From JUIT Classroom to Microsoft’s Product Table: Alumni Journey of Patience, Craft, and Growth

“There is no dead end, only slower paths.”

This powerful thought captured the spirit of the Alumni Talk held on 15 September 2026, featuring Saral Nigam, CSE Batch of 2016, now serving as a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft. With prior experience at Amazon and HashedIn, Saral shared an honest and insightful account of his professional journey, offering students a perspective grounded not in shortcuts, but in patience, continuous learning, and deliberate growth.

The session, held at the Digital Learning Centre (DLC) and graced by the Vice Chancellor, was especially significant as it coincided with Engineers’ Day—a fitting occasion to celebrate the spirit of engineering, innovation, and problem-solving that Saral exemplifies.

The DLC was packed to capacity, reflecting the enthusiasm of students eager to hear an authentic account of a career spanning HashedIn, Amazon, and Microsoft. Rather than focusing solely on resumes or conventional placement advice, Saral spoke about judgment, trade-offs, decision-making, and the continuous process of becoming better at one’s craft.

A key highlight of the session was Saral’s year-wise roadmap for engineering students. He encouraged students to use their first year to explore different areas, develop deep proficiency in programming languages, and build a strong foundation in Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA). The second year, he suggested, should focus on building meaningful projects and developing disciplined practices around Git and software development. The third year should be dedicated to gaining industry exposure through internships and identifying areas of specialization, while the fourth year should focus on sharpening expertise in a chosen domain and preparing for professional opportunities.

Among his practical takeaways was the simple yet powerful “one DSA problem a day” principle, emphasizing consistency over intensity. He also encouraged students to adopt AI tools responsibly through the progression: Use → Build → Understand → Own. Alongside AI fluency, he highlighted foundational skills that remain non-negotiable in engineering careers—including debugging, building, shipping, problem-solving, and taking ownership of one’s work.

Saral also demystified the Big Tech hiring process, walking students through the stages of shortlisting, screening, technical interviews, and behavioral rounds. His insights provided students with a clearer understanding of what companies evaluate and how sustained preparation can translate into meaningful career opportunities.

The session concluded with an engaging and lively Q&A, allowing students to interact directly with Saral and seek perspectives on careers, technology, interviews, and professional growth.

Saral’s journey offered a valuable message to the JUIT community: careers are rarely built through sudden leaps. They are shaped through the steady compounding of skills, curiosity, resilience, and self-belief. His story served as a reminder that every stage of the journey—regardless of how fast or slow—can become a meaningful step toward the future.