The Power of Guided Growth: Pranay's Mentorship Success Story

“During our meetings, we focused on discussing the challenges I faced, and Manish always made sure to provide me with enough time to address my concerns. Having that emotional support made a significant difference in my confidence and progress.” - Pranay

We all know how it feels when you're super excited about something, but you're not sure where to start. 

That was Pranay's dilemma. 

YouTube and online resources were okay to gain some information, but he craved something more personal and supportive.

And this is how mentorship became the missing piece of the puzzle in his journey!

Pranay connected with mentor Manish Pushkar, an SDE 2 at Flipkart on Preplaced.

With Manish's guidance, Pranay found his footing and learnt how to structure his answers. 

"Before mentorship, I knew the content of my answers, but I struggled to present them effectively," he admits. "Thanks to Manish, I learned how to structure my responses in a way that impressed recruiters."

He was able to secure a Data Engineer intern position at Kohler. 🎉

Let's hear his success story from his own words!

What is your background?

I completed my Bachelor's in Computer Science from Visakhapatnam. 

Right after that, I joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a software developer and worked there for 16 months.

After gaining some experience, I wanted to upskill further and dive deeper into cloud computing, data science, and more. 

So, I decided to pursue my Masters's in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin.

I also had the opportunity to serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant here. 

It's been a fulfilling experience, helping other students and contributing to the academic community.

How did you discover Preplaced and why did you decide to ahead with it?

I discovered Preplaced through LinkedIn, and when I learned about how it works, I immediately felt drawn to this type of interaction. 

In my family, no one has a software background, so I didn't have anyone to look up to.

I really wanted to learn from experienced professionals and that’s how I connected with Manish, my mentor.

At first, I was a little sceptical if this mentorship would be effective or not, but I decided to give it a try and joined Preplaced. 

In our initial meeting, I was pleasantly surprised by how attentively Manish listened to my problems without interrupting. He took the time to understand my situation and needs.

Manish provided valuable suggestions, guiding me on what I should focus on and what I should avoid. 

He also helped me learn how to prioritise tasks effectively. 

Thanks to his support and guidance, I decided to move ahead with the mentorship.

Throughout our journey, Manish kept track of my progress and provided actionable feedback to help me improve.

What did your mentorship with Manish look like?

My mentorship with Manish was truly valuable and encouraging. 😊

Whenever I struggled with certain tasks, he never let me feel discouraged. 

Instead, he patiently explained where I went wrong and why I did things in a particular way. 

Understanding the reasons behind my mistakes helped me improve and handle similar situations in the future.

During our meetings, we focused on discussing the challenges I faced, and Manish always made sure to provide me with enough time to address my concerns. 

Since I was in a different time zone in the US, he was considerate enough to let me suggest the meeting timings that worked best for me. 

This flexibility took away the stress of worrying about when to meet.

Additionally, I also had a few mock interviews with him.

Though one of them didn't go as well as I hoped, he was there to motivate and lift my spirits. 

Having that emotional support made a significant difference in my confidence and progress.

Overall, I am genuinely grateful for the mentorship with Manish. 

His guidance and understanding helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Why did you feel the need to have a mentor in the first place?

I realised I needed proper guidance to prepare for the technical and non-technical aspects of my targeted field. 

While YouTube offered some information, it lacked the personal touch and support I required to overcome challenges.

I needed someone to guide me through the obstacles and provide that extra push towards achieving my goals. 

When I came across Preplaced, I wanted to give it a try. 

The fact that there was a refund policy and a free trial session gave me the confidence to take the leap since there was nothing to lose.

What did you like about your selected mentor?

I took only one trial session and even went ahead for the program with the same mentor.

When I first took a trial session with Manish, I had doubts about whether he could provide what I was looking for. 

But right from the first call, he ticked all the boxes of what I wanted from a mentor. 

It was so clear that I decided to go ahead with the mentorship with him.

I did consider trying trial sessions with other mentors too, just to be sure, but I realised that taking multiple trials might confuse me midway through my mentorship journey. 

I wanted to avoid that. 

Believing in a person is crucial for success, and I truly believe in Manish's abilities to guide me. 🍀

So, I decided to stick with him for a month and see how it goes. 

If it didn’t have worked out, maybe then I would have considered other options. 

What was the duration of your long-term mentorship?

It lasted around 3 months.

Since it hasn't been long since I joined Kohler, I am really caught up now but once I'm a bit more settled, I'll continue my mentorship with Manish. 

I believe I can achieve even more with his guidance. 🌟

I've come to realise that learning is an ongoing journey, and I'm eager to keep growing.

What was your interview experience like after taking the mentorship?

Before mentorship, I had no trouble with the content of my answers, but I didn't know how to frame them in the right interview terms. 

Thanks to the mentorship, I learned how to structure my responses effectively. 

I understood how to present my skills and experiences in a way that the recruiter wouldn’t have to recall what skills this person has. 

This made a massive difference in my interviews. 

For instance, I had a Nokia interview and Manish, guided me throughout the process. 

He provided invaluable advice on what to do, what to be careful of, and how to approach problems. 

Thanks to his help, I managed to crack the Nokia interview and even received an offer from Kohler for a Data Engineer intern position. 

Discussing the pros and cons with Manish, I made my decision and opted for Kohler.

Interviews can go both ways, sometimes you succeed, and sometimes you don't. 

It's like the meeting point of your preparation and an opportunity. 

I'm now on my way to a full-time job, and I'm grateful for the guidance I received during my job search journey. 😇

What advice would you like to give aspiring candidates who are in a similar situation?

Stay consistent! 💪

Consistency is the key to success in whatever you want to achieve. 

Even if you make just a little progress every day, it's still progress! 

I know it's tough to stay consistent, but don't worry, there are platforms like Preplaced that can support you in this journey. 

Keep going, and remember, every step forward counts! 

To sum it up

And that's a wrap on Pranay's incredible mentorship success story! 

Pranay's experience with Manish proves that a little push, a caring mentor, and the right guidance can transform your dreams into reality. 

It's okay to feel lost sometimes, but remember that you're not alone on this journey.

Success is just a mentor away! 🚀

Select Your Mentor

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