What After Graduation?

An ECE Undergrad’s Final Year Dilemma

Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash

For some of us, the prospect of the final year of engineering looms. For others, it’s already upon us. The only thought that stands out in our confused mind is — what are we going to do? For a living? For life? Combine the two, if we can? I was also in that spot a year ago, trying to find my way- but I did not have a path chosen beforehand. I decided on pursuing research after interning at IIT Madras, but how to go about it was still foggy. Uninformed and blundering, I was bemused by how people could make choices.

Life had other plans, like a swirling vortex that changes the course of even the best ship. Eventually, I applied for campus placements and secured a job in the EDA industry. But are campus placements or masters the only career paths available after a bachelor’s? What can you do after your bachelor’s? What are the ways available to make money? Read on to find out.

The beaten track

Almost all universities have placement training and a series of practice tests. Their effectiveness is questionable, though. Career fairs, a now worldwide phenomenon, haven’t reached India yet, though they will, and soon. Placements are still a demonized experience for a few, with bittersweet memories. People yearning for financial freedom, usually take this path, as the others involve varying degrees of debt. But with financial freedom comes responsibility and a certain element of uncertainty too.

We can classify jobs into corporate ones and Public Sector Undertakings. While choosing, make sure you’re informed about the pros and cons of the organization you want to join. Sources that explain multiple angles of the story are social media and peer circles. But in the end, take them with a pinch of salt, and use your discretion.

A Master’s degree is a high-budget trajectory change, by choosing a different major. It does not come easy. Only the passion of working towards our interest propels us forward. This is my personal opinion- MS is not as fancy as it sounds. You are going in with heavy student debt. Know what you are signing up for in advance. The coursework is grueling and draining. Only if you are highly motivated, the load will not seem crushing. I do agree that job prospects are high after a successful MS degree. If you want to make a success of it, be decisive and very clear on what you want. For people who want a switch, I recommend that you opt for an internship in the new field. It will build faith and credibility in your Letter of Recommendation. Consequently, it will impress the admission committee too, as they will know that-

1. You would go to any lengths to get what you want.
2. You are passionate enough to complete an internship.
3. You will do justice to your MS degree.
4. You qualify for a graduate or teaching assistantship, as you have relevant experience.
5. You will be an excellent addition to the research community.
6. You will be the alumnus who can give TED Talks about successful career switches and will bring laurels to the University.

The road less traveled by — or what to do if you haven’t got it figured out

Take a break

Trust me, the people who think they have it all figured out, are as confused as you, if not more. If you are yet to find what enthralls you and pulls you out of bed without an alarm, go with the flow. Do things you always wanted to. Pursue hobbies for which you once pulled out random excuses. Things will fall into place. Freelance for a while if you feel you’re missing out on getting paid. Take that clichéd soul searching solo trip. Build relationships- family, friends, and well-wishers. Network with people. Ask away the doubts haunting your dreams. In 20 years of subsisting on earth, there are high chances you’ll meet the right mentor. Never hide anything from that particular person. It might lead to untoward circumstances in the future.

Change career paths

If you know your calling, stop not till the goal is reached. Leave no stone unturned. Don’t beat yourself up over negligible shortcomings and distractions. Take relevant courses and equip yourself. Try to get hands-on experience to know what you’re doing inside out.

Freelance

Sometimes a 9–5 job may not enthuse you. Who knows, your hobby may get you paid more than a conventional job! There is a fair share of websites providing a myriad of freelancing opportunities. The links are attached below-

1. https://www.upwork.com/https://www.freelancer.in/
2. https://www.fiverr.com/
3. https://www.writeraccess.com/
4. https://www.peopleperhour.com/

Become a founder, maybe?

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

One amazing idea can topple the economy, and if you’ve got it, go for it. There is no reason to have second thoughts. No need to please anybody. Believe in your idea. Find the right partner to sail with you. Steer the business goals forward and strive for the best. Knowledge is never a roadblock, as you can hire people with the skills you lack. Make them do the things that you cannot manage. Market your idea and build your empire.

Coming back to the convention

It’s evident to us that a conventional job for an ECE undergrad will lie in the field of IT, electronics or communications. Though there are several companies that specialize in this, we don’t often find them on campus. Nevertheless, don’t limit the frontiers of jobs to the scope of campus placements. In the software domain, there are jobs for software frontend and backend development, support systems, embedded and network engineering. In the field of electronics, there are design and verification engineers. Jobs for freshers are not easy but the opportunities are plenty. It is the timing, contacts, and skills which matter.

Data science is just another buzzword, and the domain is like any other. It requires real blood and sweat to gravitate to glory in the field. We can say the same of management consulting and product management. Though the undergraduate coursework is not tailor-made for many jobs in the market, resources are plenty. Get connected to the right people to guide you and upskill.

In conclusion, there is no single route to success. The path is circuitous and tailored to the individual. Your mindset matters more than any work you’re doing. Instead of being trapped in a self-made prison it is better to snap out of the rut. There are a couple of things I learned after I graduated-

1. Keep upskilling, and learning. There is no substitute for these. Stay alive by staying competitive in this ever-evolving world.
2. If you really like something, become the King of it. Monetize it.
3. Maybe life isn’t just another compare and contrast question found in examinations.

Editorial Note:

Vijayalakshmi is an ASIC Digital Design Engineer at Synopsys Inc. She graduated with a Bachelors in ECE from NIT Trichy in 2019.

If you are an alumnus of the ECE department of NIT Trichy and are interested in sharing your experiences and expertise via the ‘Alumni Corner’ section of the Probe blog on Medium, please reach out to us at ecea.nitt@gmail.com.