Technology
Students urged to make informed career choices, upgrade skills
Engineering students should make informed career choices and continuously upgrade their skills, said Associate Professor at SRM University-A.P. Amaravati, V.M. Manikandan at a seminar on ‘Careers in Management, Sciences & Technology’.
The Hindu Future India Club (FCI) organised the event in association with Paari School of Business, SRM A.P. and in collaboration with PVP Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Kanuru, Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Addressing final-year Engineering students at PVP Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Mr. Manikandan said students have three broad pathways after completing their B.Tech – taking up employment, pursuing higher studies or becoming entrepreneurs. While parents, teachers and friends can guide students, they should take the final decision about their careers, he said.
He explained the employment opportunities available in the private sector, including IT services, product companies, startups and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Programming, problem-solving ability, communication, knowledge of cloud technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), teamwork and hands-on project experience are among the skills sought by recruiters, Mr. Manikandan said.
Students were also briefed on recruitment processes, including aptitude tests, coding rounds, technical interviews and HR interviews. Mr. Manikandan explained opportunities in the public sector, including PSUs, ISRO, DRDO, civil services, banking and State government departments. He highlighted the importance of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for entry into PSUs and postgraduate programmes.
He also spoke about higher education options such as M.Tech, M.S., MBA and direct Ph.D. programmes, besides scholarships, fellowships and research opportunities. Information on GATE 2027 and research-oriented career pathways was also shared.
On entrepreneurship, he said India offered a vibrant startup ecosystem and several government support mechanisms for young innovators. Students should identify real-world problems, develop relevant skills and start exploring entrepreneurial opportunities while still in college, he said.
Sharing his journey from being a diploma student to heading a Computer Science department, he encouraged students to stay focused on their goals and work towards professional growth.
Principal of PVP Siddhartha Institute of Technology K. Sivaji Babu said knowledge-sharing and positive interaction among faculty and students through institutional exchange programmes could help broaden their horizons and promote the adoption of best practices. He advised students to benchmark themselves against premier institutions such as IITs, NITs and IIITs.
Speaking about the qualities required for professional success, Assistant Director of SRM University-A.P. V.V.S. Pradeep highlighted the significance of building intellectual capital through continuous learning and developing psychological capital through self-confidence, goal-setting, resilience and optimism, along with the necessary skill sets. Winners of a business quiz conducted as part of the event were given prizes.
The Hindu·4 hours ago·2 min read
