A LOOK AT LIFE AFTER JEE
From breaking free of technical stereotypes to learning to make the right industry contacts, read about what it takes to achieve success as an engineer.
BE IT A FLAIR FOR NETWORKING OR SIMPLY KEEPING ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR FIELD ENGINEERING IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING ABOUT A STUDENTS OVERALL SKILL SETS
For Sumit Agarwal, 23, getting through the IITs had been the stuff of dreams. After taking extensive coaching classes for four years in a row, Agarwal still failed to make the cut off for the IITs. He made it through NIT Calicut instead. But disappointment and stress had left Agarwal unwilling to make the most of the opportunities afforded at the institute. It was only in his second year when a chance meeting with an alumni member helped him realise that there were other routes to his dream of becoming a computer engineer aside from an IIT degree.
“I barely worked during my first year and was almost close to failing. But I just did not care as I was already certain that I had failed in life when I couldn’t clear the IITs. It was much later that I realised that a college brand is not all that it takes to become a successful engineer. I met with many industry experts and alumni through the Internet who came from outside of the IITs but were doing equally well. What matters isn’t where you come from but how good you are,” says Agarwal.
With companies now looking at a broader range of skill sets when it comes to engineering recruits, students today can certainly breathe a sigh of relief. No longer are recruitments done purely on the basis of marks and college brands but equal emphasis is given to personality development, extra curricular achievements and student presentation skills. Last year Google offered a Rs 93 lakh per annum salary package to Himanshu Jindal, a computer engineering student of Delhi Technological University. “I might never have stood first in class and I might not come from the IITs but I was hard working, I knew my basic theory extremely well and I was consistent in everything I did. I think this is what impressed the recruiters — my passion and understanding of my field,” says Jindal.
“We grow up listening to our parents tell us that if we don’t clear the IITs we have no future in engineering. But that is just not true. There are many other fac- tors that determine success in this field. Yes, it’s great to study at an IIT but if you don’t get the chance, it’s still not the end of the world,” adds Agarwal. So be it a flair for multi- disciplinary projects, consistent attendance throughout the year, participation in sporting activities, networking furiously or simply keeping abreast of all the latest developments in your field — engineering today is increasingly becoming more about a student’s overall skill sets than their JEE scorecard.
SHORTLIST THE RIGHT COLLEGE
“Getting through a college that will help you build upon your strengths and overcome your limitations is important. Every institute has its own plus points and thus finding one that suits your requirements should not be taken lightly. At ITM we are committed to providing student- centric learning programmes which gives learners the chance to optimise their academics is accordance with their pre- fixed career goals,” says Ruchi Singh, vice president of ITM University, Gwalior. Whether it’s extra- curricular, flexible learning or high- tech infrastruc-
ture that you are interested in, be sure to keep your needs and interests in mind when shortlisting colleges. “Don’t blindly apply for a college because you think it’s good. Do background checks and if possible even visit the campus before you make your decision,” adds Agarwal.
BE OPEN MINDED
No longer is an MBA or a job with a multinational the only option for engineering graduates. With more and more research opportunities and super technical specialisations becoming popular, students today have the chance to discover a whole new world of professions – provided they keep an open mind.
“I was so busy preparing for CAT that I missed out on a whole semester on robotics. Later when I didn’t get a decent score in CAT, I spent a lot of time researching other opportunities. Suddenly I realised I found robotics interesting and there were so many jobs available in the field. But my theory was weak in the subject. Looking back now I wish I hadn’t been so onetrack minded but instead spent my time in college discovering what really interested me,” says Pratik Kumar, a graduate from IIT Kanpur.
TRY NOT TO BUNK CLASSES
Not only does a steady attendance record show prospective employers your level of dedication and commitment but it also pays off during exam time. “I had a lot of fun in college but there was one I think I was always consistent with and that is attending all my classes. No matter how late I was studying or which activity I was taking part in, I always made it a point to attend my lectures. When it was time for exams I had all my notes in one place and had not missed out on any chapters. When there is such a large volume of material to prepare, it’s best not to have any loose ends. Missing even one critical lecture can turn out to be a high price to pay during exam time,” says Shipra Kaul, 26, an engineering graduate from Bangalore.
MAINTAIN A SPORTING SPIRIT
From horse riding to basketball, jogging, yoga and swimming, engineering institutes offer their students plenty of sporting opportunities. Not only does this
reflect well on your resume but it also provides a much- needed break from the stress of lectures and tests.
“We encourage all our students to lead a healthy lifestyle. Not only are they served home cooked, fresh food every day but we also give them the chance to participate in a number of sporting events. There are also dedicated walking trails for them within the campus, all bordered with beautiful trees, bushes and lakes. Physical fitness reflects positively in a student’s academic performance,” explains J. V Desai, the dean of faculty of engineering at the Mody University in Lakshmangarh.
Sports and other extra- curricular achievements also pay off when it comes to placement day. “All- rounders make great workers as their knowledge is not limited to just text books. Achievements outside of the classroom also help to develop personality and skills. Sports in particular teach you the value of teamwork, delegation, multi- tasking and foresight. They also help you learn to cope with failure and loss. All these are invaluable skills at the workplace” explains Jenny Burman, HR member of Makemycake, a Bangalore- based ecommerce start- up.
BE TECH- SAVVY
Be it blogs on the latest engineering breakthroughs, Linkedin community forums or apps that help you revise for your examinations, technology can certainly be an engineer’s best friend.
“Blogs in particular are a quick and cheap way to keep abreast with the latest developments and specialisations in your field of engineering. Many students and employers also maintain blogs which give readers insights into various upcoming job opportunities as well,” says Kumar. Apps too are increasingly finding their way into an engineering student’s pocket with many such as engineering libraries, realcalc, engineering pro, molecules and mechanics baskets getting as many as 500 downloads per week. “Sometimes I need a formula but feel too lazy to browse through my notes. Then I simply check it up on an app or website. Technology is a great student companion but it pays to take everything you read online with a pinch of salt. Sometimes entries on Wikipedia can be incorrect or incomplete,” adds Kumar.
AS WORK ENVIRONMENTS GO GLOBAL, SO MUST STUDENTS. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND, LEARN AND ADAPT TO DIFFERENT CULTURES. THIS IS WHERE EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES COME INTO PLAY
The emphasis on technology has become so great that it has also grown to become a central theme for many cultural festivals and workshops at engineering institutes. This year IIT Roorkee’s fest Cognizance explored themes of cutting edge futuristic technology such as aerodynamics and robotics.
“This year we looked at a glimpse of the future of technology, thereby reducing the gap between researchers and engineers. Students also got the chance to aquire new ideas, develop skills, create new network and interact with the world’s greatest technical minds,” says Pradipta Banerji, director or IIT Roorkee.
NETWORK FURIOUSLY
For Lucknow- born Vrinda Misra, networking was the key to success. From the first day of her classes at IIT Delhi, Misra reached out aggressively to the institutes reputed alumni chapters both in India and abroad. She took it a step further and began to befriend students from other institutes during various inter- college festivals and events.
“Even toppers don’t get a job offer these days. Having good connections and contacts really do pay off in the end. Not only can you get a reference when sending in your resume but you also get to learn about the pros and cons of the job profile, thus giving you the chance to figure out if it fits your own character and overall goals,” says Misra. “Often people tell me that networking is a way of using other people’s hard work. But that’s not true. Networking is a give and take situation. You don’t just talk to someone for their help but also offer them help in return. Also sometimes you just reach out to different people for different views,” adds Misra.
TRY YOUR HAND AT EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES
“As work environments go global, so must students. They need to understand, learn and adapt to different cultures, people and countries. They cannot live and be exposed to isolated environments. This is where exchange programmes come into play. At LPU, our international programmes all aim to transform students to a global professional through various academic and twinning opportunities,” says Aman Mittal, director, Lovely Professional University in Phagwara. “Our twinning arrangements give students the chance to study part of their course at LPU and complete the remaining at a foreign counterpart. We also offer engineering programmes that give students the chance to visit the US or Europe on a fourweek study tour. The feedback for both have been extremely positive. The students enjoy themselves and come back with newfound interests and skill sets,” adds Mittal. LPU’s student community itself reflects over 35 different countries.
JOIN A PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
Professional communities like the Institution of Engineering and Technology ( IET) are certainly worth joining. With over 1.5 lakh members from 127 countries at IET alone, professional communities help engineering aspirants in both career as well as personal development. “It always helps to pool all your resources together. At IETwe offer our members access to libraries, archives, publications as well as our vast community of members from around the world. We also conduct various conferences, lectures, practical training and workshops,” says Shekhar Sanyal, country head India for the IET.
KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT
With institutes across the country now investing in high- tech specialist equipment and labs, engineering students
WITH OVER 1.5 LAKH MEMBERS FROM 127 COUNTRIES AT IET ALONE, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES HELP ENGINEERING ASPIRANTS IN BOTH CAREER AS WELL AS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
today have the opportunity of putting theory into practice. Be it learning robotic or aircraft engineering at Punjab’s DAV University or specialising in bio technology at Lucknow’s Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, when it comes to infrastructure the sky is the limit. “When I visited various campuses across the country, I was surprised to f ind each more wellequipped than the other. There is just so much opportunity to learn new techniques and machines today,” says Shinjhini Bose, an engineering student from Kolkata.
TAKE PLACEMENTS SERIOUSLY
“Pre- placement workshops and advise are important to bear in mind. Given the employment scenario, it’s critical that students are employment- ready and equipped with adequate practical know- how,” says S. Chauhan, vice chancellor of GLA University in Mathura. From 100 per cent placements to pre- exam placements, placement cells in colleges certainly know how to f ind the right job match for a student. With foreign institutes now looking to open engineering campuses in the country and a fast increasing of opportunities students in placements, activities, studies and exposure, success is just a few smart moves ahead for engineering aspirants today.