“Why an Engineering degree doesn’t guarantee a Good Package anymore?”

How to be the rabbit in the rat-race of employment

Isn’t it dreadful to have your sada dosa aesthetic ruined with canteen-table’ conversations like “I couldn’t crack the interview”, “Jokes on you, I couldn’t even get past the competitive coding round”, “Uhm guys, I did not even get shortlisted.”
At this point, the sada dosa gets plainer, the AC temperature feels like it is on 35 and your throat feels like a lump of anxiety, doesn’t it?

How do we keep our aesthetics intact then?

Where exactly are we falling behind? Why can’t we seem to keep pace?

The employability state of Indian Engineers in the past nine years hasn’t changed at all, that is, there has been no change in the number of students getting employed. We seem to be lacking somewhere, aren’t we? Well, the problem here is the fact that Indian students may have the best of theoretical knowledge, but there are a few other factors that seem to be holding us back.

⦁ Just scaling our GPA’s doesn’t seem to work here, when putting it to test, only 4.6% of our Indian engineers can write properly functional code.
⦁ Only 2.5% of our Indian engineers possess skills in Artificial Intelligence
⦁ Most of us are unaware of the intricacies of coding and AI, lack practical knowledge and have done no projects beyond our semester requirements
⦁ Only 40% of us deem internships important for our growth
⦁ We barely attend Industry talks and gain exposure to the workings of the industries

Have you attended any talks given by industry personnel?

⦁ There is a lack of counseling and direction to the students
⦁ Students do not know the Job Profile they want to apply to or the one that is apt for them

Image Source: Aspiring Minds 2019 Employability Report

Why should we care? (Sorry to burst your bubble)

Other than the fact that we are all aiming for killer packages that equate to the amount of hard work we have put in, we can’t negate the changing hiring styles and requirements of the companies in this knowledge economy.

• • • The Downfall
      Mass recruiting has gone down on a very large scale. The companies are now choosing only up to 20 students whereas they used to opt for 100+ at a time.
    • The Best of both worlds
      Since the numbers have gone down so drastically, they now, only want students who are not only at the top of their fields in their college but also have enough experience outside it. These students then also get better packages.
    • Much more than a mere record
      The companies are aiming for students with better skills rather than students with a high GPA.
    • Small-Huge steps that need to be taken
      There are stricter criteria for getting shortlisted, which include an Aptitude test, Competitive coding round, Technical Interview and the last one, HR interview.

Basically, there is an absolutely urgent need to make your CV as well as yourself stand-out from the rest.

Image Source: Aspiring Minds 2019 Employability Report

How can you find your way out of this crisis?

Well, we are engineers, we know that every problem set has a solution set. But, we also know that work very tactfully in order to reach it. Here’s what you can do in order to be the rabbit in the rat-race.

• • • STEP 1: Build a really strong resume
      Make sure you keep a note of everything you do that can look good on your resume. Focus on things outside your field too, so as to look versatile enough to be able to pick up any challenge that comes your way)
    • STEP 2: Do projects outside your curriculum
      Take up challenging projects that are outside your prescribed course, that show a substantial amount of research and work in your chosen field
    • STEP 3: Do as many internships as you can
      Internships help you to gain practical knowledge about the theoretical skills that you have learned. They are also a way to hold a positive impression in front of the company you’re applying for stating that you have experience and hands-on knowledge about your field.

Try looking for internships that span over your entire field, covering all aspects as it amplifies your capabilities. If not one, you can opt for multiple small-span internships which will also give you access to multiple LORs(Letter of recommendation) and make an experience base for you, In case you want to try out different fields.

Image Source: Aspiring Minds 2019 Employability Report

• • • STEP 4: Get hands-on training for AI skills and Coding
      Coming back to the point of the internship, you can apply for internships that can give you training in skills under Artificial Intelligence or Coding. The other option is joining AI and coding clubs (if any) in your college

Image Source: Aspiring Minds 2019 Employability Report

• • • STEP 5: Get proper practice for competitive coding and other aptitude tests
      Opt for tests and competitive exams offline or online that aid you in preparing for entrances and aptitude tests to crack the interviews.
    • STEP 6: Have someone guide you about your forte and the companies that will suit your intellect and interests
      Make sure to talk to someone who is well-versed in your field and take their help in making your future plan for how you want to go about studying and getting experience in your core specialization.

Can’t figure out who to go for Step 6 to? Placement Bridge has got your back!

BridgeX realized all these problems faced by specifically the Indian engineers way before they were these apparent, which led them to devise a product (Placement Bridge) that helps you overcome all these gaps between you and your desired job.

They offer you a package within which you can get training experience for more than three types of languages at a time with their respective projects which is enough to make your CV stand-out. They also give training for Competitive Coding/Aptitude tests, Technical and Personal Interviews. Including a series of AMCAT* test series which opens up the students to 200+ job offers, including the ones that might not have access to through their campus calling, they make sure you’re ready for whatever it is that you have to face.

They will guide you through achieving the best version of themselves and finding a career that will actually make you use their skills to its epitome.