A Bengaluru-based tech professional, Arpita Das, has become the talk of social media this week—thanks to a viral post recounting her journey from rejected job candidate to big tech success. The twist? She was once told to her face by a startup interviewer that “people like you won’t make it to big companies like Google or Meta.” Spoiler alert for that utterly prescient recruiter: she now works at Google.
Arpita narrated the tale of an especially grueling startup system design round where she was tested on everything from infrastructure planning to CPU cost estimation.
“Basically, everything except physically building the data centre,” as she quipped.
When she stumbled over a question or two, the interviewer not only offered no help, but doubled down with the now-infamous comment about her prospects in global tech.
Instead of sulking, Arpita converted that stinging jab into motivation. Fast forward: Google badge secured, tech career thriving.
As she revealed in her post:
“Not bragging—just wondering why some folks gatekeep based on their own insecurities.”
Her story set off a flurry of supportive replies, with netizens hailing her comeback as ‘the best form of revenge’ and cheekily asking if she’d like to return the interviewing favor someday.
But beyond the memes and applause, Arpita’s account has ignited conversation about toxic interview culture, tech gatekeeping, and the headwinds faced by women in the industry. Many chimed in with their own tales of being dismissed, doubted, or interrogated like future Bond villains—only to end up proving the skeptics spectacularly wrong.
So, next time an interviewer tells you where you (don’t) belong, remember: payback is best served with a job at your dream company—and maybe just a dash of humblebrag on X.
