An Indian student in the US, Palashi Singhal, experienced a significant setback when her job offer was rescinded just four days after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. This incident triggered a stressful period of uncertainty as she raced against visa deadlines to secure full-time employment to maintain her F-1 OPT status.
Despite her parents flying in to celebrate her graduation, Singhal’s plans to start her role as a behavioural sales and customer support specialist at a tech startup in June 2024 were dashed when the company withdrew the offer due to a reassessment of its hiring needs. The emotional toll was immense, with her spirits plummeting.
Facing the daunting prospect of having to return to India if she couldn’t find a job quickly, Singhal’s post-graduation trip was canceled. Her family stayed to support her through a challenging nine-month job search. She described the pressure of the ticking clock as a common source of stress for international students in the US.
Singhal’s job search had begun even before her offer was rescinded. After graduating, she initially worked as a part-time research intern, unable to take on full-time employment until her OPT visa was approved in February 2024. Upon approval, she intensified her search and, after securing the job offer, paused her efforts. However, the rescinded offer meant starting from scratch.
She diligently searched job boards and leveraged LinkedIn to find openings and connect with potential employers. After months of rejections, Singhal secured a temporary research analyst contract in June 2024, which helped her maintain her visa status. Unfortunately, this role concluded in January 2025, forcing her back into the job market.
A turning point came through her network when a former classmate introduced her to the founder of Dolphin Digital, an adtech startup. Impressing the founder during interviews by proposing solutions to company challenges, she was offered a part-time role in February. This position allowed her to learn the company’s needs and demonstrate her value, ultimately leading to a full-time offer after just one month.
Nearly nine months after her initial job offer was withdrawn, Singhal found a stable position, feeling positive about her current role and its opportunities for growth. Her advice to fellow graduates is to remain open to part-time or contract work, as these can serve as valuable stepping stones to larger opportunities.