview opportunity, across all six companies, originated from inbound connections on the social platform X. It highlighted how consistent visibility, sharing work, and building in public can open unexpected doors in today’s hiring ecosystem.

Equally important was what caught recruiters’ attention. Abhishek noted that his projects and open-source contributions played a bigger role than anything else on his profile. These tangible demonstrations of skill and initiative stood out more than traditional credentials, reinforcing the growing importance of real-world work in tech hiring.


With this clarity, he has now shifted his focus inward. Instead of rushing into a role, he plans to double down on building, refining his expertise, and addressing the exact weaknesses he has identified. The goal is simple but demanding: to show up better prepared the next time an opportunity arises.

Abhishek also expressed gratitude to the engineers and teams who took the time to provide meaningful feedback, which is often overlooked in fast-paced hiring cycles. For him, those conversations have become the foundation for his next phase of growth, turning what could have been a straightforward success story into something far more deliberate and inspiring.

Internet reacts

Reactions online were mixed. One user said turning down offers just because he felt he underperformed might be overconfidence, adding that interviews are just a threshold and strategy matters more. Another pointed out that rejecting offers over self-doubt is rare, since most people accept and grow into the role, though personal satisfaction is important. A third said the offers may reflect how much companies need talent right now, not necessarily how perfect the fit was.