Vietnamese student in US lands Microsoft job before graduation

Duong Ha Anh sent more than 350 applications to companies like Uber and Apple over the course of her university journey before receiving the coveted offer.

“This is such a great joy for me after sending out hundreds of applications since my freshman year,” Anh said.

Duong Ha Anh in the U.S. Photo courtesy of Anh

Hailing from Hanoi, Anh entered Brown University, an Ivy League institution in the U.S., three years ago with a scholarship worth VND7.5 billion (US$300,000), covering tuition, books, and round-trip airfare.

Arriving in the U.S. in the fall of 2021, she initially struggled to adapt to a new environment. After her freshman year, she interned at a Vietnamese company to gain experience. Encouraged by alumni, she started applying for internships at U.S. companies, focusing on organizations that could sponsor an H1-B visa—a non-immigrant visa allowing U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized fields.

“I lost track of how many emails I sent, but it was definitely over 200,” she said.

She received only one response, from Uber, which ultimately led to her first U.S. internship in 2023.

Anh spent three summer months at Uber designing a feature to improve trip-related information for passengers and drivers. The experience was initially overwhelming but introduced her to professional workflows, teamwork, and technical problem-solving in a major U.S. company.

Climbing higher

With this experience under her belt, she set her sights on bigger names. In her next application cycle, she sent out around 150 applications, landing interviews with companies including Apple.

Apple’s rigorous selection process involved group and individual evaluations, logic tests, and coding challenges. “Each round was very challenging, and I thought I wouldn’t make it,” Anh recalled. To her surprise, she was offered an internship and joined Apple’s Capture group for 15 weeks, contributing to the Vision Pro project by enhancing 3D photo and video viewing experiences using AI.

“The workload was intense, and I sometimes spent 12–13 hours at the office to meet deadlines. But it was worth it,” she said. The internship strengthened her technical skills, including Swift programming and iOS development, as well as her ability to collaborate in a professional setting.

At the end of 2024, Anh began searching for full-time positions. Microsoft’s hiring process included a two-hour online logic and coding test, followed by interviews with a manager and two engineers. Her preparation and persistence paid off when she received a job offer with a competitive salary, health insurance, an H1-B visa sponsorship, and other benefits.

Anh will join Microsoft in June 2025 after graduating.

Anh attributes her success to perseverance and a passion for her field. Despite not having prestigious awards or certifications, she built a strong portfolio through teaching assistant roles, skill improvement, and internships.

“Starting early, staying persistent, and focusing on what you truly enjoy instead of chasing trends are the key lessons I’ve learned from this journey,” Anh shared.

As she prepares to embark on her career, Anh plans to deepen her knowledge of mathematics and computer hardware to complement her expertise in software engineering.

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