Brief Summary
This video features an interview with Shrikanth, a software engineer who shares his journey from a tier 3 college graduate to working at Microsoft as an SDE 2. He discusses his experiences working in service-based companies like Accenture and Virtusa, the challenges he faced with bench periods and support projects, and the importance of upskilling oneself. He also highlights the differences between working in service-based and product-based companies, emphasizing the importance of code reviews and resume building for career advancement. Finally, he shares his experience of switching to Microsoft and the interview process.
- Shrikanth started coding late in his 4th year of college and landed a job at Accenture with a 3.3 LPA package.
- He faced challenges with bench periods and support projects, which hindered his growth and led him to switch jobs.
- He emphasizes the importance of upskilling oneself, especially when working in service-based companies, and shares his experience of preparing for interviews and switching to Microsoft.
Recap
This chapter is a brief recap of Shrikanth's journey, highlighting his transition from a tier 3 college graduate to a software engineer at Microsoft. He started coding late in his 4th year of college and landed a job at Accenture with a 3.3 LPA package. He worked there for a while, facing challenges with bench periods and support projects, which ultimately led him to switch jobs. He emphasizes the importance of upskilling oneself, especially when working in service-based companies, and shares his experience of preparing for interviews and switching to Microsoft.
Intro
This chapter introduces Shrikanth and his journey. He is a graduate from a tier 3 college and landed a job at Accenture with a 3.3 LPA package after college. He worked there for some time and is currently working at Microsoft as an SDE 2. He faced bench periods and support projects during his time at Accenture, and he also experienced the challenges of a 3-month notice period.
College & placement scenario
This chapter focuses on Shrikanth's college experience and the placement scenario. He attended J.S.S. ATE in Bangalore, a tier 3 college, and studied electronics and communication. The placement scenario was dominated by service-based companies like Accenture, TCS, and Infosys, offering packages up to 3.5 LPA. Product-based companies like Microsoft and Google did not visit the campus, and Adobe only hired two students from the computer science department.
Coding journey
This chapter delves into Shrikanth's coding journey. He started coding in his 4th year of college, primarily focusing on learning from online resources. He received his job offer from Accenture during campus placements. He acknowledges that starting coding late can be daunting, especially in a competitive environment where many students begin coding in their 3rd year.
Cracking Accenture & Experience
This chapter details Shrikanth's experience cracking the Accenture interview and his initial time at the company. The interview process involved quantitative problems, mathematics, and a cultural round. He cleared the interview in two rounds due to his strong mathematics background. He then went through a two-month training period, which included classroom training and two exams that needed to be cleared within three attempts. After training, he was randomly assigned a technology and project, with no opportunity to choose.
Everything about projects & bench period
This chapter focuses on Shrikanth's experience with projects and bench periods at Accenture. He was initially assigned a support project in SQL, which involved minimal development work. He spent two to two and a half months on the bench, feeling unmotivated and unsure about his career path. He acknowledges that while the bench period was initially a time for relaxation, he later realized the importance of utilizing that time for learning and upskilling.
Work years in Accenture
This chapter summarizes Shrikanth's two years and one month at Accenture. He discusses his growth in terms of learning and salary. He felt limited growth during his time in the support project, but he experienced some improvement when he was moved to an enhancement project. However, he still felt unsatisfied and faced pushback when he requested to move entirely into development. His salary increased from 3.5 LPA to 4.2 LPA after two years and one promotion, highlighting the slow growth trajectory in service-based companies.
Difficulty of switching from service based
This chapter discusses the challenges of switching from a service-based company after working there for an extended period. Shrikanth believes that if someone is not actively learning and working on good projects for five years, they might face difficulties in switching to a product-based company. He explains that companies like Microsoft have specific expectations for different experience levels, and someone with five years of experience in support projects might not meet those expectations.
Reason for switch
This chapter explores Shrikanth's reasons for switching from Accenture. After working there for a year and a half to two years, he requested to move into full-time development but faced pushback. He decided to upskill himself in backend development, Java, C++, and UI, and he went through 30 interviews with various companies. However, he couldn't secure any offers and felt stuck in his current situation. He ultimately decided to resign from Accenture, taking a risk to find a better opportunity.
Experience in Start-up
This chapter details Shrikanth's experience working in a startup after leaving Accenture. He was placed in a startup through Virtusa, a service-based company that primarily does body shopping. He faced significant pressure to deliver results quickly and felt overwhelmed by the fast-paced environment. He ultimately left the startup and moved to Intuit, another service-based company, where he had a more positive experience.
Challenges in DSA
This chapter focuses on Shrikanth's challenges with Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA). He acknowledges that he did not focus on DSA during his college years and faced difficulties when he started preparing for interviews. He dedicated significant time to learning DSA, often studying until late at night, and eventually felt confident enough to crack interviews with various companies.
Comparison between experiences from Accenture & VMware
This chapter compares Shrikanth's experiences working at Accenture and VMware. He highlights the significant difference in work quality between service-based and product-based companies. In product-based companies, he had more freedom to suggest improvements and think critically about the product from a user's perspective. In service-based companies, the focus was on implementing client requirements, with less emphasis on code quality and scalability.
Process of getting into Microsoft
This chapter details Shrikanth's journey of getting into Microsoft. He was motivated to switch after VMware was acquired by Broadcom, and he received messages from Microsoft recruiters on LinkedIn. He decided to respond to a recruiter's message, and his resume was shortlisted. The interview process involved an online assessment, followed by four technical rounds focusing on DSA and system design. He also had a managerial round, which also included DSA and system design questions. He received the offer after four to five days and was excited about the opportunity to work on a good product and learn new skills.
Message to the ones who wants to switch from service based
This chapter concludes with Shrikanth's message to those who want to switch from service-based companies. He emphasizes the importance of upskilling oneself, especially in DSA, and building a strong resume. He encourages viewers to take risks, prepare well for interviews, and believe in themselves.
Outro
This chapter concludes the video with a summary of Shrikanth's journey and a final message to the viewers. He highlights the importance of continuous learning and taking risks to achieve career goals. He encourages viewers to stay motivated and pursue their dreams.
