For most students, landing a big job starts with the usual checklist:
📌 Summer internships
📌 Career fairs
📌 Campus recruiters
Ashish Shrestha had… none of that.
Yet he still scored a job at Deloitte—one of the biggest firms in the world.
Here’s how he pulled it off (and what it taught him about playing the long game).
The Internships That Never Happened
As a Nepali student at a small liberal arts college in Ohio, Ashish didn’t have access to big on-campus recruiting events.
“In my school, business majors weren’t even that popular. Firms didn’t really come to hire”
Combine that with no internships, and by senior year, Ashish was feeling the pressure. But instead of spiraling, he made a decision:
“If no one’s coming to me, I’ll go to them.”
Cold Call = Game Changer
Ashish picked up the phone, called Deloitte’s Boston office, and asked for a meeting during spring break.
It worked.
One coffee chat later, he’d made such a strong impression that HR called back with a full-time offer.
“They told me, ‘We’ve never hired someone this way before. But we like you.’”
💡 The Real Lesson?
Even without internships, Ashish showed something many employers value more than experience: initiative.
✅ He didn’t wait for opportunities—he created them.
✅ He wasn’t afraid to step out of his comfort zone.
✅ He built genuine connections that led to doors opening.
“In the end, skills matter. But people want to hire someone they can trust and vibe with. That’s what gets you in the door,” Ashish says.
Key Takeaway for Students
Didn’t land that summer internship? Don’t panic.
🎯 Start reaching out.
🎯 Be bold (cold emails, coffee chats, LinkedIn DMs—it’s fair game).
🎯 Show your energy and curiosity.
“Opportunities rarely fall into your lap,” Ashish adds. “Go make your own.”