Switch from 15000/Month to 25LPA | How she learned DSA for Interviews | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Aachal transitioned from a data analyst role to a software engineer at PayPal through persistence and dedicated preparation.

Key Insights

• 🖤 Many professionals get stuck in their roles due to a lack of awareness about career transitions and available opportunities.
• 🥺 Consistent preparation and adaptation of skills, such as learning to code for software engineering, can lead to successful career transitions.
• 👨‍🔬 Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn for job applications and networking can significantly enhance job search success.
• 🧍 A well-structured resume that emphasizes projects and achievements can make applicants stand out in competitive job markets.
• ❓ Persistence through multiple rejections is a common aspect of job hunting, and maintaining a positive mindset is crucial.
• 🖐️ Mentorship can play a transformative role in one's career, providing guidance and resources that facilitate professional growth.
• 🥺 Correctly utilizing job portals and understanding client expectations can lead to better job prospects.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What challenges did Aachal face in her initial role as a data analyst?

Aachal faced several challenges in her role at HCL, primarily due to the nature of the work, which consisted largely of manual data entry and filling Excel sheets. The low salary of Rs. 15,000 per month in a costly city like Noida contributed to her dissatisfaction. The lack of learning opportunities and the realization of the need for a better salary and career growth eventually led her to seek a transition into software engineering.

Q: How did Aachal navigate the transition from analyst to software engineer during the pandemic?

During the pandemic, Aachal recognized the importance of enhancing her coding skills. She navigated her transition by first seeking mentorship, which guided her through the learning process. She dedicated herself to coding practice for two months, focusing on Python, even facing initial fears about coding. Her consistency with problem-solving prepared her for software engineering roles, ultimately leading her to pursue opportunities in that field.

Q: What role did mentorship play in Aachal's career transition?

Mentorship was crucial for Aachal's career transition. Her mentor, Shivam, provided her with guidance on necessary skills for software engineering, particularly encouraging her to confront her coding fears. He helped her structure her learning, emphasizing the importance of consistency and dedication, which proved instrumental in her successful transition into software engineering after working primarily as an analyst.

Q: What strategies did Aachal use to enhance her job applications?

Aachal enhanced her job applications by focusing on creating a concise and relevant resume that highlighted her problem-solving skills, projects, and coding experiences. She also aimed to include keywords from job descriptions, ensuring her resume was ATS-compliant. She actively sought referrals through LinkedIn, carefully crafting her messages to professionals to increase the chances of getting her resume noticed.

Q: How did Aachal prepare for technical interviews?

Aachal's technical interview preparation involved a systematic approach to studying data structures and algorithms. She began with the basics and progressively tackled more advanced topics, using platforms like LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks. She practiced coding regularly, maintaining a consistent schedule and focusing on medium-level problems to build her confidence, equipping her for interviews with tier-1 companies.

Q: What advice does Aachal offer to others looking to switch careers?

Aachal emphasizes the importance of self-belief and persistence when switching careers. She advises individuals to stay consistent in their efforts, continuously learn, and prioritize their learning goals. She highlights that if one puts in the right amount of effort in the appropriate direction, transitioning to a new career is achievable, with excellent opportunities on the horizon.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Aachal completed her degree from a tier-3 college and began working as a data analyst at HCL, facing initial challenges with low pay and manual work.

• During the pandemic, she decided to switch careers, receiving mentorship that instilled coding skills through consistent practice and dedication over a year.

• After multiple interview rejections and learning experiences, Aachal secured a software engineering position at PayPal, reiterating the importance of persistence and targeted preparation.