Project X.2
In the last post, I asked you to ponder about how a small project that you do during your undergrad will help you in sculpting your future. So here is my point of view
A typical engineering student has 2 options in front of him; higher studies or a well set career. The 2 phrases which are synonymous with higher studies and a good career are painstaking application forms and grueling interview processes. As for myself, I was fortunate enough to get a shot at both.
For those pursuing higher studies, it must be a commonly known fact that, most countries especially USA and in Europe don’t have entrance exams like GATE, BARC and TANCET. The selection process is entirely at the discretion of the universities. They never reveal their criteria. They may set a lower limit so that a minimum requirement to apply is communicated to the interested students. But if you clear the minimum requirement, it never means you are guaranteed a seat.
The application process is pretty energy sapping. Each application easily takes 2 hours or more, and that is just the filling up of the online form alone ( most of us are even ready to shell out Rs30,000 to a consultancy to fill out and take care of the application process).
Besides that, you have Letters of Recommendations, essays and what not. While one may get all this information from their seniors/consultants/relatives. One thing that takes us by mild surprise is the academic achievements tab, which asks for details of the projects worked on, papers published and conferences attended. Most of us are just relieved that the boxes to be filled are optional fields and we can save our fingers the trouble of typing out 3 to 4 paragraphs because we have nothing to account for.
That is a big blunder, especially when you aim to get into some of the top universities in the world. Stats show that acceptance in top institutions are directly related to the time invested by the applicant in projects and research. Participating in a simple project or performing a good research study on common process/problem or principle gets you closer to a successful application and scholarship.
When it comes to the job interview scene, almost all freshers have a standard resume template which begins with a hard-to-memorize objective, a tabular column for their academic records, a mention of their personal skills a few other details about hobbies, religion etc. Fact of the matter is that the interviewer has 10 - 15 minutes to decide if he wants you in his company or not. It will hardly take him a minute to mentally register details about marks and awards. So what will set you apart from the other 999 folks on the other side of the door, of which at least 70% will have profile similar to yours? There may be many answers to that. A most certain answer is your Projects. It not only gives the interviewer scope for discussion, but also allows you to make the interviewer ask questions in areas you are familiar with.
If eyes are the mirror to the soul (Paulo Coelho) then I believe your tongue is the mirror to the brain and all that it holds. Assuming you have put your entire dedication and hard work into working on the project, then you are bound to describe it with a passion that is very hard to fake or duplicate. This will create a positive impression on the interviewer in terms of your capacity and work ethic. This theory holds good even more so when the interviewer and interviewee are from different domains. (For example: A mechanical student sitting in an IT company interview)
To wrap up things, a word of advice, involve yourselves in as many projects as you can. Seek proper guidance, approach your professors and industry contacts, do something worthwhile with your time. It is not going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it. Work with the motivation to make a difference and success will automatically follow. Though at the outset, everything seems to be discovered. That is far from the truth. The scope for research is like an intertwined web of endless possibilities. SO JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND START FROM SIMPLE CONCEPTS. It might be how a car works, or how water flows through a pipe. Simple ideas have brought the best laws - A long time back a person wondered how the apple fell on his head and rest became history!!
And for you Mechies out there, check out the Simulation for Mechanical engineers and ANSYS APDL courses on www.EdXengine.com. Both of them start off with the basics and culminate with 2 unique projects which will make your resume stronger. Sign-up for the courses and enjoy 24/7 expert support wherever you are, whenever you want.
By the way here is some free advice !! Take a look at it and make your resume better. AND OBVIOUSLY its FREE :D
-PEN