Helping Young Professionals Shape Their Careers
Syed Shofiul Alom
Managing Director at Be Data Solutions Limited | AI, Data Science, Software Development and RPA Innovator
A few days ago, I had a wonderful experience at a conference. A young man came up to me and said, "Sir, do you remember me? About a year ago, you interviewed me and gave me great career advice. Following your guidance was the best decision of my life."
He had applied for a Software Engineer role, but while his technical skills needed improvement, I noticed he had excellent communication skills. I suggested he might do well as a Business Analyst or in Quality Assurance. Today, he is happily working as a Business Analyst, and his success made me realize how important it is to guide young professionals in the right direction.
A Special Interview Process to Spot Potential
In my company, we have a unique interview process that helps us understand both the skills and potential of candidates. Here is how we assess them:
- 30 Marks: Technical multiple-choice questions
- 10 Marks: Technical viva (spoken interview)
- 10 Marks: A personal interview with me
This process gives me a chance to talk to every candidate and give them personalized advice. However, I often feel I could do more to reach and guide even more young people.
Training New Talent Instead of Hiring Only Experienced People
In my 20 years in the software industry, I’ve learned that developing fresh talent is often better than relying solely on experienced professionals. Experienced candidates are knowledgeable, but they sometimes resist learning new technologies or changing roles. This can create challenges for the company.
On the other hand, training young talent allows me to build a team that is flexible and ready to adapt to changes in the industry. Over the years, I’ve hired many interns and helped them grow into some of the best professionals in the field.
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A Clear Career Path for New Graduates
Many fresh graduates struggle because they don’t have a clear career plan. In our country, people often focus on one specific role, like Java Developer or QA Engineer, without exploring other possibilities. This limits their growth.
To solve this, I have created career paths that help young professionals grow in different areas. These paths include:
- Software and Data Engineer
- Data Scientist/Data Analyst
- Business Analyst/QA Engineer
- UI/UX Designer/Web Designer
Looking Ahead
I plan to write a series of articles to explain these career paths in simple steps. My aim is to help fresh graduates and early-career professionals make better choices and succeed in their careers.
For those starting out, my advice is: always be open to learning, stay adaptable, and work on building a variety of skills. The software industry changes quickly, and those who can learn and grow with it will succeed. By following a clear career path and seeking guidance, young professionals can unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.
Senior Business Analyst | Product Manager
2 个月Dear Sir, Your post reminded me of our first meeting when I joined a web developer role. You advised me to focus on my analysis, design, and communication strengths, which changed my career path. Today, I’m happily thriving as a Senior Business Analyst, aiming to transition into a Product Manager role. Thank you for your invaluable guidance!