Stepping into a New World
It still feels surreal.
Just a few months ago, I was attending online interviews from my small town in India. Now, here I am — walking into a sleek office in Austin, Texas, with my employee badge swinging and a laptop in hand that costs more than my old scooter.
My first month working at a US tech company has been an unforgettable rollercoaster of learning, adapting, and growing — both professionally and personally.
🇺🇸 Culture Shock? Oh Yes!
Let’s start with the obvious: workplace culture.
Coming from a background where hierarchy is king, I was surprised by how flat and open the US corporate structure is. My manager asked me to call her by her first name on day one — something I couldn’t imagine doing back home.
Meetings are concise, punctual, and action-oriented. If something doesn’t make sense, you’re expected to ask — immediately. Feedback flows both ways, and yes, it’s okay to say “I don’t know.”
The Learning Curve is Real
During the first two weeks, I doubted myself every single day.
Even though I was hired for my skills in frontend development and AI integration, I realized that:
- Tools are different.
- Expectations are higher.
- Everyone moves fast.
But here’s the twist: you’re never alone.
My team set up an onboarding buddy for me, gave me access to a self-paced learning hub, and included me in their internal Slack discussions from day one. The collaborative culture makes all the difference.
From Code to Community
One thing that amazed me was the balance between work and fun.
Every Friday, we have something called “Tech & Tacos” — a team-building lunch and learning session. In India, I was used to weekend grinds. Here, logging off at 5 or 6 PM is encouraged. You’re trusted to deliver — not just be “seen” working.
Also, the snack bar? Heaven.
Tech Stack & Tools I Used
For those curious, here’s what I got exposed to in just the first month:
- Project Management: Jira, Notion
- Communication: Slack, Zoom, Loom
- Dev Tools: GitHub, Docker, Vite, Webpack
- AI Tools: Copilot, ChatGPT for Devs, Midjourney (for quick prototypes)
What I Did in 30 Days
Even though I was new, my manager encouraged me to take ownership of a mini-project — creating an AI-powered dashboard for internal analytics.
What helped:
- Daily standups (15 minutes max)
- Bi-weekly demo days
- Weekly 1-on-1s with my manager (pure gold for feedback)
By day 28, I presented my MVP (minimum viable product) to the CTO.
And yes — it felt amazing.
The Emotional Side: Alone, But Not Lonely
I won’t lie — moving to the USA alone was scary.
Cooking for one. No family nearby. Cultural differences. Cold weather (I’m from Lucknow 😅). And yes, some moments of homesickness.
But I found my tribe — via:
- Slack communities for Indian techies
- Weekend hikes with colleagues
- Online meetups for international employees
- Cooking simple dal-chawal in my studio apartment 💛
💡 Lessons I Learned
- Ask early. Ask often.
- Imposter syndrome is normal — but don’t let it paralyze you.
- Build relationships — not just code.
- Time zones matter — especially if you’re collaborating globally.
- Personal branding matters here — LinkedIn, GitHub, and even your blog!
Final Thoughts
My first month in a US tech company has changed how I think, work, and live.
From learning new tools to becoming more confident in expressing myself, it’s been nothing short of life-changing. And this is just the beginning.
If you’re someone from India (or anywhere) wondering whether to take that leap — I say: DO IT.
Read more
- Moving to the USA for Work – Step-by-Step Guide
- LinkedIn Tips for Indian Professionals
- Top US Tech Companies Hiring Remotely