A low college grade point average (CGPA) can sometimes feel like a major setback for students aiming for their dream careers. However, the story of Naman Bansal proves that academic scores aren’t always the determining factor in achieving success.
Naman completed his B.Tech from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida, with a CGPA of around 6. Due to this low score, he wasn’t eligible for any campus placements during his time at college. His CGPA also caused him to face multiple rejections while applying for internships. One significant rejection came from Adobe, where despite performing well in initial rounds, he was turned down by HR due to his academic record.
Instead of letting these challenges defeat him, Naman focused on his technical skills. He excelled in programming and earned the title of Candidate Master on Codeforces, a competitive programming platform. He chose to highlight his technical abilities and college background on his resume rather than emphasizing his CGPA.
Through a referral, he secured an internship at MakeMyTrip. This experience proved pivotal in his career, as it helped him land a full-time position at investment banking firm DE Shaw. Later, after gaining professional experience, he was offered a role at Adobe, the same company that had initially rejected him for an internship. He worked there for about two years before joining Microsoft, where he achieved significant success.
Naman’s journey demonstrates that persistence and skill development can overcome academic limitations, leading to remarkable career achievements.