The Department of Computer Science organized a webinar on Career Opportunities in the IT Sector for students of the Department on Saturday, 21st Nov. 2020. The webinar was hosted by Asst. Professor Ms. Akshada Hegde. The welcome address was delivered by Vice Principal, Mr. Rodney D’ Silva. Ms. Sweta P.S. Verenkar introduced the resource person Mr. Milind Anvekar, Vice President of Open Destinations Infotech, having vast experience in the world of IT. Mr Anvekar is also the VP – Goa Technology Association, and Chairman of Industry Academia Connect Committee.
Mr. Anvekar commenced the session discussing about the different paths taken by students as they foray into making their careers. He cited that each one’s journey is different and the process of finding the path would vary from individual to individual, with some having longer journeys than others. On this note, he introduced 6 success mantras for students who wish to make their mark in the IT Industry: Problem Solving, Soft Skills, Tools, Portfolio, Finance, Health.
The first mantra of success introduced by him was with regard to developing problem-solving skills in students, especially the First Year students. He highlighted that students sometimes get so immersed in the syllabus that they don’t dedicate enough time to building the requisite problem solving skills and a weak foundation of these skills leads to an aversion for programming. He also advised the students to develop a sound understanding of basic mathematics as it is mandatory knowledge in computer science.
Mr. Anvekar stated that many students face loss of opportunities due to poor communication skills. Soft skills such as writing emails, effective verbal communication, presenting yourself well etc. give an upper edge to the students possessing these skills in terms of employability. He cited a personal example and told students that he built good leadership skills by taking initiatives in organizing events at the college level, getting people together, delegating work etc. Since the ability to work in teams is of supreme importance in the software industry, he urged the students to build these skills through student projects.
Mr Anvekar stated that the syllabi of the BCA and B.Voc. programmes run by the College cover varied tools and are well-structured as opposed to an Engineering Syllabus. He emphasized on developing mastery over specific tools, which would add to the students’ résumés.
Mr. Anvekar highlighted that students should start the process of building their portfolios right from the time they enter College, rather than wait until they reach the Final Year. He reiterated that social presence is of utmost importance in today’s world and suggested that the students should continually update their LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. He also stated that many recruiters including himself, check the profiles of candidates prior to offering recruitment.
Mr. Anvekar advised the students to maintain their finances through gaining understanding of Investments, Insurance, SIPs, share markets and the power of compounding. This would aid the students in building wealth in the long run.
Lastly, Mr. Anvekar urged the students to break the monotony and refresh their minds through leisure activities and intermittent travel. He stated that since IT professionals lead stressful lives, it can sometimes take a toll on one’s health and prevention of health issues is one of the keys to success. He addressed the usual student complaints of not finding enough time and by actually calculating hours in a student’s routine he showed how the students actually have more free time than they perceive. He concluded by introducing the concept of setting SMART goals towards attaining objectives.
85 BCA and B.Voc.(Software Technologies) students attended through Google Meet, and the remaining students of the two programmes attended through the College YouTube channel.
The session ended with Ms. Namrata Haldankar, Convenor of the Career Cell, thanking Mr. Milind Anvekar for a highly engaging, informative and valuable session.
