Is Campus Placement the most hyped thing in India

Campus Placement: 

Harvard or Cambridge University don’t conduct campus placement. They will make you capable to find a suitable job on your own. The culture of campus placement is  a recent addition in India from a decade or so. Most of the world's best universities don't arrange for Campus Placement.

If you are placed during campus selection then my best wishes to you. If you have not got placed during campus then don’t worry. Just work hard. Success is not permanent and so is failure.  

Like everything else this too shall pass

Campus Placement is one of the most hyped things in India. If you have a job when you are out of college then you are seen with respect, else you might be seen as a Failure, which is not true.

My Personal Experience

I agree that getting a job in campus makes life easier but it doesn’t makes one better by any means.  I have got selected in two companies through campus selection but four years down the line it doesn’t matters to me. I was selected in TCS when I had bare minimum knowledge of Programming just because of my soft skills. My answer to TCS Interview question "Why should I hire you"? 

I was a Mechanical Engineering Undergrad with no plan to join a construction company. Getting into L&T was never on the cards. But, at last moment, I decided to attend the Pre Placement Talk of L&T, where I saw the video of how they build the Delhi Airport.

 The video made me fall in love with the company and that’s how I came into L&T. It was also strange that out of more than 300 projects of L&T, I was assigned to work at the Mumbai International Airport Project. I couldn’t have asked for more as I joined L&T just by admiring the Delhi Airport (Terminal 3)

It has been a roller coaster ride for me and there are negatives and positives. Overall, I love the experience and the exposure I got. But, let me also share about my friends who were un-placed or have not got plum jobs during campus

1. Many of my friends who couldn’t get a Job have cleared competitive exams and are at companies like NTPC, Coal India, ISRO, BHEL, BEL, etc. 

2. Some of my friends got job at companies which were not heard of and they used to get less than our office boy. But, as they knew that they have not settled, they switched jobs and at present they are having higher paying jobs.

3. There are some who got into different kind of post graduation courses like MBA, MTECH etc and are now in job with an enhanced qualification.

4. Still, I have a couple of friends who are very close to clearing IAS, IES or anything big.  Their struggle is still going on and I am sure that they will soon get into a job that they deserve.

Why I am sharing this is because 4 years ago all the 4 categories of my friends were made to realize that they are missing something in life. I know that they have faced embarrassment from the society.

My friends who were unplaced during Campus have struggled more than me but now they are at par with others who were placed during campus selection. 

I am proud on my friends who have created their success story from scratch and I have a sense of respect for them.

When people who work hard and struggle get success then they inspire many people. I got selected during campus but that can hardly inspire someone. But, the success of my friends is special as they have crafted it on their own after struggling a lot and it makes it inspiring and beautiful.

PS- I have got many queries related to career guidance and so have provided links to some of my articles or answer that may help on the webpage  Career Advice & Guidance

 

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Career Advice: An Electronics fresher looking for off-campus job

(Note- This question was asked to me on a social network and the response was given there. I feel that it will benefit many people and hence I am sharing it here)

Question: I'am a B.Tech Graduate in Electronics and Instrumentation and I finished my Course this year in 2015 May.  I somehow missed out on the campus placements in my college and getting a job off campus is very difficult now as there are very less openings for freshers. Moreover getting a IT placement for and electronic graduate is quite difficult nowadays. I've written amcat and am trying for that as well but now at this stage even amcat is asking for experienced candidates. My financial situation stopped me from going for Higher studies, right now only getting a job is on my checklist. Please advice me on what to do and is it too late because its been 6 months I passed out and am taking this very seriously. I feel like am good for nothing and I go into depression.M basically from Goa, when I go there I feel distracted and good but when I return to Hyderabad I again feel that world is coming to an end. I definitely need support and advice because am really tensed about this and I'am the only one who has to support my family and there are many financial problems also.

Answer: You have made my job easily because you know what you want to do. Here are a few tips that will definitely help.  

1. You have read about my brother. So, will not repeat that campus placement is over-hyped. There is nothing to be depressed about it. Just chuck the negative thoughts.

2. Your communication skills is really good. It's a big advantage.

3. There are cheap coaching institutes in Hyderabad that teaches java/ other programming languages and make you a master within months. Don't panic. Learning is the only viable solution and best way and that's why I have made my brother do that in Bangalore.

4. Read on my blog about campus placement (just search campus on the right sidebar search option and u will love the articles. It will make u accept that your placement don't define who you are.

5. The struggle you do today will pay off someday . Nothing is wasted ever. And you are not good for nothing. You are equally blessed as those who are placed in campus.

6. Stay optimistic, keep learning and keep reminding yourself that all is well. You are not alone. You are going to shine soon. Don't feel ashamed. Tell people that you are looking for a job.

7. Don't feel burdened by family commitments. All will be alright, you have to work for 35-40 years.. It really doesn't matter if someone join workforce 6 months or 2 years later than their peers. Life is a marathon. Keep reminding yourself. The struggle is part of your journey. It is for some good cause.

8. Look for startups. Update your Nakuri and LinkedIn profile, brush up resume, cover letter.etc. 

9. Initially, as a fresher look for roles where you can learn and grow professionally. Don't bother much about the pay. Because after a year or so, when you have the right skills then people would be willing to pay more and hire knowledgeable candidates like you.

10. I know, I might have missed your concerns, they might be addressed in my articles. Go through it. Take your time and let me know if it helps or not. Also feel free to ask more specific questions.

Have a nice day!

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Is Mechanical Engineering Evergreen? Should I take Mechanical or Computer Science?

As a proud Mechanical Engineer, It will be a biased answer for sure.

Mechanical Engineering was evergreen. Mechanical Engineering is evergreen.
Mechanical Engineering will be evergreen.

But,

Never choose a branch based on public perception. Identify your liking and opt for a career that you want. ENOUGH SAID.

I will not offer free advice but will tell you my story. When I filled my preference that I want Mechanical engineering, my Dad called and told that a distant cousin and my Uncle feels that Electrical branch is better. I was not getting Computer science so that was not a topic of discussion.

Just imagine, the officer who was issuing  allotment letter was looking me dumbstruck as I was discussing with my Dad about branch and blocking the way for other students. I insisted mechanical feels good. So, joined Mechanical engineering with little knowledge about it. I was influenced with the fact that Mechanical engineers can also go to software or other industries and we won't suffer in jobs.

Cutting the Long story short, It was one of the best decisions of my life. I liked my subjects and got selected in a leading construction company for a profile that allows me to work as a Mechanical Engineer. I also got the selected in a software company (TCS).

The mechanical engineering students were in general jack of all trades. There were few girls so organizing mass bunks was a cake walk. We earned a bad reputation in the girls dominated branches, because we all wore black on Valentines Day and did photo-shoot in college campus in 1st year. Haha... that labelled us as anti social and god knows what.

But, life of a mechanical engineer is awesome in college and even after college. You can't ask me reasons as this is a biased answer.

I will not crib about computer science as my siblings and cousins are all in the software industry. I am happy for them. They go to onsite and send photos. I am always on site. :) My site is the Mumbai International Airport.

It you have any career related queries, shoot them to me. Enjoy your college days irrespective of the branch you have got. Figure out what you want to do in life. Learn new things. Make true friends. Live life. Experience the beautiful moments that makes our life beautiful.

I am sorry for some irrelevant stuffs and thank you for taking me to the flashback.

  

Written 30 Sep • View Upvotes

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Career Tips: I am confused

Should I change myself according to company's requirement or should I change the company according to my requirement?

Hey, that's a full toss delivery.

Change your company as per your requirements.

Wait!

Before doing that, Change yourself as per your company requirement till you find a company as per your requirement.

In your existing role, focus of acquiring skills that you would need in your dream role.

And,

Don't waste your time learning swimming if you want to fly.

Thank you:)

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Do your Job Hunting in Style

https://www.quora.com/I-failed-an-interview-for-a-big-company-and-I-feel-broken-What-should-I-do-to-overcome

This is an awesome resource on Quora to learn how to apply to different companies. There is a software which works like an excel sheet and it keeps the track of the ongoing job opportunities available for job seekers.

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Can a guy earning 20 Lakh INR per Annum in Bangalore be unhappy?

Money is a poor benchmark of happiness. Happiness mostly depends on our attitude. Two friends working at the same office in the same capacity of with equal salary will have different level of happiness. Why? It's not logical but psychological. It depends of our attitude, expectation,preferences, etc.

By the way, my office boy is happier than me as he has been promoted from doing office chores like serving tea to assisting us in paperwork. Our team unanimously agree that he is happiest among us. 

Where as my senior colleagues, who are getting way more than me find me as a happy and optimistic person. Happiness has many definitions. It is a relative thing. It can't be measured like temperature. It can be only experienced.

Bonus Tip for instant happiness- Close your eyes and think of your memorable vacation with your loved one. It  acts like Glucose and  injects immediate happiness.

Make a list of things that you love doing. After that, make a habit to check the list and often do those things. You will always feel happy.

Someday, you will feel bad, have a support group to sail through those times. Luckily, I have got couple of friends whom I am able to tell when I am feeling low. Talking to them, their kind gestures often helps in bouncing back as a better and stronger person. Thanks to them that I have just recovered a low point. :)

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Do people with poor grade can be successful in Life

My grades have been shaky all my life and I relate more with those slogging that toppers. Just to give you a feel, my marks varied from 

School 57 % in Class 10th ( 1st Term) to 82 % to Class 10th Boards and the again it slipped to 67 % in Class 12th Boards.

Let us take English, Got highest (88/100) in Class 10th Boards and lowest    ( 57/100) in class 12th Boards. 

College ( from 7.04/10 CGPA in First sem to 9.04/10 in Last sem)

Am I successful?

Success is a subjective thing. I count success in terms of the learning and experience one gets in life.  Yes!  I feel successful as I work to make things better than they are. The challenges of the work I face makes me feel happy about my work. I work for a reputed company and I enjoy my work. I don't like to mention this but I do earn better than 90% of my former batchmates.

I am a startup enthusiast who is working for a MNC on a mega infrastructure project in Mumbai. Major chunk of my time goes into meeting people from different organisations of all sizes. They all are business meetings but there is tremendous knowledge sharing in those interactions.

I love talking to founders of startups as they are full of energy and passion. The same goes for CEOs, Directors and senior executives of MNCs, as they have vision for the growth and well being of their shareholders and employees.

I enjoy the best of MNC and Startup culture because I am working at a project site and it is amazing. 

Do I got opportunity to work at what I dreamt of ?

No, I wanted to be a Scientist, Bank Manager, Police Officer, Prime Minister, Doctor, Actor and Astronaut at different point of time. :( 

But I am a Mechanical Engineer working in Construction Industry in the Field of Tendering, Project Procurement, Costing, Contract Management, Outsourcing which is no way related to my dreams. Anyways, Life is all about changes, our priority and preferences changes with time.

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How can I have the ideal life I want?

Q: I am IITian. (Just to show I am a smart guy.) I don't want to stick to one job. I want to do different jobs. And also, I am fond of travelling. Earning money is not from my purpose. I just want to enjoy my life. So, help me to do so.

A: Few ideas for you

• Travel extensively
• Write about your journey, experience and places you visit, people you meet etc
• Do photography
• Learn local art or craft or language or culture of places you visit
• Start a company in the field of travel / Tourism
• Meet new people
• Observe closely what you can learn
• Stay happy. I have my list of things which fascinates me. See and make your list. 22 things which fascinates me
• Stay hungry stay foolish
• Read Rohan Sinha's answer to How does it feel to not qualify in IIT JEE?

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Tips for a software engineer to grow in a MNC

12 Tips To Fast Track Your Growth In A MNC

1. Change the rules of the game- Be a troubleshooter for your manager and team. People love those who are good at problem solving. Don't fall prey to the office politics. Be so good and strong that you can rewrite and change the rules of the game.
2. Identify a Mentor- Find a mentor within your organisation or outside. It helps you figure out many things quite early in your career. I found my mentor in the form of my ex-boss who helped me learn from his wide experience and abundant knowledge.He nurtured me during my nascent years and has shaped me in becoming really strong in my domain and it boasted my confidence and helped me develop a positive attitude.
3. See the bigger picture- A leader is a visionary. If you want to grow in an organisation then always understand the importance of your job. You job might be routine and mundane at times but if you understand the purpose of it then you enjoy it. Do a Project all by yourself to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your company and of your competitors. Identify how your company can bag that project they are bidding for. Make a Presentation or offer your inputs to relevant people in your organisation and they will appreciate it.
4. Challenge Yourself- Everyone wants a cozy job and a fat paycheck. But, that can't help you grow. You have to stretch your limits and have to play hard outside your comfort zone to rise in the organisation. If you are getting bored of doing the same job everyday. Go and ask your manager for a challenging work that is yet to be assigned to someone.
5. Outstanding Communication Skills- It is not about speaking fluently. You have to be a good orator, a motivator, a good listener and an ardent observer. You must be assertive not aggressive in the meetings and other team discussions. You must have excellent negotiation skills as well as you must be a team player. All these things can be learned. If anyone need help they can ask for that to me.
6. Product Management and Project Management- You must learn the principles of product and Project management and should use it. You will be benefited when you go up in the organisation.
7. Proactive not reactive- Leaders Identify potential problems before they arise. It helps in killing a problem when it is tiny. Else, it can turn into a monster afterwards.
8. Inspire- You don't need a title to be a leader. A leader is a person who takes the initiative to start something new and interesting. You can improve the office documentation system, can take the initiative to volunteer for many causes. It helps you learn many things.
9. Mentoring someone- It is always a win win situation. An IIT Kanpur undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering came for his summer internship to our office. As I am a mechanical engineer so we got some good time to learn and share our knowledge. He introduced me to Quora and Coursera among many other things. So, there is an opportunity to learn from anyone and everyone. We just have to keep our eyes and ears open.
10. Positive Attitude- Management loves someone who has a positive approach. Client's don't want no as an answer even when something is like an impossible task. So, ask for additional resources, think out of the box, do something in a new way or find an alternative but make sure that you are trying your best to get things done even those which looks impossible. However, it is best to learn when and how to say NO without offending your clients.
11. Be a jack of all trade and master of few- You are a developer but you should also learn a little of finance, HR, Sales & Marketing, Business Development, Tech Support, etc. When you are familiar with a little about many functions of the organization then you have a cutting edge advantage over others.
12. Take the Elevator- Always avoid the rat race to climb up on the corporate ladder when you can follow these tips and take an Elevator. Please feel free to get back for specific help!

Image source- http://cdn-dev.mphoria.com

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I am 23 years old girl and I don't enjoy my MNC job. Help me.

PROBLEM

1. You are not inspired to work at that MNC
2. You are feeling stuck in the job as you can’t quit as you have no other option or any personal reason.
3. You are not the only one who is going through this phase of Life. I have been there, have seen all that you are going through and have travelled the same road.

ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM

The only problem is that when you wake up in the morning you miss the motivation to learn something new, help someone, chase your dreams, love someone and enjoy all the small joys in life (like watching kids play, the cloud, staring at the moon on a full moon, watching sunrise, sunset, smell the roses, etc). 

SOLUTIONS TO YOUR PROBLEMS

• Write in your diary about your feeling and it will make you feel better about yourself.  But, slowly try to see the positive side of everything and write about it.
• Your job is not your only identity: Albert Einstein has worked as a Clerk but that didn't prevented him from becoming a great scientist of all time.
• If you are in a job you don't love, either start loving it or start looking for another.
• If you don't love your career, start loving it or change it. Make a list of things that makes you happy. For guidance you can go through my list  of 19 Things that makes me happy 
• You can always switch industry Harsha Bhogle becoming a full time Cricket Commentator after his post graduation from IIM Ahmadabad.
• Start taking baby steps- Celebrate small things and small success. I was very happy to learn cooking as it is fun it's like an Art :)
• Cultivate Hobbies and you will get the spark that is missing in your life. This is the key of my happiness at work. If your job is not making you feel good about yourself, find your happiness from your hobbies,
• Read good books, stay in touch in company of good people (online/offline) and you will feel more positive about life.
• Your job is important even when it may feel mundane or repetitive.  Try to find something in the job that you enjoy like I love to interact with people and learn from them. So, I enjoy meeting people which is one of my important role  :)
• Grass is greener on the other side. As rightly said by Surbhi Ma'am,  Don't compare someone's chapter 20 to your chapter-1. All that glitter is not gold.
• Love Well, Live Well, Serve Well- These things will help you feel lively and blessed. Life is the time between we are born and we will die. Let us make something good.
• Bust your Myths about life that like I am good for nothing, I have wasted X years of my life, I don't have natural talent, I don't have zeal to learn, etc in my answer to What are the lessons people most often learn too late in life?
  Thanks for your time:)

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What are the Life Lessons most people learn too Late in Life?

There are many lessons that I want to share with you but the following are my favorites:

Invest In Yourself

• Health is wealth- There is no fun in life if we are seriously unwell. All money we have accumulated in our life also fails to get back our health.
• Less is more- Life is all about quality not quantity. You are lucky even if you have few true friends as when the adversities come then you got to know who are your true friends.
• Work hard Party Harder- No matter how hard you are working, always find some time to do things that makes you happy.
• Cultivate good Hobbies- A person who has a hobby is never alone. I love reading books, writing and analyzing difficult situations and these habits I have developed in the college.
• Utilize your College Time- It is the time when we figure out what we want to do in life. Whether we would like to startup a company or we would like to work for a MNC or a small upcoming company. It is not just about the degree you will earn.
• People- Life is all about People. So, wherever you go value people. Respect them, add value to their life through your association. I am trying to add value for those who are reading this. Thank you for being patient to read me.
• Network- Nowadays, it is more important that whom you know. It is not about buttering or greasing someone's palm. I am bad at networking because I considered this as bad. How stupid I was? It is the best thing you can do for yourself.
• Positive Attitude- Once a CEO asked two people whether they can do a job. It was an impossible task that the CEO was entrusting on them. The First person was honest about his feelings and told that it is not possible to get it done in the given time. The CEO called another person and asked the same question. He  answered that although it seems difficult but I am sure that I can do it with your support. The CEO nodded in affirmation. The second person asked for more resources and more authority to get the work done. The CEO agreed. Later, the second person really get that work done and the CEO informed everyone that the second person was having a Positive attitude and hence he trusted him more than the first one.

Some Myths

• We are not Hypocrites- No one is 100 % hypocrite but Everyone is a Hypocrite to a certain degree. It is pretty human. I often say that I am indifferent to appreciation or criticism but that is not 100% true. However, it is definitely true that I am less influenced by criticism or appreciation with respect to many who are in and around me. So, do check if any of your behavior is similar to me.
• Our Problems are terribly difficult- Our problems are not as difficult as it seems to us. Let me support this with justification. Time travel to your childhood and you would find that your biggest problems were doing homework, taking permission from Mom to go out to Play, Get a Candy, etc. Are they significant today? Ofcourse not. You will love to remember all those problems and it will make you smile. Similarly, 20 years down the line it will hardly matter if you got a plum job after college or you are jobless, if you have a gf/bf or not in college, if you have failed in the exams or have topped it. Meet me after 20 years and we will discuss your current problems over coffee.
• I am Good for Nothing-  Everything in this universe is for some purpose. Even the stone at the top of the mountain has some purpose. We are humans; maybe we have done something good in our previous lives and hence have been rewarded. So, never believe that you are Good for Nothing.    
  
  Crocodile cannot fly and Butterfly cannot swim- There is no point for the crocodile to feel bad that he cannot fly or the butterfly to feel bad for not being also to swim. Doesn't it makes sense. Same is with all of us. We just need to identify things which makes us happy.  
• I have wasted X years of my life- We feel that we have wasted our life but you know, nothing is wasted in this world. Do you know the story of bamboo tree?  It doesn’t show sign of growth in first four- five years. But, in the next one year it will grow rapidly. Now, the reality is that the growth doesn't occur only in one year, it happens over a period of 5-6 years. 
  
  During the first 5 years the growth of roots is happening and the foundation is getting stronger which let the bamboo to grow rapidly in last one year. Same is with all of us. We just need six months to a year to have a visible growth. All the years before that are definitely not wasted. Believe me.  Good experience gives you joy, bad experience build your character and personality. So, they both are equally important.  
• I don't have Natural Talent-  Galileo told that the earth moves around the sun. But at that time, Everyone  felt that he was wrong and people wanted to kill him. Everyone knew that  Earth was fixed and sun revolved around the earth, which was later proved wrong . Galileo was considered as a mad man all his life. The poor chap got all the recognition after his death. Even today all our textbooks are full with works of  Galileo. 
  
  You  can't do much about others  but can make Galileo your role model. Not only him, Abraham Lincoln was unable to win even a local election, all his life he failed in whatever he did. He failed more than us for sure and see one day he became the president of US. It was not luck but hard work. Remember the bamboo story. See it's working.   
• I am waiting for the perfect moment- There is nothing called perfect moment. Try to get the maximum out of whatever you have. Minimize Procrastination, and never wait for the perfect moment. Life happens when we wait for the perfect moment.
• I don't have zeal to learn- Larry Page invented Google and it became a dream company for many.  He just followed his passion. may be he was also not having the zeal to learn or work on the traditional subjects. So he created something new.
• It will not work out- Follow your heart and chase your dreams as they are worth it. There is nothing which can't work out even when the idea looks ridiculous to others. The key is that you must believe in the idea, that’s it. 
   
  In India, almost everyone loves cricket and is a cricket commentator. But, that doesn't stopped Harsha Bhogle from becoming a full time Cricket Commentator after his post graduation from IIM Ahmadabad. He must have been mocked for his choice of profession but he had passion for it and he pursued something he loved doing.
   
  If you are a Movie Buff - You can be an expert reviewer and can also earn and get paid for watching movies and writing reviews.

Secret Of Happiness

• There is no secret ingredient.
• Don't chase happiness as you can never achieve it. Rather, Chase your dreams, Follow your heart, Slow down a bit and smell the roses, Smile at a stranger, Make a pen friend, Call you Mom/Dad/loved ones and you will find happiness instantly.
• Saying that you don't have time to improve your thoughts is like saying you don't have time to stop for fuel because you are too busy driving. 
• The secret of Happiness is to find out what you love and then directing all your energy towards doing it.

PS- The inspiration for this answer is from a pen friend on Quora. We don't know much about each other but we share our thoughts and counsel each other. Thank you  for sharing your problem with me which helped me write this. :)

Please feel free to ping me if you have anything to ask. You can also check out various life lessons in the form of my quora answers and articles at the webpage Career Advice & Guidance

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Should I join TCS or a Startup?

I work for a MNC but my vote will go to a Startup if you have appetite for risk. I see that you have worked for a MNC for 2 years and you are young and dynamic so it is the right time to jump in the ocean of uncertainty, unpredictability and randomness at a startup.

 Key reasons to support my point. Point no-6 is my favorite.

1. Taste-You have already worked at a MNC and have tasted all the good and bad about it. So, why not taste something else.
2. Work Culture- The work culture is more casual at a startup and working for a smaller company allows you to see different functions of the organisation.
3. My Favorite Analogy- Startups are like a Rabbit. You can grab all that is happening there. But a MNC is a Giant Elephant and you are only focused on any specific part of it which is very small compared to the overall size.
4. Specialist or generalist- Now choice is yours, if you like to be a specialist  then join MNCs . But, if you want to learn about the various functions of the organisation then working for startups will be the best choice.
5. High Risk, High Return- However, don't forget that startups are volatile like high risk high return shares. If you love risks and adventures then jump for it else be at a MNC.
6. Gifts and other perks-  Startups are known for frequents team dinners, casual work place options ( working while sitting on a bean bag  in office or in your shorts, from CCD, or in a Mall). But, If you date someone who is also in TCS, then join TCS and both of you will get gift amount of 50,000/- each on marrying :P (jokes apart)

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What important things a 19 years old should know?

I am going in flashback to my 19th year to answer this question. I was a freshman at college and here is my sincere advice to my 19 year old self:)

• Passion- Do things you are passionate about. Write down the list of things you love doing and pursue them.
• Not getting into your preferred college (IIT) is not a bad thing if you focus on what you have got rather that fretting about what you have missed.
• Mistakes- Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Learn from your mistakes and don't repeat them.
• Friends- It is the time to make life long friends. Cultivate good relationships that will make your life beautiful.
• Volunteer- Look beyond yourself. There are many causes to which you can lend your hand. Try it and you will relish the experience.
• Learn- Learn new things which are not related to your subject of expertise. It will broaden your horizon and deepen your Insight.
• Start early- Identify what you want to do in life. Don't follow the rat race. Create your own path and start early
• Take the escalator- Always think creatively and don't try to climb a ladder when you can take an escalator.
• People- Nurture enriching relationship with people online and offline. In today's world, although it's important what you know but it is more important whom you know. [ For example, Most of the US Universities ask for reference when you opt for higher studies]
• Eat well- Yes, the metabolism is good at that time so you need not worry about putting on weight. Just enjoy your favorite foods.
• Cultivate Hobbies- Read books, write, watch movies, play sports, collect stamps, do anything which makes you happy. These hobbies will make your life interesting and meaningful.
• Don't judge your parents- Sooner or Later you will realize that your Dad was always right!
• Don't ignore your loved one. Be it Family, Friends or anyone- The biggest casualty of the " who cares" attitude of a 19 year old teenager is his/her loved ones.  Never Hurt a heart that loves you because wounded hearts are like crushed flowers than never bloom again.
• Dream- Don't be afraid to see dreams as those who dream can make it a reality someday. Dream Big and Chase your Dreams. Never settle for small things.
• Choices- Life is all about the choices we make. Try many things but don't get addicted to them. Don't blindly follow something just because it makes you look cool.
• Failures- Learn to celebrate Failures. They are the thankless job done by God to make you stronger.
• Be comfortable in your skin- When your stop worrying about how you look and start feeling comfortable in your skin then you truly enjoy life.

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Is there anyone who despite scoring low in school/college, succeeded in life?

My grades have been shaky all my life and I relate more with those slogging that toppers. Just to give you a feel, I am presenting my scores.

School From 57 % in Class 10th ( 1st Term) to 82 % to Class 10th Boards and the again it slipped to 67 % in Class 12th Boards.  I Flunked in physics and had to sit for compartmental in Class 11th and really don't remember whether I got 50% or even less than that:(

Let us take English, Got highest (88/100) in Class 10th Boards and lowest    ( 57/100) in class 12th Boards. 

College ( from 7.04/10 CGPA in First sem to 9.04/10 in Last sem)

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Am I successful?

Success is a subjective thing. I count success in terms of the learning and experience one gets in life.  Yes!  I feel successful as I work to make things better than they are. The challenges of the work I face makes me feel happy about my work. I work for a reputed company and I enjoy my work. 

I am a startup enthusiast who is working for a MNC on a mega infrastructure project in Mumbai. Major chunk of my time goes into meeting people from different organisations of all sizes. They all are business meetings but there is tremendous knowledge sharing in those interactions.
I love talking to founders of startups as they are full of energy and passion. The same goes for CEOs, Directors and senior executives of MNCs, as they have vision for the growth and well being of their shareholders and employees.

I enjoy the best of MNC and Startup culture because I am working at a project site and it is amazing. 

Do I got opportunity to work at what I dreamt of ?

No, I wanted to be a Scientist, Bank Manager, Police Officer, Prime Minister, Doctor, Actor and Astronaut at different point of time. :( 

But I am a Mechanical Engineer working in Construction Industry in the Field of Tendering, Project Procurement, Costing, Contract Management, Outsourcing which is no way related to my dreams. Anyways, Life is all about changes, our priority and preferences changes with time.

I don't like to mention this but I have never scored 90% in my life but I am earning more that 90% of my former batchmates.

  

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Is it difficult to work for Dream Companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon or Adobe

Question: Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Adobe interviews are hard to crack. Is work in these companies difficult compared to TCS, Infosys, or IBM for a developer?

This is a fully loaded question and I am breaking it into parts to answer it systematically.

For ease of understanding I am classifying the two categories of companies as:

Amazon, Google, Facebook, Adobe - Dream companies

TCS, Infosys or IBM- Good companies

Amazon, Google, Facebook and Adobe interviews are hard to crack - An established fact

Re writing the Question to make it simple : Will a developer find it difficult to work in Dream Companies compared to good companies?

Answer-  Mostly Not, Sometimes Yes.

Justification-

1. Why a developer mostly don't find it difficult to work at dream companies compared to good companies?

• The dream companies have a stringent selection criteria. They pay close attention to the suitability of the candidate and hence the chances of selecting an unworthy candidate is highly unlikely.
• Passion matters- People love to do what they are passionate about. Only great developers can sail through the rigorous selection process. I respect TCS for giving me my first offer letter even when I had little knowledge about programming and have answered that my favorite language was English Rohan Sinha's answer in TCS Interview "Why should I hire you"?
• Work Culture Matters- Just by coming in contact with other intelligent and ambitious individuals, everyone grows due to healthy competition.
• The Impact you make inspire a lot- I work for the largest construction company in India with literally no competition in certain segments like Defence, Shipbuilding, Airport Development, etc. The prestige you command with the product and service you offer makes you more responsible and you don't mind walking the extra mile as the impact you make inspire a lot.  Here, the dream companies and good companies are equally able to provide a platform where you create an impact, though, people feel that the impact of working in Dream companies sets you apart. So, a Developer will not find the work difficult if he is sufficiently inspired by the impact he will create.
• Recognition- The developer will not find the work difficult when he/she is well  appreciated. Just see at Quora, there are more people from the good companies and less from the dream companies. Further, those at good companies aspire to be at dream companies and hence those in dream companies feels well appreciated. 

2. Why a developer sometimes find it difficult to work at dream companies compared to good companies?

• When they are overqualified for a job- The sad part of working at dream companies is that they often end up hiring overqualified people for certain jobs like unflagging contents from You tube, doing technical support, etc. A great developer may definitely not like to do support jobs at Google. People land up in such situations and I am not exaggerating. ( This problem is possible at all kind of companies)
• When working on less challenging projects-  I always thought that dreams companies have only dream jobs. I was wrong. Even, search engine giant like Google makes products  or offer services that tank. Do you remember Buzz,  the social networking platform created by google to counter Facebook, Myspace, etc. Those who work on less popular or less challenging products or services sometimes lose interest if they are inspired by the outcome of the result of the projects. ( This problem is possible at all kind of companies)
• When they feel that they are not making significant impact on the Business-  The developer may lose interest if she didn't see that her contributions are making a significant impact. People who are accustomed to work in small companies sometimes find it difficult to work in large organisations because they feel that their contributions are not significant. This is the downside of working for any large company. Example- I am a active member of the team that build the new Terminal 2 of the Mumbai International Airport, but my individual contribution is negligible considering the large size of the team and the quantum of the project. We have delegated the work to thousands of contractors, millions of labors have worked and they also deserve credit for the success of the project. In this situation, some feel uninspired.

Disclaimer- My answer is based on my knowledge as an individual with no vested interest in any of the companies mentioned herein. I am avid reader of  Financial Post, Business Insider, Time Magazine, Forbes, Economics Times, Harvard Business Review. If any information needs additional clarification, do get back to me.

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