Solid Steps to become a successful Engineer

The B.Tech student shall be aware of the placement process, avenues for the entrepreneurship, entrance test for higher education and openings for R&D. The four stages of placement process needs special mention namely: Aptitude/ Written test, Group discussion, Technical interview, HR Interview. Weightage given to each one of them shall be known to the student. The details of the written test like questions on quantitative, reasoning, verbal abilities should be familiar to him. The student must be aware of the fact that 75% to 80% students are not clearing the aptitude test as they are not practicing those tests though they are available in plenty in internet. Hence in the very first stage bulk of the students is getting rejected. The student should have a clear understanding of his KSA (Knowledge , Skills , Aptitude) and how it matches with KRA (Key Responsibility Areas) of the company. Though majority of engineering students are academically good in their 10th and 12th classes and may have obtained very good percentage of marks, unfortunately, during their first B.Tech study, for the first time in their life they fail in some subjects. Having backlogs makes the student ineligible for placement of prestigious companies. Some students could not participate in placement drives as they could not fulfill company specific requirement of minimum cut off percentage. All these things should be kept in mind by the student from the beginning of their study and they should understand that they are no gains without pains. Hence in the very second year they should refer to books on aptitude tests written by R S Agarwal and other experts.

Be familiar with the advances:
Experts say that the knowledge is getting doubled every 11 years. Every branch of knowledge is making rapid strides and fast expanding with new technologies / theories / concepts / materials. An engineering student should be familiar with the advances, new trends and cutting edge technologies of his branch. The proficiency in these emerging technologies enhances his employability as these new areas have more job potentiality. This can be acquired by undergoing special training modules arranged in the college or outside. Reference to latest international journals and magazines with explorative and innovative papers on future generation technologies ignites the student mind. If student does not update, he gets outdated. The college library and reading room with thousands of books well staked is a treasure house of knowledge.

Of late, this important source is not been tapped by both faculty and students though crores of rupees are being spent. It is pity that majority of books are un-thumbed. A student must cultivate the habit of visiting and spending some time in the college library, go through reference books, collect study material etc. The NPTEL lessons given by IIT profe-ssors, Globarena E learning lessons are to be utilized to compensate the quantitative and qualitative defi-ciencies of lecturers. Every engineering student, irrespective of the branch must have grip over computer basics C, C++, Java etc. as the study and application of all branches of knowledge is totally transformed to computer orientation.
Proper utilization of facilities in a college in a structured manner and following time management principles will definitely shape the B.Tech students as real engineers emerging as builders of the society, captains of industry and icons of technology.

Soft skills & Technical skills
Besides communication skills the student requires many other soft skills in the present employment scenario. Top priority is given to the soft skills, sometimes unjustifiably at the expense of technical skills. This soft skill include Attitude, Value System, Concerns, Relation ships, over all understanding of men and materials. After all, engineering and Technology are meant to alleviate human beings from some suffering and promote comfort to human life. The student has to cultivate positive attitude should be optimistic, take failure as a challenge, not to be dejected for every small thing, maintain equanimity of mind. However great he is in his academics, marks score, skill sets, technical knowledge, if he fails to score 100 % marks allotted for HR interview in placement, a test for his attitude, he will not be selected by any company. This has been proved many a time beyond any doubt. It is ultimately the attitude of a student but not his aptitude that decides his altitude in his life/career. Every two years 20% of the employees are thrown out by the MNCs for their attitudinal deficiencies. Hence the student should undergo many personality development and life skills programs and have an idea of successful role models to steer further. Companies do not require technological monsters but technocrats with human touch and societal concern.

Have good command over English
The world has become a global village. The physical distance is conquered by quick means of transport and communications; thanks to the advances of science and technology. Our students are studying engineering, not only to cater to the requirements of trained technical manpower needs of AP or India but to cater to global requirements. Lakhs of our engineers are working both in developed and developing countries of the world. 30% of NASA engineers are Indians. Accept the fact that an engineer must have sound engineering knowledge and skills! He should also have good command over English to communicate with outside world as English is the only lingua- franca for communication in the world, especially in IT sector. The communication skills and the language skills (Listening, Reading, speaking, writing) play a key role for the career growth of an engineer. Hence the students should make earnest efforts to be proficient and fluent in English by their active participation in all competitions conducted by different associations/ organizations and make dedicated efforts to develop their vocabulary and consistently speak in English with their friends in on/off campus. They should not take English in a normal way but take it as a medium to show themselves to the outside world. Though English as a language has lakhs of words, for better communication and presentation it is sufficient if a student has command over a minimum of 5000 English words. Mother tongue medium students should be extra careful.

Co-curricular activities
The student during college days should actively participate in all co-curricular activities besides classroom/lab. The tech fests seminars, symposia, conferences, conventions, panel discussions at the national or international level organized in his college or other institutions provide an excellent platform to showcase their talents of originality, innovation, analytical, critical thinking, start up ideas organizing abilities, leadership, team work, etc. Inter collegiate events like Sastra of IIT Madras is simply mind blowing and awesome and inspires hope that the present youth is the future of the nation if one goes by the thrilling events/ shows organized providing opportunity to every student to exhibit his hidden talents. Participation in professional bodies like ISTE, IEEE, CSI etc. also impact for the overall betterment of the student.

Extracurricular activities like sports, games, NCC, NSS, debates, easy writing, adventure, painting, photography, music, dance, singing etc. competitions through different clubs provide excellent opportunity for the holistic development of the student personality. They make the student aware of human and social concerns. Now-a-days the companies have been preferring not just the bookworms, marks machines but good human beings having concern for parents, family, friends, fellow human beings and country at large.

Mini and Major projects
The Mini and Major projects of III & IV year students are real testimony for hard work, enquiring, critical, innovative mind of the student. Approximately 260 marks are allocated for these two. Instead of doing in-house projects on his own with other team members in the college under the able guidance of the faculty, majority of the students are resorting to purchase them outside. Thus the very essence of the technical education is being lost. If projects are taken up with all seriousness they provide hands on experience, sharpen their skills, enhance their enquiring spirit, promote team building, inter-personal skills, make them understand the magnitude of the topic and its ramifications. It brings cascading effect on the student personality. The pernicious practice of purchasing the projects outside should be curbed.The teachers should assume more professional responsibility and should not run away from their basic duty.

Published date : 01 Mar 2014 04:23PM