My Scaler Academy Experience: Transitioning Into A Software Developer Against All Odds

Everyone starts their journey somewhere, and so did I, with a mix of different odd jobs that didn't provide stability, good pay, or a sense of fulfilment.

Through this article, I am trying to reach anyone who was or is in the same depths of despair as I was 4 or 5 years ago, emphasizing that you have the power to shape your own destiny.?

So sit back and let me take you on a journey where life tested my mettle, showing me the highest of the highs and lowest of the lows.

1. The Early Struggle?

I feel most people knowingly or unknowingly live their lives by following a checklist, be it in their personal or professional life.?

Let me demonstrate a very basic professional checklist for you? -?

? Pass 10th board exams?

? Pass 12th board exams?

? Graduate with a degree?

? Find a job and work till you can?

I ticked the first three, but post-college job hunting brought relentless rejections, one after the other.?

Like many college students nowadays, I started working as a freelancer while pursuing my B.tech degree. Some extra bucks could hurt no one, plus I was gaining some exposure to work life as well.?

So, what went wrong that led me to multiple rejections?

• I failed to balance? freelancing and? pursuing the course?
• Lack of focus resulted in me often faltering during interviews
• I overestimated my ability to generate income and overlooked essential priorities
• Despite knowing the right trick and algorithm for problem statements thrown at me during interviews,? I frequently fell short of successful execution.

All of this was happening in 2019, and within a matter of time COVID hit, halting the world.?

And I was stuck at home with no job to help me survive through this great pandemic.?

1. The Reality Check

My grappling financial situation forced me to take up a part-time job with a meagre income of just Rs 12,500 per month. I also took up other odds jobs just to make ends meet.? It was a dire situation, and I had to do anything and everything to make ends meet.?

I kept myself going and chanced upon a college peer. His story devastated and motivated me at the same time. He secured a job after college with a big company and an even bigger paycheck.?

I felt sorry for my situation. We used to be in the same college and studied the same subjects with the same teacher.?

How could our lives be SO far apart??

• He was working for 8 hours a day and earning a salary of Rs 1 lakh per month?
• I was slogging for 12 hours a day with irregular work hours for just Rs 12k per month.?

It was after this reality check that I took it upon myself to change my situation. Here is a list of decisive steps that I took to bring about the much-needed change -?

1. Identifying career gaps—I indulged in self-reflection to see where the gaps lay in my skill set. Was it technical information that needed work or a lack of decent communication skills that caused me to fail in interviews?

1. Research how to bridge the gap—Once I identified my gaps, it was time to see where and from whom I could ask for help and guidance to upskill and grow. I needed a mentor.??

1. Asking relevant questions — People often hesitate to reach out to friends and peers to take advice or ask questions that could help them grow. I forced myself to come out of my cocoon and reach out to my network for advice and help.?

After learning about @Scaler from friends, I quickly checked out their DSA course and enrolled. I felt extremely grateful for having taken the first step of asking for help -??

because after seeing my financial constraints, a supportive friend lent me the initial funds to kickstart my journey and helped to secure a loan to pay the course fee.?

3. Onwards and Upwards: My Scaler Review?

I enrolled in Scaler with expectations set for both the program and my own capabilities. Fortunately, neither let me down.?

A few experiences in the well-designed Scaler ecosystem really stood out for me, like:??

• A Supportive Community—There was a strong sense of community among the students and the teaching staff. This created a very cohesive learning environment that promoted consistency.?
• Active Study Groups—It was wonderful to Get your doubts cleared on the go! You don’t have to wait for another lecture to ask questions. Their WhatsApp chats are constantly buzzing, with students clarifying their doubts with instructors and even peers.?
• Personalized Mentorship — Consistent guidance from instructors and 1:1 sessions with my mentor played a defining role in my progress. The culture at Scaler is such that folks go above and beyond to help you.??

It would be regretful not to mention these individuals whose wisdom has changed my and many other lives -?

• satya sai sir, whose classes made me an expert in DSA
• Anshuman Singh sir was the guiding light in HLD classes?
• Naman Bhalla Sir, Who guided me for the LLD Module and project work.
• Mentor Vikash Kumar sir improved my decision-making and aided me in selecting the best option from 19 job offers I had post-course completion.

Today, I am living the dream. I am working as a team lead at OATI (Open Access Technology India), and something that once felt impossible is now my reality.?

From my anxiety-filled nights wondering, “What am I doing with my life?” to now working from the comfort of my central AC office space, I have come a long way indeed.?

My Scaler experience taught me that consistent effort reaps manifold rewards.?

To anyone reading this, don’t let your setbacks hold you back. Make your challenges your biggest motivator. Work through them, and you will emerge victorious. Starting will always be the most difficult part, but the end results will always make it worth it.?

Thank you for reading my story!?