**From Rejection to Success: How Persistence Led to a Dream Job at Instagram**
Dawn Choo’s journey to landing her dream role as a data scientist at Instagram was far from easy. After interning at Facebook in college, she faced multiple rejections from Meta—applying seven times and interviewing four to five times before finally securing the position. Initially, she settled for a finance role at Bank of America to maintain her visa status, despite it not aligning with her career aspirations. Later, she pivoted to a business analyst role at Amazon, taking a 40% pay cut and a step back in her career. Though the transition was challenging, she leveraged the opportunity to automate tasks, leading to a promotion and eventually making her a stronger candidate for Instagram.
Choo’s persistence and willingness to take risks paid off. While at Amazon, she spearheaded an automation project that expanded into a full team, boosting her leadership experience and making her a more competitive applicant. Despite doubts and setbacks, she prioritized long-term growth over short-term comfort. Her story highlights the importance of perseverance, strategic career moves, and self-belief—even when progress seems slow. Now, as an entrepreneur, she’s betting on herself again, leaving corporate stability to build her own business, proving that calculated risks can lead to fulfilling outcomes.
**Key Takeaways for Career Changers**
Choo’s experience offers valuable lessons for professionals considering a career shift. First, short-term sacrifices—like a pay cut or a less prestigious role—can open doors to long-term opportunities. Second, leveraging repetitive tasks to innovate (as she did with automation) can showcase leadership and initiative. Finally, comparing oneself to others can be discouraging; success is personal and often nonlinear. Choo’s mantra—*bet on yourself*—resonates as she embarks on her entrepreneurial journey, proving that resilience and self-trust are key to achieving career dreams.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/40-percent-pay-cut-amazon-dream-job-meta-2025-7.