Here’s my address to the graduating class the IITM BS Program today: Make five new friends today. Your CGPA is what you’re most focused on. When I graduated, my CGPA helped me get a job. It didn’t help much after that. Getting that job helped me for the four years I worked there. That’s it. The things I learnt in class helped a bit longer. Maybe six years. There is a long tail. ...
My answers to career advice people have asked me. Should I go deep or broad in my career? Early in your career, sample actively, i.e. go broad. Commit to depth when process (not just outcomes) energizes you. Read Range (David Epstein, 2019). ...
Fred Gratzon’s advice on work I just do what I want to do and learn what I want to learn and enjoy what I want to enjoy and sometimes I get so wonderfully and powerfully caught up in some project and I start dreaming expansive daydreams and I go for it with every ounce of energy and enthusiasm and love that I can muster. And the money . . . it just takes care of itself. ...
Excellent article by Paul Graham on How to do what you love. [the] new definition of work [is] to make some original contribution to the world, and in the process not to starve. I think the best test is to try to do things that would make your friends say wow. If you admire two kinds of work equally, but one is more prestigious, you should probably choose the other. Your opinions about what’s admirable are always going to be slightly influenced by prestige, so if the two seem equal to you, you probably have more genuine admiration for the less prestigious one. ...
Prof. Vijay Kumar was kind enough to give us hints on how to prepare for placements. How to prepare for interviews Have a list of intelligent but unoffensive questions for each company. Contact alumni who are working there, and find out what work is like. What should I find out How does the work improve my employability or value? Specifically in terms of the Nature of work The experience that I get Skills acquired What will the salary growth be over time? What are the perks at different levels? What are the promotion and growth opportunities? What industries does the company focus on? How many people are there, and what is the employee growth rate? What do clients feel about you? (Talk to clients themselves – maybe friends in client organisations.) Which is the largest office? Where are most of the projects executed? (It makes a lot of sense to get into this office. Project staffing is usually done with people in the same office.) What should I question ...
Google has a bunch of resume resources that tell you how to write a resume. A good one to look at is Quest Career’s, and another is at Learn2.