420 rejections later, this Indian woman landed her dream job in New York and her advice is going viral

Getting a job after graduation is never easy. Doing it as an international student, while dealing with visa deadlines and an unpredictable job market, is even harder.That's why Divya Bansal's story has struck a chord with so many people online.The New York University graduate recently shared a video on Instagram marking her first day at work in New York. But instead of talking only about finally landing the job, she spoke about something many young professionals struggle with—letting their career become their entire identity.The video opens with a simple line: "First day of job after 420 rejections."It's enough to make anyone stop scrolling.Divya revealed that she had applied for around 420 jobs before receiving just three interview calls.

Out of those, she eventually secured two job offers. For someone navigating life as an international student in the US, where work opportunities are often tied to visa rules, the moment felt huge.But she said she didn't want that achievement to become the only thing that defined her.In her post, Divya explained that if someone had told her a decade ago that she would one day be working in New York, she probably wouldn't have believed it.

Today, she says, that dream has come true. Even so, she has made a conscious decision not to let her job take over every part of her life.

For her, work is important. It pays the bills, teaches new skills and offers room to grow. But she believes it should stay just one part of a much bigger picture.She said she still wants to make time for the things that make her feel like herself. That means dancing, going to the gym, cooking meals that remind her of home and spending time with people she cares about.

Those are the moments she doesn't want to lose in the rush of building a career."I came to New York to build a life, not just a career," she shared, adding that while work is something she does, it isn't who she is.That thought seemed to resonate with a lot of people.Her comments section quickly filled with messages from others who had gone through similar struggles. Some congratulated her for staying patient through hundreds of rejections, while others said they appreciated her reminder that success at work shouldn't come at the cost of everything else.Many also pointed out how easy it is to measure self-worth through job titles, salaries or promotions, especially in today's competitive job market. Divya's message, they said, was a timely reminder that careers matter, but they shouldn't become the only thing that matters.In a world where rejection emails can feel deeply personal, Divya's story isn't just about finally getting hired after 420 applications. It's also about holding on to yourself while chasing a goal.And judging by the response online, that lesson resonated just as much as the job offer itself.