Hari Prasad Renganathan

Leaving the US soon 🇺🇸
America taught me how to dream
.....and then asked me to leave.

Every year, thousands of skilled immigrants pray for one email.
Not a job offer. Not an approval.
Just an entry in a lottery.

Because in the U.S., your career can depend on a random draw
Not your talent.

I’ve spent the last 4 years:
✅ Graduated from Columbia University
✅ Worked as a Data Scientist at a top gaming company
✅ Built products that saved hundreds of hours for global teams
✅ Mentored 700+ students to break into AI
✅ Co-founded a startup empowering job-seekers

But none of that mattered when the H-1B lottery said, “Not selected.”
Three times.

It’s strange
the country that taught me innovation still runs on a system of chance.

Every time a builder leaves, America doesn’t just lose a visa holder.
It loses a product.
It loses a mentor.
It loses a dream that could’ve been built here.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned:
📌 A visa can expire.
📌 A job can end.
📌 But your ability to build never leaves you.

So yes, I’m leaving the U.S. soon.

Not because I failed.
But because I refuse to let luck define my life.

Wherever I go next
I’ll keep building, teaching, and creating opportunities.

Because talent shouldn’t need a lottery to belong.

To everyone waiting for that one email
-- You’re not unlucky.
-- You’re just temporarily unrecognized.
Keep building anyway. 💙

Super thrilled to share that I’ll be joining Saturn as a Senior AI Engineer!

It’s a YC 24-backed, Series A funded, fintech startup
I’ll be leading the AI team and products there.

This isn’t a random move.
It’s a well-calculated one.

You probably know me as a Data Scientist.
It’s what I’ve studied, built a career in, and spent 5+ years mastering.

But over the past 2 years, I’ve been quietly automating my own work using AI.
And that journey made one thing clear:
👉 The only way to survive this AI wave is to be part of the group that builds it.

So here I am.

This role perfectly aligns with what I love: AI + Startups.

It’s time to say goodbye to the corporate world (for now).
New job. New city. New chapter.

Scared? A bit.
Excited? A lot.

Grateful to the amazing team at Saturn & Michael
Can’t wait to build the next big thing in AI.

I’ll also be sharing how I got this offer and how you can break into AI in my newsletter.
Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eveg5apm

I got my first job at 21, earning ₹10,000/month (~$110).

At 22 → $5,000/month
At 23 → $6,500/month
None of this came from my full-time job.

When I was 20, I felt dumb.
9.3 GPA, but no skills.
I wouldn’t have hired myself.

I had two options:
-- Cry about it.
-- Or do something.
So, I did something.

I learned everything: video editing, digital marketing, branding.
Worked on unpaid gigs just to learn.
Failed at everything.

But too scared to give up.

Then I found Python and Data Science.
Except
who’d hire a Mechanical Engineer trying to be a Data Scientist?

No choice. I cold-DM’d 200+ people on LinkedIn:
“I’m a good Python developer. I can help you with Python.”
No replies.

Until one founder did.
He asked me to create a teaching plan for kids.
I did. He liked it.

Asked, “What’s your salary expectation?”
Me (mind-voice): “Wait, you're paying me? 👀”
Me: “10–15k rupees?”
He said, “Done.”
That was my first win.

If someone like me, who started coding at 20, from Mechanical Engg
can become a TEDx speaker, Ivy League grad, and Data Scientist…

Why can’t you?
The only thing I never did was give up.

I quit Data Science....
And I quit Take-two....

Never thought I’d make this post.
But the day is here.

I’ve spent over 3.5 years at Take-Two Interactive, the parent of Rockstar Games & 2K

Started as a Data Science intern and eventually became a Data Scientist.
Every time I met someone, they joked:
“So… when’s GTA 6 coming out?”

Well....we got Hari quitting before GTA6 (iykyk 👀)
Sad to say I won’t be a part of it when it finally launches.

There are many reasons,
but visa was the biggest one.
(I didn’t get the H-1B lottery in all 3 attempts.)

What’s harder to say is this
I’m not going to be a Data Scientist anymore.

This was my dream.
You might even know me as “that Data Science guy on LinkedIn.”
Got my master’s in Data Science from Columbia.
Worked as a Data Scientist.
Spent 5+ years building in this field.

Well… not anymore.

Thank you to everyone who was part of my Data Science journey
and to my T2 teammates for taking a bet on me 3.5 years ago.
Forever grateful.

Now, time for a bigger mission.
What’s next?
No, I’m not becoming a farmer.
More on that tomorrow.

I’ve changed my dream career 8 times. And I’m not ashamed of it.

2015 – I wanted to be a Doctor
2017 – I wanted to be an Architect
2019 – I wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer
2020 – I wanted to be a Video Editor
2021 – I wanted to be a Python Developer
2022 – I wanted to be a Data Analyst
2023 – I wanted to be a Data Scientist

Every time I changed paths, I felt like I was giving up on something.
Like I was betraying my past self.

But here’s what I realized
Interests change, and that’s okay.
Just because I gave up, doesn’t mean I failed.

Because each version of me added a new layer of skill:
2015 – Topper in Biology
2017 – Cracked NATA (Architecture exam) with one of the best scores
2019 – Graduated Mechanical Engineering with 93%
2020 – Edited a music video for an Indian song
2021 – Worked as a Python Developer
2022 – Helped founders with Data Analytics
2023 – Worked as a Data Scientist at a top gaming company

People often say, “You should’ve stuck to one thing.”
But I disagree.

Every dot connects
Just not immediately.
As Steve Jobs said, “You can only connect the dots looking backward.”

So if your interests keep changing, don’t panic.
You’re not lost
You’re evolving 🙌

Stop wasting months learning SQL the wrong way.

If your goal is to land a high-paying job in 2025
Skip the random YouTube rabbit holes.

Here’s the truth 👇
Most beginners spend months learning SQL syntax…
But still blank out in interviews.

Why?
Because they study everything, except the 10% that actually gets them hired.

So if you’re aiming for roles like Data Analyst, Business Analyst, or Data Engineer,
focus only on what matters.

SQL Topics That Recruiters Actually Care About:
-- SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY, HAVING
-- JOINS: INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, FULL
-- CASE, IF, NULL, IN, BETWEEN, LIKE
-- SUBQUERIES
-- WINDOW FUNCTIONS (ROW_NUMBER, RANK, LEAD, LAG)
-- CTEs (Common Table Expressions)

Interview Problems You’ll Definitely See:
-- Find 2nd highest salary
-- Count active users in last 7 days
-- Identify duplicate rows
-- Running totals using OVER()
-- Compare employee salary vs team average
-- Calculate user growth or churn over time

Resume Tip:
❌ “Proficient in SQL”
✅ “Queried 50K+ customer records to find churn patterns using window functions & time-based filters.”

🔥 Learn smart, not slow.
❤️ Like = You’re done wasting time
🔁 Repost = Someone in your circle needs this
👤 Follow Hari Prasad for more data & career tips

Credits: Heena Kouser's post inspired me to share this. If you are not following her yet, you should.

When I got 9.3 GPA in college, I was upset — because it wasn’t a perfect 10.
When I got 96% in Class 12, I was upset — because it wasn’t 99%.
When I didn’t get into IIT, I was upset — because I thought my career was over.
When I got rejected in every job I applied to, I was upset — because I thought I wasn’t good enough.
When I moved abroad with $88k student loans, I was upset — because I didn’t know if I could make it.

But looking back, I’m grateful for every one of those moments.

Every “no” forced me to find a better “yes.”
Every rejection gave me redirection.

✅ Working as a Data Scientist at one of the biggest gaming companies
✅ Graduated from an Ivy League University
✅ Built multiple AI products and worked with 5+ startups from 0 to 1
✅ Co-founded startups that reached 15,000+ users
✅ Built a 40K+ community on Linkedin
✅ Featured on BBC, TEDx, Times Square
✅ Invited to speak at big tech events & conferences

…and this is just the beginning.

If you’re in that phase where nothing seems to be working, hang in there.
Your time will come.
Just don’t stop showing up.

Most people pray for a job.
But very few pray for a healthy culture.

A job gives you a salary.
A culture gives you respect, growth, and peace of mind.

You can survive in a toxic team for a few months…
but you thrive in a culture that values you.

So the next time you’re manifesting a new role,
don’t just ask for the title or the pay
ask for a place where:
✅ Your voice is heard
✅ Your manager trusts you
✅ You’re allowed to grow without guilt

Because the wrong culture can drain you faster than the wrong job ever will.

💭 The goal isn’t just to get hired. It’s to stay happy where you’re hired.

What’s one non-negotiable you look for in a company culture? 👇

"I’m leaving the US 🇺🇸 because I couldn’t get a job"


That was the message I received from a friend yesterday.
It made me pause.

December is here
while most people celebrate Christmas, he will be navigating the toughest months of job hunting: the hiring freeze and holiday lull.

And I realized something
It’s not just him.
There are 1000s of international students and professionals facing the same struggle.

Meanwhile, I have been interviewing for roles in London over the past few months (as you may know)
To my surprise, I received multiple interviews and offers.

Not because I’m smarter.
But because I finally understood the pattern.

Every interviewer cared less about my typical “Data” skills and more about my ability to build end-to-end AI solutions.

They asked about:
✅ My Generative AI projects
✅ Cloud experience
✅ MLOps work
✅ Streamlit dashboards

See the difference?

They are no longer hiring for titles
They are hiring for skills that make you stand out.

Of course, SQL, Python, and ML are essential
But they are no longer enough to differentiate you.

If you want to land a job in 2025, the formula is simple:
1️⃣ Pick a niche most people ignore
2️⃣ Master it deeply
3️⃣ Build real products, end to end
4️⃣ Market your work relentlessly

If you do these 4 things, it’s almost impossible NOT to get noticed.

That is exactly why I’ve started two initiatives:

-- My free newsletter
I’m on a mission to create 365 AI Engineers in 365 days. Join here: https://lnkd.in/eveg5apm

-- My 4-week workshop
I personally guide you to learn and build an AI product from scratch. It’s not free, but it might be the most valuable investment you make this year - https://myrealproduct.com/

Dedicating this to all International students 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧
Don't give up yet!
Try this method, I'm sure it'll workout.

I’ve reviewed 800+ resumes in the last year
Here’s why most of them get rejected in 5 seconds.

After mentoring 10k+ job seekers,
I keep seeing the same resume mistakes that instantly kill your chances.

Let’s fix that 👇

Problem 1: “Skill Overload Syndrome”
-------------------------------------
People list every tool they’ve ever touched: Python, R, SQL, Power BI, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Excel, and 25 more.
Recruiters don’t care how many tools you “know.”
They care what you did with them.

✅ Instead: Show 3–5 tools tied to results.
E.g., “Optimized marketing ROI by 18% using Python + SQL dashboards.”

Problem 2: Responsibilities ≠ Results
-------------------------------------
“Developed machine learning models.”
Cool. So did 1,000 other applicants.

✅ Instead: Add impact.
“Deployed churn prediction model that saved $120K in retention costs.”

Problem 3: The ‘Final Year Project Dump’
-----------------------------------------
I see 5 academic projects but zero business outcomes.
If your resume reads like a Kaggle profile, it’s a red flag.

✅ Instead: Write about projects that solved real problems
Like automating reports, improving accuracy, or saving time.

Problem 4: No Narrative
-------------------------
Your resume should tell a story, not just list stuff.
“Who are you?” → Data Scientist? Analyst? ML Engineer?
If I can’t tell that in 5 seconds, you’re out.

✅ Instead: Start with a 2-line summary showing your direction + impact.

💡 Here’s the truth:
Resumes don’t get rejected because you lack skills.
They get rejected because you fail to communicate impact.

If you’ve been ghosted after 100s of applications, your problem isn’t “luck.”
It’s messaging.

Save this post if you found it useful.
And follow me Hari Prasad Renganathan I share no-fluff insights on AI, job search, and building a product-driven career.

Make it a habit to respect people

Not because of their title.
Not because of their qualifications.
But simply because they’re human.

I’ve seen people treat someone differently once they know their position or achievements.

And that says a lot.

The real test of character is how you treat people who can’t “do” anything for you.

Respect is free. But it reveals everything about you.

I’m on a mission to create 365 AI Engineers in the next 365 days.

And I’m dead serious about it.

For the past 2 years, I’ve been learning, building, and teaching AI.

I’ve helped hundreds of people:
✅ Build their first AI project
✅ Write their first line of code
✅ Land their first job

Now, I’m launching this FREE newsletter to help you break into AI - step by step, from beginner to AI Engineer.

If you don’t become an AI Engineer in the next 365 days with the materials I share…. you can unfollow me.

Join here: https://lnkd.in/eveg5apm

💌 First newsletter drops this Sunday.
Until then, check out the AI news I’ve shared before and get ready.

Share it with a friend who’s ready to start their AI journey.
Let’s grow together.

My LinkedIn tells you that I am a successful Data Scientist working in the US 🇺🇸 & living the dream

But here’s what it won’t tell you:

► My college didn’t allow me to sit for tech placements
Because I didn’t have a CS degree.

► Many Tier-3 US universities rejected my master’s application
Because I hadn’t taken core CS courses like Data Structures or Algorithms.

► When I started writing LinkedIn posts and Medium articles on Data Science, people commented:
“Who are you to talk about this? You’re not qualified.”

► I applied daily for 5 months (200+ applications) and didn’t get a single interview call.
No experience. No referrals. Just rejection after rejection.

But I kept building.
Projects turned into products.
Rejections turned into opportunities.
And slowly, the story changed.

3 Lessons I learned the hard way 👇

💡 1. You don’t need permission to start.
Your college, degree, or background doesn’t decide your future.
Your consistency does.
No one gave me a chance, so I built my own.

💡 2. Do the work when no one’s watching.
I wrote posts that got zero likes.
Applied to jobs that never replied.
But every single day of showing up made me a little better than yesterday.

💡 3. Build, break, repeat.
Most people wait until they’re “ready.”
But you only get ready by building, failing, and fixing.
Perfection comes after action, not before it.

Failures weren’t signs that I didn’t belong.
They were proof that I was getting closer.

You’ll never forget the people who took a chance on you when everyone else overlooked you.

I still remember every recruiter, manager, and mentor who looked past my career gaps and imperfect background
and gave me a shot to prove myself.

They didn’t just hire a resume.
They invested in potential.

And that changed everything
Every role I landed, every project I built, every step I grew.

Because in the end, people hire people.
Not bullet points. Not GPA. Not degrees.

Yes, skills and credentials matter, but they’re never the full story.

Sometimes, it just takes one person to see your value and it can change your entire life.

Be that person 🙌

PS: Credits to Jean Kang for inspiring me to write this.