I still remember those days when my friends and I used to attend IT practical labs in school. The lab sessions in 10th grade were awesome. We had two sessions every week. I can't exactly recall the software I used back then, but now I can remember why I used it.
This wasn't the first time I used a computer system. I used to play a variety of video games since 6th grade, such as Road Rash, GTA Vice City, San Andreas, etc. They were my favourite games. I didn't have a system at home, so I would go to an internet cafe or a neighbour's house to use one. This way, I learned the names of computer components such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, CPU, UPS, etc.
When I was in 10th grade, I often wanted to play video games during lab sessions, even though it wasn't allowed. But one day, I found an animation program in the lab. I can't remember its name, but I thought it was cool. That's when I started getting interested in software. I wanted to know how they were made and how they worked. That curiosity has stayed with me ever since.
Unfortunately, getting into the development field wasn't as easy as you might think for me. In this article, I'd like to share my personal experience of how I finally landed my first dream job.
I completed my 10th grade in 2014 with distinction. While many of my friends were unsure about their next steps, my vision and goal were crystal clear. Since I aimed to become a software developer, my goal was to enroll in computer science for 11th grade.
Regrettably, I was admitted into the humanities stream, which was not what I had in mind. I was disheartened and didn't feel like going to school because of this. However, there was an option available for all students to transfer to a different school for a different course. I took advantage of this opportunity and luckily got admitted into the commerce stream with Computer Applications (Computer Commerce).
Class started on the first day of 11th grade. I eagerly awaited my favourite lecture. When the time came, the lecturer gave us an introduction to the computer and its components, then left. After two to three weeks, we all received an introduction to coding. I wrote my first program to print "Hello world!" in C++. I still remember the cout<< and cin>> statements. By the end of the first year of PUC, I had learned loops, conditional statements, logical operators, etc. To be honest, I was enjoying it.
Days passed, and now it's the beginning of the 12th grade. New concepts and chapters awaited me. I got exposed to more new technologies. Here, I learned HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL. All of them were super easy for me. It was mandatory in my school to submit a record book before writing the final exam. Most of my classmates came to me for help with SQL queries because I was able to grasp things quickly. 😉
Finally, exams and school life are over. So, what's next? Pursuing a degree, definitely. I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of softwares. 😅
In 2016, I enrolled in BCA (Bachelor of Computer Application) at Mangalore University. It was a new place, new people, a hostel life, and my first time away from my hometown. Overall, it was a good experience. The course curriculum spanned over 6 semesters, each introducing new technologies or tools. With numerous learnings and projects, I found myself incredibly busy.
Upon completing my degree in 2019, I had acquired a wealth of knowledge. I delved deep into web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JS, as well as SQL, Linux, computer graphics, DBMS, data structures and algorithms, operating systems, networks, VB.net, ASP.net, data mining, software engineering, system analysis and design, and much more. It felt like my brain was reaching its capacity! 😅 Finally, in May 2019, I proudly graduated. Let the celebrations begin! 🥳
Once again, the question arose in my mind: "What's next?" I told myself, "Let's plan." After doing some research and a lot of Googling, I came up with a plan: pursue a master's degree abroad.
I found myself confused about what to study and where to pursue my education. After extensive research on Google, I finally decided to apply to Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand because my interest lay in pursuing either a master's in Computer Science or Software Engineering. To streamline my application process and receive support, I reached out to an agency in my hometown. They gathered my educational details to provide better recommendations. However, there was an issue with processing my New Zealand application. To obtain a visa for New Zealand, I had to demonstrate a significant amount of money in my bank account, with a minimum maturity period of 5 years. Coming from a middle-class family, this was not easy for me to fulfil. Consequently, I had to abandon the idea of choosing New Zealand as my study destination.
My agent at the consultancy assured me they would explore similar courses in other countries. I agreed to their suggestion. They also advised me to obtain an English proficiency certificate like IELTS, as it could enhance my chances of gaining admission to higher-ranking universities. Therefore, I made the decision to prepare for the IELTS exam.
To enroll in an IELTS coaching center, I needed to pay 8k-10k every month. To afford this expense, I opted to take on a job. I joined as a sales executive at U.S. Polo Assn. within Reliance Trends nearby. They offered a monthly salary of 11k. My shift was from noon until 10 at night. I managed my time by attending morning IELTS classes and then working my sales job in the afternoon.
After a few months, I selected two universities from the UK and decided to apply to them. The consultancy shared brochures from Teesside and Hertfordshire University. Shortly after, I received conditional offer letters from both of the universities. Teesside required a language proficiency certificate, but fortunately, Hertfordshire did not. Opting for this opportunity, I stopped attending the IELTS coaching class. However, I continued with my temporary job.
In December 2019, a surprise hit: the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, I didn't think it would affect my education plans. However, as time went on and the year turned to 2020, I aimed to seek admission at Hertfordshire for the September intake, giving me some time to arrange my education loan. But circumstances changed drastically. By the middle of 2020, COVID-19 had reached its peak, spreading rapidly before I could confirm my admission. To secure my spot, I needed to pay £5000 within a short period, which proved challenging for my middle-class family. Additionally, all loan applications were delayed due to the pandemic, and many in the UK were facing hardship. Taking all this into account, my family advised me to postpone my plans. As a result, my dream of pursuing a master's degree in the UK was put on hold.
Due to COVID-19, I had more than a year and a half gap after graduating in 2019. If it weren't for the pandemic, I might have settled in the UK by now. This made me quite sad for a while. I quit my job at Reliance Trends and decided to look for work in Bangalore. Two of my college friends, who were also jobless, joined me on this journey. So, I borrowed 20k from my mom and set off from Kerala to Bangalore.
After arriving in Bangalore, I began the search for a place to stay. After much searching, I found an affordable PG in Madiwala. Since I was new to the city, we decided to explore it in the evenings. I was mesmerized by the city's vibrancy and charm.
As days went by, I received no interview calls, and my savings quickly dwindled. Bangalore proved to be an expensive city, and by the end of the first month, my initial 20k had shrunk to 10k. Disheartened, I began to worry about my financial situation.
After a month, one of my friends decided to leave Bangalore because he got a job, while another friend came to the city in search of employment. The latter suggested I explore alternative job options instead of solely focusing on software development. However, I remained steadfast in my determination to pursue my dream of becoming a software developer, despite the challenges. With one and a half months gone and still no interview calls, and my funds running low, I realized I needed to find a part-time job to sustain myself while I continued my job search.
I began searching for part-time work the next day, visiting over 20 shops inside Forum Mall in Koramangala, but to no avail. Finally, I inquired at Subway Koramangala 5th Block, where the manager, Sukumar Sir, offered me a full-time position from noon to 11 PM, for a monthly salary of 9000 rs. I explained my situation to him, and he kindly agreed to my terms.
I started working at Subway Koramangala the next day, along with two girls and one boy. While the girls left in the evening, my friend and I worked until closing time. Working at Subway was challenging; I had to handle multiple tasks, including preparing sandwiches, managing orders, and cleaning the restaurant.
Often, I felt like giving up, but I persevered, knowing that success comes to those who never quit. After finishing work late at night, I would return to my PG, where my friends would have dinner ready for me. In return, I would bring them free sandwiches from Subway. Despite the challenges, I dedicated an hour each night to studying before bed.
After a few weeks, one of my friends received an interview call for a ReactJs developer position. I asked if I could accompany him, and together, we went for the interview. The interview went well. There were three rounds. The first one was Telephonic then coding to HR. Telephonic interview I attended inside Subway's kitchen. I got the call while washing kitchen utensils 😁. A few days later, I received a call from the company offering me the job. Overjoyed, I accepted the position and finally achieved my dream of becoming a software developer in April 2021.
I started as an intern at Capfront Technologies Pvt. Ltd., hoping to stay on as a full-time employee. During my six-month internship, I worked hard and also helped a friend who set up my interview. Thanks to my manager's support, my friend got hired too. Eventually, I got a permanent job as a ReactJs developer. Since then, I've been learning a lot and working on different projects to improve my skills.
Today, I am still with Capfront Technologies, working as a full-time ReactJs developer. I have gained expertise in a range of technologies, including React, React Native, NodeJs, Redux, and more. My journey has taught me that with determination and perseverance, any dream is attainable. So, I advise everyone to hold onto their dreams and never give up, no matter the obstacles you face.
Shall we connect?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivaprasadev/
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