I am Devesh, working as a Consultant for Robotic Process Automation

I am Devesh Bhuwad working as a Consultant for Robotic Process Automation/Cognitive Automation at Ernst & Young LLP (EY), a Big 4 firm and have 4+ years of professional experience in Business & Technology Consulting.

Consultant Robotic Process Automation Devesh Bhuwad Runner — In a proper leisure time, I run.

I’m a part of the Business Transformation Advisory practice at EY. Academically, I have completed my MBA in Finance and Bachelors in Life Sciences.

Who is a Consultant for Robotic Process Automation?

There are various definitions to a Consultant for Robotic Process Automation (RPA). It can be Functional, Technical or Techno-functional.

Functional is one who knows the domain of process and technology implemented.
Technical is the one who knows how to code and configure the robot’s workflow.
Techno-Functional is someone who is either of it first and then learns the second to become a combination.

I am Techno-Functional in RPA who knew Functional first and learnt Technical later to get a good grasp.

What is Robotic Process Automation?

Guy Kirkwood takes you through what robotic process automation is, how it works and how it’s helping companies keep operations onshore.

Additional Resource : Video from Edureka

How it all got started for you? What did you want to be when you were in higher secondary school?

What are your specific activities as Consultant for Robotic Process Automation?

Although I cannot answer anything specific due to my confidentiality clauses, I can very well state that, if you’re in the Consulting world of Big 4, everyone does everything. No one is restricted to one specific work.

Why do you think EY hired you?

My last two jobs were a result of networking.

I have a network of 2200+ people on LinkedIn and this is where I reached out to people of respective companies telling them I was exploring new opportunities.

As for why I was hired by EY, the experience and insights I bring to the table is something EY wanted in their growth story.

What did you learn about the career after you started yours?

I wish I had been for long from 2013 itself instead of 2016 onwards. There’s a lot to learn and many things I do not know, I continuously learn about new things.

Communication, humility, increased levels of patience, longevity under pressure are things all my jobs over the years taught me and I’m glad.

What things would you do differently in preparing for this career?

I should have taken up Commerce.

I was in absolute love for Business, Commercials and Audit kind of roles. Being very investigative by nature and driven by an analytical nod, I would have done great as an Auditor, Risk Analyst, etc.

What do you advice to your younger self?

So my plain simple advice would have been, talk to as many people in a business network like LinkedIn and understand what’s going on today, make self-driven decisions versus a herd mentality decisions and take a calculated risk, not merely get swayed by following passion.

Because you may be good at something which you term as passion but MAY not be better or best at it.

Additional Read : (Follow your passion is good and dangerous career advice, not bad career advice)

However, if there’s something at work which you’re currently good at and have been doing it a while, given that you have done it day in and day out, you’re likely to be better and best.

What do you love about your current role?

I love the work culture and the intellectuals I’m surrounded with. I get to compete and work with the best and the smartest and thereby I understand benchmark of where I have to grow and aspire to grow.
Of course there’s a demand of this in future, but how you keep yourself relevant and polished is in your hands.

What are the challenges you face in your career?

Long working hours
Tremendous work pressure
Extended travel away from home

However, some like me enjoy this, many don’t.

Everyone has their own reasons and limitations.

What type of consultants will be high in demand in the near future?

Consultants equipped with Artificial Intelligence and Automation knowledge will be the ones who’ll thrive.

Can you please summarise your career journey?

2007 : Passed +2
2007-2010 : Bachelors of Life Sciences – Ruia College – University of Mumbai
2011-2013 : MBA Finance – MET Institute of Management – University of Mumbai
June 2013 – Oct 2016 : Business Analyst at Larsen & Toubro Infotech
Nov 2016 – July 2017 : Pre-Sales Consultant – RPA at Tech Mahindra
July 2017 – Present : Consultant at Ernst & Young

Future Aspiration – To grow as a Digital Business Transformation Leader in the next 10 years.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I never read books, but I always bleed content. I love Facebook & LinkedIn and spend a lot of time on it during the day, that’s where I read, read and read content of any kind.

This keeps me on top of things and updated.

In a proper leisure time, I run. I am a Half Marathon & Ultra Marathon runner. I recently completed the 100 Days of Running challenge by running 525 kms in over 100 days.

What sort of experiences helped prepare you most? Did Life Science degree help you?

The Life Sciences degree didn’t help much. But the MBA degree did, as I faced extremely long hours of making presentations, case studies, assignments right from 8:30 AM in the morning to 8:30 PM in the night post which I used to go home and work till 4 AM in the night and wake up at 7:30 AM in the morning. This helped me to prepare the most.

What should I do to be a Consultant in 2020?

Consultant is a very broad term to say. I would say Automation and Cognitive Intelligence expert. Recommend people to learn tools which are Open source like UiPath, Workfusion etc who have self-certification academies.
Generally speaking, anyone with a logical bent of mind is good enough to be a Consultant. I come from a Biology background with Zero technical or coding knowledge, yet I can speak the language of the Developers.

Education:

To start off as such, pursue any graduation degree that you feel fit. It could be B.Com., B.E (if you can bear it), B.Sc.

I am 17 and I am planning for a similar career path like yours. What advice you have for me?

Read a lot. Read relevant things. Pre-empt where your career is going to take you by asking people in that field what is the importance now.

Ask the right people at good positions, not just anyone.

Schooling at any Technical/Management school may teach you the jargons of fancy things. But knowledge will only let you find out answers to questions like, how many crows are there in the city of Delhi ?

What are some alternate career options for a Consultant?

It’s majorly Thought Leadership, Pre-Sales, Independent Consulting, Training.

What do you think potential recruiters look for in a Consultant?

Recruiters look for:

Which tool are you knowledgeable on?
What implementations have you done?

What do you think everyone considering Consulting career should know?

You don’t choose the Consulting career, the Consulting career chooses you.

Just be skilful. Take up a skill-set which is up to date and in-demand like the ones I mentioned above.

When you’re good with it, people will automatically want to pay you to ‘Consult’ you.

That’s what all the Hoo-Haa about Consulting is all about.

Any recommended resources for students who are interested in Consulting?

LinkedIn is the best source.

Subscribe to all people and pages that talk about RPA, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Automation, etc.

Any final thoughts?

You all are doing a great job by bringing careers to the students. I was once mislead-misguided. Now, I hope my story in addition to hundreds of others will not let students undergo the same.