What do you look for in industry?

While studying at Unitech, I had the strong passion to learn about what is done in the industry. I could remember, I think it was in 2017 when a team from PJV came to Unitech to do a roadshow on their operations. I was super excited seeing the hard yakka uniforms, the boots, and generally the presentation they did to us. One thing they did not disclose was the fortnightly payment. How much they were paid. Funny right? But this was the typical questions an undergraduate would probably have in mind.

Money was obviously the key factor when applying for a job. We want to be paid on the job. Some may be looking for a fatty salary job. Well, that's not a problem. You could find one if you a lucky enough.

I too had the same dream. I graduated with merits, recipient of vice chancellors' medal, and the best in class, would not I be expecting for more from the industry? Off course yes!

Well, what was the reality in the industry? Things were different to my expectations. By being the best or whatever the qualification and rankings you attained, the industry doesn't necessarily recruit you at that value you graduated with. Please let this sink into your mind if you are someone still studying out there.

Industry is another institution of its own. You graduated from the university signifies the end of a formal education. The exams and projects you did were designed to meet the academic requirements of the discipline you studied. The next body of education is the industry.

When you are seeking for job, don't have money as the top checklist of applying for job. You will definitely be unsuccessful with such mindset. How would you demand for fatty salary when your knowledge is fresh and inexperienced?

What you should look for in an industry is to learn from the experts. Look at industry as an outdoor learning environment. You must maintain your nametag as student. Don't leave that at the graduation arena. If you do, the chances of you surviving in the industry is very low. You have to apply for a job as you are applying for a course at the university or college. Don't look for money. Seek the opportunity to test your academic knowledge. You would discover that most of what you claim you know at the university would already be obsolete in the industry.

Be teachable and coachable. Look for industry that could teach you and build you from being classroom engineer to an applied engineer or in whatever profession you graduated from. In the first three years, you must work hard to learn more and explore wide body of knowledge applicable in the industry.

Build you industrial experience. Never bring money into the picture. This is a major distracting factor to navigate to a decent job. I am sharing this in light of fresh graduate joining the industry. Work on your ethics, gain experience in your discipline, be a student at all times, ask questions, show eagerness to try out new things, be willing to take risks, and you without realizing have built value of experience, ethics and standards in you that eventually would translate into money.

Money is not the "WHAT" of doing things. Money is the "HOW" of thing and it comes with experience. Don't be deceived by what you are seeing now. It may never be as you thought.

Learn to be a good student.

Thank you for reading.