Aiming for the stars......

Companies in IT industry can be very broadly classified into 2 tiers.
Tier-1 companies, which include the likes of Microsoft, Google etc,
make software products and technologies. Tier-2 companies, where
Indian players like TCS, Infosys etc fall in, are predominantly
service based. I.e. they make applications making use of
technologies/products developed by Tier-1 firms. Let’s see some
statistics on salaries.  A junior developer in a tier-1 firm gets
around Rs 800000/- pa whereas their tier-2 counterparts get Rs
300000/- pa. For more senior positions, the gap widens more. (refer
www.glassdoor.com for more salary comparisons)

It’s no secret that majority of maceians are employed in Tier-2 firms
even though MACE is always considered among the best colleges in the
state.  4 years of engineering college life at MACE is not an easy one
at all, with more than 40 theory papers, 10 labs, 2 projects and a
technical seminar which are among the most sought-after for
plagiarizing by others.

          Despite having vast and deep knowledge about computer
science topics, maceians typically end up in service firms. In such
firms, they typically make/modify applications based on requirements
given or handle support tickets from clients. Many end up in testing
jobs as well. These jobs are mediocre and don’t require core
engineering skills.  On the other hand, imagine the kind of
professional satisfaction one gets from being part of projects like
‘Google search’, ’iPhone’ which has dramatically changed people’s
lives. So which side you want to be in?

                                               The main reason why
maceians end up in service industry is that, they are the only
companies conducting bulk campus recruitment. And we hardly see firms
like Microsoft, Oracle etc visiting our campus. So, if we need to find
jobs in such firms then we have to reach out to them and this requires
some preparation as it isn’t a cake walk. Let’s see how you can
improve your chances of being hired by technology players like
Microsoft, Oracle, Google etc (naturally these will also improve the
chances of being hired by service players as well!)

                               The first step is Networking-It simply
means making good contacts with people in the industry and people
having similar interests as yours and it will play a very crucial role
in your career. You can know about the technologies in demand from
people who are in industry. The best way to get a call for an
interview in a tier-1 company is through referral. Even in cases where
you don’t quite match the company’s requirement, which usually is the
case, if you are backed by someone within the company, chances are
high that you get hired. Apart from Mace alumni, professional
networking sites like LinkedIn and other sites including Facebook can
be useful in making networks. Don’t just spend your time playing Mafia
Wars and Farmville….. Do more or your career will be at stake.

   Next important step when you pursue a big dream is developing
good communication skills, which is not merely explaining your resume
and project, but it can be in forms of casual talks with your
interviewer while catching up on a coffee  about a recently released
movie . Talks can also be formal in the middle of an interview as it
expresses your keen interest in terms of technology and domain.
Clarity and brevity is very important while articulating you ideas.
This is not something that can be achieved overnight.  It’s a long
term process which requires certain amount of dedication. Various
things like engaging in group discussions with colleagues or even
online discussion boards, promoting English inside class rooms,
seeking professional help, regularly reading English articles,
blogging, writing movie reviews etc. can help a lot in this.
              And finally, the most important of all: having strong
technical skills –both theoretical and practical aspects; be ready for
an interview with a big arsenal. Each of the weapons in that should
give the interviewer an impression that they need this person. Do some
projects of your own; there are plenty of resources in the servers
across the globe which are just a click away; all you need is an
attitude to explore and excel. Open source projects will surely help
you in developing and polishing your technical skills.  Make the best
use of sites like sourceforge.net, codeplex.net etc. Be aware of the
latest technological developments. Take a chance to watch the
procedures of a company as a part of final year project, rather than
forcing yourself into some technology which is outdated or will be
obsolete soon, this obviously need some support from the department.
It’s also very important that you have a consistent academic score to
impress top companies as most of them consider academics from 10th
standard onwards….even though talent play its own role.

Don’t lose hope even if you don’t end up with your dream job after
graduation. You have the option of higher studies and if you can do
your post-graduation from a reputed institute, you have a good chance
of being hired by top notch companies as they visit most good
institutes for campus recruitment.  So consider preparing for GATE/GRE
or other exams during long semester breaks.  Also, taking technical
certifications add lot of weight to your resume.

All this might sound humongous, but like it’s said…. there are no
shortcuts to success. However, don’t have the misconception that you
need to be “Mr. NERD” to achieve all this. You can bunk many classes,
party every weekend and still you can achieve this if you have passion
and an attitude with fixed focus. Remember, always aim for the stars,
and even if you don’t quite reach there…..you can still make it to the
tree top.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt


NB:
This is an article written by myself and my friend Lloyd George. This was published in Zing20, a souvenir published   in connection with 20th year celebration of Computer Science Dept. , MACE,Kothamangalam. (my alma mater)

My Engineering College Life......

MAR ATHANASIOUS COLLEGE OF ENGG. Kothamangalam-- The great place where I did my engineering. The place where i have transformed from a boy who couldn't stand on stage and speak....to a real engineer..... making presentations infront of huge crowds.... I think my blog wont make any sense unless i write my college life here.... the place where i enjoyed a lot.... cried a lot..... worried a lot....and learned a lot.....

I dont remember the exact day on which i joined mace.. but it was in september..

I went with my mum on the welcome day. After the meeting.. we were taken to the CSE Dept by our group tutor Linda miss.

I remember noticing 2-3 faces. One was rosmy. i didnt know her name.. then i noted Rini.. (she was my class mate in nirmala).. and then MANU.. coz his parents and my mum talked.. and finally njanum manu-m relatives aayi! ALIYANs!

The first day at college. I took position in 1st or 2nd bench.. it was Vysakh whom i met first! we talked a bit and then what.. some seniors came and picked me! i was wearing full sleeves and shoes! enne avar onnu fire cheythu.. "nee enna kalyaanathinu povaanoda ______"

Njanum vittu koduthilla! "ivan aaru " enna mattil njanum thirichu mooppichu! avar poi!

Oru VIJAYITHANTE bhavathil njan classil chennu irunnu! 

1st day poi angine!  Ellam "Subham"

Next day or day after it.. i was sitting in some other bench.

2 seniors came and enquired for a guy who sat in 1st bench on 1st day!

Amme ! athu njan aanallo!!

Enne avar pidichu!

Pinne pooram allarno!! _&!($*^$* ( $!^*

$&!*$&


$(&$)

Njan oru peace talk enna mattil  oru chettante kayyil kayari angu pidichittu 'HI" paranju!

Perum chodhichu!

Ente amoooo!!

Pinne )()!@()($) bahalam aarnu!


Appol athaa EEE - le oru sir kadannu vannu!

Sirne kandappol avar oooooodiiiiii..

Eveningil aa chettane pinnem kandu.. He was bit tensed whether i have complainted to sir..

He talked to me for a while.. and invited me to a DRINK party too! ( ofcourse, i turned down that invitation!)

EE raging kazhinjappol njan poi irunnathu Tarun te aduthaa! Annu thudangiyatha Tarun ayittula friendship! my first friend in MACE!

My friends count increased each day....darshan..manu....no female members so far...

1st year tour was to munnar. I found it difficult to take attendance during tour, as i didnt knew any girls names!

S3-S6 was a usual college life.... If i start to write about all the incidents, then it will take a whole day!

Tours, classile alambundaakkal.. 

there was a common thing which happened 1st week of every sem!

ME and MANU buys new notebooks and sits in front bench. with the intention of being 'padikkunna kutty'..

1 week work out aayi!! 2nd week onwards njangal veendum pazhaya 'alambu' payyanz!!

Things improved as I moved to S6.. This time i spent a reasonable amount of time for my studies. This is the sem when i felt like..the class was a family.... .. i was very committed to my class,, and was willing to do anything... i mean anything for the class!!

S7 was the most eventful semester. We enjoyed a 3 day trip for the first time in college life!! This is the time when i and elizabeth became close friends.. I prayed that my college life should never end... Saturdays and Sundays were most boring without class:( :( :(  I understood the meaning of the word 'loneliness' while in s7... i had this on all holidays...

This sem i took my studies very serious.. thanks to a dear friend of mine...:) |Combine studies started showing results... and I learned the importance of time and hardworking when i studied with this dear friend of mine....

S8 was a more like a smooth continuation of S7 but many bad incidents occured for me.. My professional life was booming with seminars, paper presentations... but my personal life took a beating.. I kept on failing continuously to hide my feelings.... I dont know how  I managed to finish the S8.... friendship...missings..... love... studies... oh..my brain was always full with something and i was always worried..

As in S7, I give 1st priority to studies and I think i topped in sessionals in class. and did very well for my universities as well.. :) .. I did hell lot of work with my dear friend in last 2-3 semesters to bring my aggregate to 72 from around 69

S8 ended... I dont know..how much i cried..lying alone.. in my room.... oh .....God only knows how much pain...

The friendship with my dear one continued...though lot of misshaps occured...:)

I know i cant go back to my campus life ever... Have to accept the fact.. its over..... i will miss u all very much dear friends!!

During 4 years of engg.. college life, I learned a lot of thing.. I have changed a lot... I am no more afraid of anything.. I have a vision now... And the strength to reach there......

Now my next few years will be in Infosys... My MACE life has given me the foundation stones...for a tough life at Infosys..!:) ( dont know why...i like to lead a tough and busy life these days!!)

Swantham...

Cijo
(oppu)