Likhith’s Path to His Dream Software Engineer Job With 50% Hike

Today, I bring you an inspiring story of a talented software engineer who embarked on a journey to improve his coding skills and shift to a company where his work would be exhibited in the external market. 

With diligence and the help of a dedicated mentor, Likhith successfully transformed his career and achieved his goals.

Let's look into his story and learn from his experience.✨

Can you give us some background about yourself? What were you doing before?

Before the transition, I had completed my information science studies and worked as a software engineer. 

My role mainly involved creating tools for the backend using Python Flask. 

However, the company used most of the software I developed internally, and there wasn't much exposure to the external market. 

This concerned me because I felt my coding skills and code quality would improve if my work had exposure to the market.

What made you consider switching to a company with more external market exposure?

The main reason I wanted to switch was the lack of emphasis on code quality for internal tools. 

Since they used them within the company, they focused more on functionality than performance. 

I wanted to keep my coding skills sharp and write industry-standard code.

That's when I started preparing to switch to a company where my work would be used externally.

When did you first start preparing for the switch?

I began my preparation around January 2023, about three to four months after I realised the importance of improving my coding skills.

How did you approach your preparation for the job switch?

Initially, I focused on learning Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) since they are crucial in technical interviews. 

I kept doing DSA and worked on theory subjects. 

However, I felt stuck in a loop of preparation without knowing if I was ready to face interviews. 

That's when I stumbled upon a video about Preplaced, a website where you can get a mentor to guide you through your preparation. 

I tried it out and had trial sessions with mentors. 

Eventually, I found a mentor named Aabhas Saxena, whose consistency and dedication in solving DSA problems impressed me. 

I realised that consistent practice was what I lacked, and having a mentor like Aabhas would help me overcome that hurdle.

You mentioned you prepared independently from January to May and then sought mentorship. Did you have any target companies in mind during this period?

Yes, I had some target companies in mind during that period. 

However, my mentor, Aabhas, taught me the importance of focusing on the type of work I wanted to do rather than just the company's name. 

He emphasised that finding the right role and work that aligns with my interests and skills for long-term career growth is essential.

What made you choose Aabhas as your mentor, and how did the trial session go?

The trial session with Aabhas impressed me for several reasons. 

First, he focused solely on providing guidance and support, discussing no financial aspects upfront, which showed genuine dedication. 

Second, Aabhas's profile stood out because of his consistent practice and dedication to problem-solving on platforms like LeetCode.

His confidence in my skills during the trial session convinced me he could guide me effectively.⭐

How did your mentor help you in your preparation?

Aabhas guided me throughout my preparation journey. 

His consistent approach to solving daily DSA problems motivated me to stay focused. 

He provided valuable feedback on my coding solutions and helped me refine my problem-solving skills. 

I booked regular sessions with him, and we continued to work together for over a year.

Can you share the impact of your mentorship and preparation on your career?

The mentorship and preparation made a significant difference in my career. 

With Aabhas's guidance, I became more confident in my coding and problem-solving skills. 

As a result, my coding skills improved, and I gained the confidence to face technical interviews.✨

I could see a clear transformation in my approach to coding and problem-solving.

How did your mentorship experience help you in your transition?

My mentorship with Aabhas was truly valuable. 

When he recognised that my technical skills were strengthened, he knew I was ready for interviews. 

His guidance mainly revolved around improving my interview skills, such as handling pressure during coding competitions and answering questions within time limits. 

Aabhas helped me gain the confidence to face interviews, and his feedback on my coding solutions refined my problem-solving abilities. 

We had regular sessions where he gave me a roadmap and strategies to excel in technical interviews.⭐

You mentioned you received positive responses to job applications after your mentor’s guidance. How did the interview calls start coming in?

Aabhas helped me optimise my LinkedIn profile and tailor my resume to hook the recruiter's attention.

After following these steps, I started getting interview calls relatively easily!

I spent around half an hour to one hour each day applying for opportunities through platforms like LinkedIn and other job portals. 

The optimised resume and profile resonated well with recruiters, and I even received responses to my referral requests.😊

However, the job market conditions were tough, and many positions were filled or required more experience. 

Despite this, I remained persistent and continued applying, leading to several promising interview calls!

You mentioned you received an interview call from a company called Unicards. How did that interview go?

Yes, I received an interview call from Unicards, and I wasn't very familiar with the company.

I took it as an opportunity to practise for my upcoming mock interview. 

To my surprise, the company had a vibrant startup culture, and the people there were highly knowledgeable. 

Most were from top-tier institutes like IIT Kanpur and BITS Pilani, and some had prior experience at reputed companies like Amazon and Google. 

I gave four rounds of interviews with no particular expectations.

What was the outcome of the interviews at Unicards? 

Despite approaching the interview with modest expectations, I was thrilled when I received the news that I had been selected.

Unicards offered me a position, and I gladly accepted the offer!😊

How did you feel about the offer? Did you celebrate?

Oh, I celebrated for sure.

I was really thrilled about the job offer. 

They gave me exactly what I wanted—a chance to work on Java, microservices, and backend development. 

These are my dream tech stack.✨

That they exceeded my salary expectations was a pleasant surprise too. 

Money was not my top priority, but it felt great to be offered more than I had expected. 

It was almost a 50% hike.

I celebrated with my friends and family and we had a good time together. :)

What did your mentor have to say?

Aabhas has experienced interviews with various firms. 

I wanted his honest opinion on whether the offer was good enough. 

He was positive and advised me to continue applying for other opportunities even though I had the offer. 

His practical advice made sense because you never know what other opportunities might arise. 

So, I decided to keep my options open and see what else came my way.

I'm preparing for interviews in an attentive, stress-free mode, as I don't have any immediate deadlines or commitments.

What advice would you like to give to people preparing and in a similar stage as you were?

Foremost, I would strongly advise having a mentor. 

Whether through platforms like Preplaced or other means, having a mentor with experience in the field you're preparing for is incredibly valuable. 

A mentor can provide insights and guidance you might not have gained through self-preparation alone. 

They can save you time and give you a reality check on your preparedness.✔️

While having a mentor is crucial, it's equally important not to rely solely on them. 

Remember that the hard work is yours, and your mentor is there to guide and motivate you. 

Take responsibility for your learning and constantly seek feedback from your mentor on your progress and areas for improvement.✨

To Conclude

Likhith’s story offers invaluable advice and insights for aspiring engineers in their journey of self-improvement and career transition. 

Having a mentor, staying motivated, and taking responsibility for learning are key to success. 

Through dedication and consistent effort, you can improve your coding skills, navigate the job market, and seize promising opportunities in the dynamic world of software engineering. 

So, take the first step, seek guidance, and embark on your path to a fulfilling and successful career!

Book a free 1:1 mentoring session with an industry expert.

Read further:

Conquering Campus Placements: Harshita’s Mentorship Journey

Deepesh’s Transition From Software Engineering to Data Science

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