How Mentorship Helped Rolly Succeed in a Job Shift After 12 Years

"Switching jobs after 12 years was intimidating, I had lost touch with the ever-evolving job market. But mentorship changed everything for me." - Rolly

Switching jobs after a long and stable run of 12 years can be an intimidating prospect. 

For Rolly, it certainly was. 

As an Engineering Manager, she had dedicated over a decade to her role, and in the process, lost touch with the ever-evolving job market. 

She knew that exploring new opportunities would require her to prove her worth beyond just her managerial expertise. 

The job market wasn't as welcoming as she had hoped and faced rejection in the interviews.

It was clear that she needed a new approach to make this transition successful.

Feeling the need for a fresh approach and personalised guidance, Rolly stumbled upon Preplaced. 

Little did she know that this discovery would prove to be a turning point in her career.

The journey that followed was one of growth, learning, and transformation. 🌟

With the guidance and dedication of her mentors, she rediscovered her strengths and honed her skills to fit the demands of the competitive job market.

The genuine care and support from her mentors motivated Rolly to persist through even the toughest times. 

Their honesty and direct feedback helped her recognise her shortcomings and allowed her to grow professionally. 📈

In this success story, we delve into Rolly's experiences and how mentorship helped her grow. 🌱

Why did you want to make a job switch?

There were a few reasons why I decided to make a job switch. 

Firstly, there were some personal and growth issues. 

I felt that after working as an Engineering Manager for the past 4 years, I needed a change to explore new opportunities and challenges.

Secondly, I had been contemplating this decision for a while, and it wasn't something I decided on the spur of the moment. 

I took my time to evaluate my career goals and aspirations.

I even discussed this with my manager and asked to be shifted to a different vertical within the company for change. 

Unfortunately, the management didn't approve this request.

So, with that, I decided to take the job switch seriously and explore new opportunities outside the current organisation.

What is your background?

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. 

Currently, I'm an engineering manager, serving my notice period. I've been with the company for the past 12 years. 

While my background is technical, my current role is more focused on the managerial side rather than the technical aspects.

What was the timeline when you consciously started preparing for your job switch?

I began preparing in December 2022. 

Some of my close friends advised me to take some time to prepare before giving interviews. 

However, I underestimated the job market and thought that with my experience I could easily crack interviews. 

I updated my CV and started receiving interview calls, but I faced challenges in clearing the rounds. 

I got rejected in the third, fourth, and sometimes even the first round. That's when I realised I needed some assistance.

What problems were you facing in the interviews?

My job was more focused on managerial tasks.

However, when I started looking for new opportunities, reality hit hard. 

I realised that being an engineering manager meant the recruiters were also looking for strong technical knowledge. 😓

Having been with the same company for over a decade, I had lost touch with the ever-evolving job market. 

I felt a mix of anxiety and uncertainty about meeting the new requirements. 

The first major hurdle was proving my hands-on technical skills, and it was daunting because I knew I had been out of practice for quite some time.

An engineering manager is expected to handle various roles, including coding, team management, and architectural work. 

I wasn't fully prepared for such a big change after 12 years of not having to search for a new job.

How did you discover Preplaced?

I came across Preplaced while browsing through Quora. 

It just popped up in some of the answers I was reading.

Why did you choose Preplaced over other platforms?

I chose Preplaced over other platforms because it offered the perfect balance of affordability and personalised support.

When exploring different platforms, I found that many of them were too expensive for my budget. 

However, Preplaced's pricing was reasonable and fit well within my financial constraints.

The concept of Preplaced was also highly appealing to me. 

I liked the fact that there were no rigid guidelines on how to prepare; it was all tailored to my specific needs and expectations. 

This level of flexibility was a major selling point for me, as it meant I could focus on the areas I needed help with the most.

Moreover, the mentorship experience at Preplaced was exceptional.

I appreciated the fact that I could connect with my mentor at any time, which made the learning process much smoother. 

They were understanding, supportive, and genuinely interested in helping me succeed, which motivated me to keep pushing forward.

Comparing this to other platforms that offered fixed curriculums or courses, I realised that I would have wasted time studying things that didn't apply to me or that I already knew. 

At Preplaced, this wasn't an issue, and I could make the most of my learning journey without any unnecessary distractions.

How did the mentors help you?

My first mentor, Utkarsh Goel a Staff Software Engineer at Walmart Labs had a clear understanding of the subjects and helped me grasp them deeply. 

He provided thorough guidance on the basics and helped me strengthen my DSA skills. 

Later, I sought one-on-one mentorship with Vikas Bharti a Senior Software Engineering Manager at Walmart Global Tech who created a personalised roadmap for my preparation journey. 

His positivity and support were truly inspiring. 

Vikas stayed in touch regularly, reaching out through calls or texts.

We would review and refine my knowledge, focusing on the key concepts. 

Their assistance helped me to secure a great job offer.

The mentors were also very upfront and honest in their feedback. 😅

They didn't sugarcoat anything and pointed out where I was going wrong and how I could improve. 

And, this didn't bother me at all because my main goal was to learn and grow!

I'm so grateful for their help that I'm now considering another mentorship to further improve my LLD skills. 

Having experienced the positive impact of mentorship, I believe it's an invaluable investment in my professional growth.

What was one of the key/eureka moments of your mentorship?

Vikas was willing to share his own credentials or resources to help me complete certain courses without having to spend my own money. 

He would also go the extra mile by brushing up on his own knowledge before our sessions. 

He was really dedicated to providing me with the best possible help. 💫

What advice would you give to someone who is going through a similar phase?

Take your time and don't rush into the market without proper preparation. 

Allow yourself at least 2 months to get ready. 

This approach will not only help you crack interviews but also keep you motivated, preventing a lack of confidence due to rejections. 😊

To sum it up

What began as an intimidating decision to switch jobs after 12 years evolved into a path of growth and self-discovery. 

Through personalised guidance, Rolly was able to bridge the gap between her managerial expertise and the technical skills required in today's job market.

As Rolly takes her newfound skills and confidence into the future, she serves as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar challenges. 💫

We hope that his experience encourages you to seek out the support you need to navigate your own career transitions and discover the immense potential within yourselves. 💪

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