From facing rejection to getting hired in 48 hours: Delhi techie lands a job at Abu Dhabi start-up without applying for it. Here's how

Job hunting is never easy. From sending out countless applications to waiting endlessly for a reply and dealing with rejections often without proper feedback, it plays a constant tug of hope and frustration. Even the most qualified candidates find themselves stuck in the loop, because sometimes it’s not just about skills, but timing, visibility, and the right opportunity crossing your path. Along similar lines, a software developer, Abhijitam Dubey, from Delhi, shared his incredible story of getting hired by an Abu Dhabi-based start-up firm, applying through job portals but by contributing to an open-source project.

From rejection to offer via contribution

Abhijitam Dubey dropped an elaborate post on X, where he talked about the importance of shifting from mindless ‘applying’ to conscious ‘contributing’ when it comes to looking for a job. After weeks of facing rejection on LinkedIn and other job portals, his breakthrough came from a single online contribution, an issue he chose to work on, where he shared his approach to solving it.


The tech professional revealed that despite securing a referral and completing a demo for a US-based company, his efforts to land a job yielded no results. That’s when he realised the gap in his profile, aka limited open-source contributions and work experience. The observation prompted Abhijitam Dubey to shift his approach from applying to actively contributing. Soon, he came across a Y Combinator-backed open-source project, joined its community, and began exploring the codebase.

Open-source work leads to unexpected job

After identifying an issue, Abhijitam Dubey shared a detailed solution. Hours later, to his surprise, he received an email from the founder inviting him to a discussion. What followed was a rapid series of interactions, including a meeting with the Ahe Abu Dhabi-based company’s tech lead in Delhi, where Dubey showcased his projects and freelance experience in what he called an intense 2-hour demonstration.

Despite technical glitches and power cuts during the session, the techie received what he was seeking. An offer letter in the early hours of the morning and a message confirming positive feedback. Reflecting on his journey, Abhijitam Dubey credited his freelance background, live projects, and timely open-source contributions. His story underscores a simple takeaway: opportunities can come from unexpected places, and visibility through meaningful work can make all the difference.