From Hanoi to Microsoft: A Vietnamese engineer's journey through 600 applications

The 23-year-old from Hanoi, who graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas, with a degree in computer science, works at Microsoft’s cloud data and artificial intelligence division.

Nhat Quang on his graduation day in 2024. Photo courtesy of Quang

Four years ago he graduated from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, where he specialized in mathematics. He got admission to Rice University on a VND6.5 billion (US$255,000) scholarship and set his sights on embarking on a career in the U.S.

In his first year at Rice, knowing internships were unlikely, he focused on extracurriculars. He joined the Rice Apps programming club and participated in scientific research. One of his key achievements during this period was redesigning Rice University’s course registration website. Quang and his team revamped the interface and added features like course details and student reviews. He says the platform is still used daily by Rice students.

In his second year he began applying for internships, aiming for software engineering roles at major tech companies. He says the process was akin to full-time job applications, involving multiple rounds of resume screening, online tests and interviews. He secured an internship at Facebook, and worked on the "Star Gifting" feature for short-form video creators, which allows followers to financially support creators. The work taught him self-discipline, teamwork and professional communication.

The following summer he interned at Nvidia, where he built software to simulate environments for self-driving cars. To meet the job requirements, he learned C++ programming in a week and delved into related materials. Cindy, a technical manager at Meta (which operates Facebook), commended his exceptional performance, highlighting his passion and curiosity. Víctor Moreno, his supervisor at Nvidia, described him as one of the most diligent and proactive interns, noting his ability to propose ideas, develop plans independently and adapt effectively to feedback.

Recalling the recruitment processes at Facebook and Nvidia, Quang says the former was more challenging. Facebook’s coding test required solving two data structure problems in 45 minutes, while Nvidia’s test involved one problem in 60 minutes, he elaborates. Facebook focused on problem-solving skills, whereas Nvidia emphasized situational and behavioral responses, he explains further.

Nhat Quang when he was interning at Nvidia. Photo courtesy of Quang

Halfway through his Nvidia internship, he inquired about full-time positions but learned his desired role was not hiring. "Amid widespread layoffs, many companies were not hiring, especially fresh graduates and interns," he recalls.

Determined, he began his full-time job search in July 2023, a year before graduation. Aware of fierce competition from experienced candidates applying for entry-level roles, he felt the pressure of his relative inexperience.

He prepared 17 tailored resumes, highlighting relevant achievements for each application. He practiced mock interviews, sought advice from alumni, researched company cultures, and honed his problem-solving skills. Over the course of his job hunt, he sent out more than 600 applications, received responses from 37 companies, advanced to the final rounds at 15, and secured offers from four.

By late 2023, he received his first job offer from an oil and gas company. Although the benefits did not meet his expectations, he felt relieved to have a job. Two months later, he received offers from TikTok and Microsoft. "Microsoft offered everything I was looking for: a strong foundation, great benefits, and H-1B visa sponsorship," he says. "I also got to work on my passion for systems programming and big data projects."

He explains Microsoft’s hiring process involved a two-hour online coding test, followed by three one-hour interviews with a manager and two engineers. The interviews tested his programming knowledge and situational problem-solving skills.

He attributes his success to his well-rounded resume. Beyond internships, he was active in clubs, developed widely used software, worked as a teaching assistant for three years across six technical courses, won programming awards, and graduated with a 3.86/4 GPA. These experiences demonstrated his passion for programming, leadership skills, and teamwork, he says.

Nhat Quang at a study abroad event in Hanoi in January 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Trang

He began working at Microsoft in July 2024 and is enthusiastic about potential breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.

In addition to his role, he runs Pathwise Mentorship, a career guidance project that has helped over 20 Vietnamese students secure jobs in the U.S. over the past year. He hopes to inspire more young people to pursue opportunities at top global companies.