For many students, earning a degree is only part of the journey. The big question is whether the classroom prepares them for the workplace. Today, employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can solve real-world problems, crunch data, and communicate ideas effectively.Uday Kiran Kandagatla says this is what helped him land the Systems Engineer (Sr.) position at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). A student of the BA program at IIT Madras, Uday believes that the course’s blend of academic concepts and practical projects provided him with the confidence and skills needed to start his career.Build a solid foundation beyond the classroomReflecting on his studies, Uday said the program introduced him to the disciplines that form the backbone of today’s technology industry.He learned computational thinking, Python, statistics, and data science, which helped him develop a deep understanding of problem solving and analytical thinking. According to him, the Diploma in Data Science was particularly valuable as it allowed him to explore machine learning concepts in greater depth.Rather than focusing solely on theory, the program encourages students to understand how technology can be applied to real-world challenges.Learn by solving real-world problemsUday said one of the biggest rewards of the program is the opportunity to work on industry-oriented projects.He highlighted business data management (BDM) projects and machine learning projects as key learning experiences. These projects require students to interact with business owners, collect and analyze data, identify patterns and present their findings.The experience not only helped him enhance his technical knowledge, but also his communication, teamwork and analytical skills – qualities that employers increasingly value, along with academic performance.Uday said these practical assignments played an important role in preparing him for career opportunities.Why projects are as important as scoresAs the tech industry continues to evolve, recruiters are increasingly placing an emphasis on candidates who can demonstrate practical problem-solving skills, rather than relying solely on academic merit.Uday’s journey reflects this changing trend. While learning programming and data science concepts, he also gained experience applying these skills to real-world scenarios, making him industry-ready before graduation.His appointment as TCS Systems Engineer (Prime) also provides a broader lesson for students: while a strong academic foundation remains important, practical learning, project experience and the ability to communicate solutions can significantly improve career prospects.For students preparing for careers in technology, Uday’s story reminds us that the most valuable learning often occurs when we put classroom knowledge into practice.
