700 rejections inspired a top graduate to become a Microsoft Software Engineer
A newspaper feature on my journey. Written by JM Callao for The Philippine Times, March 2025 Edition.
I was featured in The Philippine Times March 2025 Edition in an article written by JM Callao. It covered my journey from graduating summa cum laude in the Philippines to navigating 700+ job rejections in Australia — and eventually landing a role as a Software Engineer at Microsoft Melbourne.
CHRISTIAN SARABIA’S resume is nothing short of impressive — a summa cum laude graduate in Computer Science from Ateneo de Manila University, three full scholarships and multiple leadership roles. But in Australia, none of that seemed to matter. When he arrived in Melbourne last year, he expected a challenge, but not the reality of applying for 700 jobs and facing rejection after rejection.
“I still get rejection emails from most of them. There was a point when I felt like I wasn’t good enough, even with everything I had accomplished,” Christian shared.
The transition from being a top graduate in the Philippines to being constantly overlooked in Australia was humbling. “I applied to all sorts of jobs, from retail to corporate — because sometimes you just have to start somewhere… It’s so easy to feel purposeless when you don’t have a job, when it seems like no one is accepting you,” Christian admitted.
For more than seven months, Christian tirelessly sent out applications, did internships, attended networking events and sought advice from mentors, but the job market remained tough. He found connections with Filipino-Australian organisations like FCCVI, UP Alumni Victoria and most of all, a tech-mentoring network called PinoyTech Victoria Inc. These helped him navigate his new life while job hunting.
He took on a weekend job at Kariton, a Filipino-inspired gelato and dessert shop where he found a piece of home. “At Kariton, I got to reconnect with my culture and meet other Filipinos who were also starting fresh,” he said.
After months of perseverance, Christian unexpectedly got the role of Software Engineer at Microsoft’s Melbourne office. “If you told me in high school that I could work at Microsoft, I would have said, ‘Not possible.’ But I’m here now.”
For Christian, this journey was not just about landing a job but also about proving that Filipinos can thrive in Australia’s competitive tech industry. His advice to Filipino job seekers is simple yet powerful: “You don’t have to have everything figured out. Just start. Be humble. Take the first step.”
Looking ahead, Christian is determined to give back by mentoring others. “I may not have power yet, but once I do, I want to help other Filipinos gain opportunities in the tech industry.” In the future, he hopes to create a non-profit organisation in the Philippines to empower young Filipinos through education. “I want to inspire people to dream big,” he said.
Reflecting on the 700 rejections he faced, Christian understands that these were not failures but invitations to refine his skills and improve himself. The job at Microsoft didn’t come from sheer luck; it was the result of countless attempts, rejections and self-reflection. His journey was not smooth, but it was uniquely his. Now, he wants others to know that sometimes, the hardest roads lead to the most unexpected victories.
