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Guidance for final year engineering students for a successful career

Lakhs of students pass out every year from engineering colleges, but how many of them are able to build promising careers? Indeed, what assures them a promising career? How a student should prepare oneself during the final year of their engineering and work to get a good career opening in this competitive world? Let us probe further.

Final year of engineering is very crucial period for any engineering student. It is that time where there is some scope for compensating for any lapse in the earlier years. If students are careful enough in planning and work hard with punctuality and dedication, they will definitely achieve their career goals with ease.

From spoon-feeding to self-learning
Though engineering has now become a common professional degree, it is always a unique and evergreen course. While pursuing an engineering degree, the students will undergo a total transformation not just academically, but also personally. They need to develop attitude to face problematic situations comfortably and to arrive at intelligent and innovative solutions. Students enter into campus life after undergoing a lot of spoon feeding type of education during schooling and junior college days.

However, during the years of engineering they must have realised that that such spoon-feeding, which was familiar to them is no longer available to them.

In engineering colleges, Lecturers may present overview of any subject with in-depth discussion in selected few topics wherever it is felt important and relevant in the context of latest technological developments. Rest of the things, students will have to learn on their own. Hence, self-learning is very important quality one should have acquired by the end of three years of coursework. Otherwise, they will lag behind others.

Focus on personality development
Students should focus on their personality development, particularly their communication capabilities and professional manners. Spoken English has to be given special attention. Particularly, students from rural background need to overcome their weakness in spoken or written English by the time they enter the final year. Most of the colleges/ institutions have exclusive English language labs where the students can polish their spoken English.

The students must get used to the new methods of learning such as writing assignments, collecting study materials from library or online resources and doing a lot of self-study. The students should focus on acquiring other skills such as participating in group discussions and team events. Learning to build good vocabulary, word power, quantitative/ analytical ability and logical reasoning should be done on a continuous basis as these things cannot be acquired overnight.

Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities shall be given a taken up by students as they form important part of their resume when they start applying for jobs and higher studies. The students should participate in various competitions in different colleges at state level and at national level.

These activities will not only give them confidence, exposure to new things, but also teach how to manage things while working in a team. The active participation in the events and activities also improves the communication skills, time management and lot more aspects of the students. Exposure to practical things teaches many new things to the students, which they would never have a chance to learn otherwise.

Be clear on career goal!
The students should be very clear about their career goals. Selection of correct career path will offer them lifelong economical and social stability. Having higher aims in life is not sufficient, but it should be accompanied with great determination and hard work. One should be careful in choosing one’s career. They should consider all pro and cons of various available career options.

Based on a proper assessment of one’s ability and interest levels, they should make up their mind on right career option. Discussion with teachers, seniors, alumni as well as parents is very important in arriving at a final decision. Once a decision is taken, it should be pursued with full dedication and a disciplined approach. Students should chalk out a plan of action to realize their goal.

Wide options through Engineering
A wide variety of options are available to be taken up after engineering such as pursuing higher studies, taking up a job or striving for Civil services or Engineering services.

Though becoming an entrepreneur is a good aim, it should be attempted after getting thorough experience and knowledge of product development and market study. Gathering finances is not easy without a proper plan in place and have to face miseries in the event if the entrepreneurial adventure fails. Preparing for Civil services or Engineering services would need special emphasis on current affairs and general knowledge apart from domain subject knowledge.

Higher studies
Higher studies may be pursued either abroad or in India in engineering or management streams. Getting admission for post graduation in India is very difficult due to tough competition compared to abroad admissions. However, if one aims to get admission into top ranking institutes, he /she must ensure initially whether they have good percentile of marks/CGPA in graduation. Preparation of good “Statement of Purpose” explaining the reasons clearly, why he/she wishes to pursue higher education is very important. The students should also take recommendation letters from their professors and keep them ready for submission when applying for Admissions.

Management studies
If one wishes to pursue higher education in management, it is advisable to work in an industry at least for two years before applying for admissions. Industrial experience will be an added advantage and is given due weight age during admissions to management programs.

Getting good scores
If one aims to pursue higher education in engineering in India, they should prepare for GATE exam. For planning to go abroad for higher education in engineering, they need to appear for GRE, TOEFL or IELTS exam depending on which country they wish to pursue higher education. Good scores in these exams will help in getting financial assistance in universities abroad. However, in the recent years, most of the foreign institutes have reduced the financial assistance provided to foreign due to economy slow down.

Live projects
Whatever be the chosen career path, during final year, the students should aim to do project work of good quality in which their contributions are evidently observable. There are many coaching centers/training institutes offering Project works across the counter as a package for some money. Students should never go for such shortcuts in copying or borrowing project works. They should choose a project work in their area of interest and plan a methodology for the work which can be experimental, theoretical or computational.

Internships and workshops
It is advisable if one can get internships from well known companies where they will work alongside project teams on live projects. It is easy for students from CSE, CSIT and ECE to get such Internship opportunities. However, Students from other branches like Mechanical, Civil, Chemical and Bio Medical need to take up good technical project works based on the availability of infrastructure facilities at their college or nearby industries.

They can attend workshops and training programmes offered by premier institutes. The students should also aim to present papers in international /national conferences/ symposia, as they will add value to their resume.

Placement scenario
The freshers passing out from engineering colleges during 2012 and 2013 had faced the challenges on both fronts - getting campus placements or securing financial assistance for higher studies in abroad. The good news for students passing out in the year 2014 is that the mood of the corporate world is positive on campus hiring.

The figures on campus hiring will bounce back as some companies have already indicated that they are aiming to increase their recruitments from campuses, compared to 2013 batch. The demand has always been there for competent engineers in top companies across India and abroad.

Preparing for campus placements
If getting good campus placement is your target, then efforts must be put right from day one of final year. Students targeting at core jobs should have sound knowledge of fundamentals of their branches. Students targeting software jobs should be good at soft skills and programming. If target is to get an opening in a multi national company, then learning a foreign language would be very much helpful.

Attending mock group discussions and mock interviews would do lot of good in their preparation for campus interviews. Dress code, body language and time discipline will all be closely watched by the HR officials during selection process. Resume preparation is very vital and preparation of answers to typical questions like “tell me about yourself” is very important.

Majority of campus placements particularly in IT companies will begin after seventh semester, as the IT body NASSCOM’s had urged all its members and colleges not to commence campus recruitments before the end of seventh semester. During the campus placements, students should submit their resumes with latest photograph against any job notification to the placement office within stipulated deadline. Before interviews, study about the company by going through their websites and interacting with alumni working in similar organizations.

On the day of the interview
On the day of campus interview, reach the placement office in proper dress code with all requisite certificates and documents well before time. Attend pre placement talks by the companies and interact with company officials to clarify any queries you have on the job profile/ selection process. Most of the companies will conduct aptitude and technical tests initially to shortlist students for further rounds. Some companies will conduct group discussions later to further shortlist candidates for Interviews.

After qualifying through technical interviews, candidates need to attend HR Interviews. During interviews, always be cheerful, calm and composed. It is not necessary to answer all questions of the panel members. The students with good preparation and good awareness about the recruiting company, which is visiting the college, will be at an advantage. The students should be careful about choosing the company they would like to join - whether core or software - and once decision is made, they should give their best performance in the interview. With right skills, focused attitude and preparedness, getting a job in a dream company will not be difficult.

By,
V. Uma Maheshwar,
Placement Officer,
University College of Engineering,
Osmania University, Hyderabad

P.S Avadhani,
Placement Officer,
AU College of Engineering,
Visakhapatnam,

gives the strategy for the final year students for a successful career -

Q: How is final year important than previous three years and how the performance of a student in final year will determine the future of a student?
Ans: The final year is very important for various reasons -

  1. That is the only year left out to clear backlogs (failed subjects, if any). If they are not cleared then they become supplementary candidates. Moreover, they lose one year.
  2. This is the year they have to concentrate on their placement activities, plan for the future studies taking exams like GATE, GRE, TOEFL etc.
  3. They have to complete their project work also.
So they have to plan their time and accordingly work. It is definitely the most crucial year of engineering degree.

Q: Basic difference between third year comparing to fourth year of engineering...
Ans: Until third year, they have to write exams and pass. In fourth year, there will be project work too. More stress will be on that. Further, there will be other things, which are mentioned above such as clearing backlogs, sitting for exams like GATE, GRE, TOEFL etc.

Q: What kind of attitude the student should have in the fourth year?
Ans:
Students must try to inculcate the habit of working in teams, working on their career choices, try to learn the latest technologies that are required for the placements and improve their communication skills. More than anything else, they need to know how to behave professionally with others.

Q: How to plan the fourth year of engineering course in career perspective?
Ans: Depending on their interest, they have to either appear for GATE, GRE or be regularly in touch with the placement office for the latest updates on placements. They can also to browse the net for the placement offers. Many students feel that it is the placement office job to provide them jobs; but they have to remember that it is their career and they have to be proactive.

Q: What should be the approach for campus placements? What are the key factors at this stage? Can backlogs affect campus placements?
Ans:
Following suggestions would work as to campus placements -

  1. Students shall take an important role in campus placement process. Gathering the details of the prospective employers need not entirely left to the placement office thinking that it is their job to ensure the arrival of companies for campus recruitment. Students shall also play a proactive and cooperative role.
  2. Students can identify the companies, which offer positions at the entry level, in their respective disciplines. They also can get in touch with HR departments of different companies and make sure that the latter would know about their college, may be by inviting them to the college with the help of brochures and presentations or for any function and explain them the achievements of the students. Here the services of the alumni of the institute play a vital role.
  3. Students should have no backlogs by the end of seventh semester, which would make them disqualified to sit for campus placements. Hence, it is must for the students to clear all the papers by the end of the seventh semester.
  4. The factors that play vital role in job selection are –
    1. Good knowledge of the fundamentals,
    2. Good communication skills, and
    3. Pleasing manners.
Q: How to select a project work? What are the do’s and don’ts at the time of project work and to what extent can a student involve in a company concerned for project work?
Ans:
If any company offers a project work to the student then it is the best choice. If not, it is better to choose a project work on the latest technology.

A good workable solution on the chosen technology is sufficient. For example people using JAVA (for IT related projects) need to know what JAVA does and how the project is implemented in JAVA.

Most of the students, these days are copying the work from the previous project work, which is not correct. They may get through the exam but they will learn nothing about that technology which would result in no job.

Q: Why final year project is important? How will it be beneficial to student’s career?
Ans:
It is very important for placements. It gives confidence to the student as well, apart from getting opportunity to work in the respective technology.

Q: What are skills that student shall develop during this year in the view of job market?
Ans:
A student shall have –
  1. Good knowledge of the fundamentals,
  2. Good communication skills, and
  3. Pleasing manners.
Q: How should students plan their future studies?
Ans:
This varies from person to person. If he/she is interested in going abroad, they have to plan according and prepare for GRE, GMAT etc and if they want to pursue in India then they have to appear for GATE. There is also another exam called PGECET conducted by the AP government.

Q: Project work, GATE, campus placements…What should be the order of priority?
Ans:
Project work is compulsory in the final semester. It cannot be tied with other priorities. If the student is interested in higher studies then it is better to appear for GATE. If he is interested in a job then he should opt for placements. Students shall adjust their time and make sure that all the academic priorities are well attended. In any case, it is not advisable for a student to jobless after his final year because he has to compete with his juniors as well along with his other contemporary students in future years.

Q: Tell us about the alternatives for engineering students than GATE for higher education…
Ans:
CAT, GRE, GMAT, PGECET, certification courses in specific interested areas.

Q: If a student is not placed in campus placement, how should he plan his career? How should he utilize the time?
Ans:
In case students are not selected in campus placement process, they shall try to do courses on learn latest technologies and try to get internship opportunities in any of the industries or plan for the higher studies for the next year by appearing for GATE, CAT etc.

Do’s and Don’ts for the fourth year in Engineering.
Dos:
  1. Do good project work.
  2. Brush up your basics.
  3. Improve you aptitude (all the placement exams will have an aptitude test to start with).
  4. Make best use of internet in job search.
  5. Check the companies’ job profiles for openings.
  6. Develop professional behavior like dress code, punctuality, pleasing manners, working as a group and develop academic leadership etc.
  7. Plan your time and have clarity about your career.
Don’ts
  1. Do not have backlogs.
  2. Do not have strained relationships with your peers and teachers. Be in good looks of your teachers because they are the ones who have to give testimonials and other recommendations.
  3. Do not indulge in any illegal activities. Any minor incident may totally ruin your future, however small it may be.
  4. Do not get attracted to other unworthy attractions. They distract your goals and leave you frustrated.
  5. Do not lose your confidence or faith in yourself. Every one will have some bad periods in their lives. A successful person is who will be brave to come out of those challenges and live up to the expectations.
Published date : 24 Aug 2013 01:25PM

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