I applied to 2,000 jobs before getting offers at Target and a startup. Here's how I decided which to pick.

• 02/22/2026, 4:13 AM
• businessinsider.com

Dianna Dimambro

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dianna Dimambro, a 29-year-old incoming software engineer at a startup. She is based in Jupiter, Florida. Her identity and offers have been verified by Business Insider. The following has been edited for length and clarity.