I am Yogendhra, founder of Forsk Technologies.
Completed Computer Science Engineering from Rajasthan University in 2002. I have several years of experience with leading mobility and app development companies like Qualcomm, Mango and ZDRIVE. During these years I played strategic and key roles in developing and launching hundreds of apps successfully. I was part of the team that developed an application framework for low and mid-tier mobile devices that enables developers to quickly create customized mobile apps and user experience.
Who is a Software Engineer?
Software Engineers manages to develop the source code according to client requirement. Meeting the client requirement is the most important part to be a successful software engineering.
What did you want to do after 12th? What motivated you to become a Software Engineer?
During my high schooling, I prepared for JEE and wanted to be in IIT. But, I couldn’t make it and took admission in an engineering college choosing CSE major. At the time of choosing CSE branch, I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
Probably at that time, I needed a mentor who could help me figure out right path for being successful in computer stream. I don’t even remember, if somebody influenced me during those days.
What is the story behind Forsk Technologies?
Dr. Sylvester Fernandes and I founded Forsk Technologies in 2015.
It teaches students and professionals the practical technology skills. The organization directs its focus on providing courses in Data Science, IoT, mobile and web development, product management, and other digital-related courses. The organisation helps fresh graduates with best in-class instructions and provide access to opportunities in tech.
India is churning out thousands of engineering graduates every year who should ideally find new jobs. However, the reality is that many of these fresh graduates are not fully ready for the jobs that the industry is creating.
Forsk is not just one more finishing school. Our vision is much bigger, it is more than making students job-ready and helping them bag dream jobs. We bring industry approach of app and product development to students using technology and data. We closely mimic the industry practices and most of the learning comes through hands-on practices.
What do you do and how do you do it? What is your workplace like?
I lead course content development and deliver to students at Forsk Technologies. I am leading Data Science and Full Stack Development currently. Creating user stories for students, code challenges to reinforce their learning and evaluation of their efforts. My work keeps me fully engaged during the day and the workplace at Forsk is very informal with a very flat hierarchy.
What do you wish you knew before you started preparing for this career?
I wish I could have worked on capstone projects during my engineering to prepare better for the future.
The most surprising element was, the difference between academic world and practical/corporate world.
Our curriculum and teaching practices are far behind what is actually needed for making right impact into job/career. I guess your learning attitude and teamwork is most important to be successful.
What things would you do differently in preparing for this career?
As an entrepreneur, I would try to take risk to be successful and focus on the business model rather than funding.
What do you love about your current role?
Mentoring students and evolving Forsk strategy to get close to real success is something which puts me on fire. Entire Forsk team is in sync we and we don’t believe in shortcuts.
What are the challenges you face in your career?
Entrepreneurship steals away the comfortable life from you and forces you to work without fixed income and putting yourself to challenges everyday is not an easy life. You should only choose to be an entrepreneur only if you are passionate about the problem you are solving.
What type of software engineers will be high in demand after 5 years?
People good at problem solving with right creativity will be in high demand. Technology wise people will be in demand in the areas of data science, AI, edge computing etc.
Can you please summarise your career journey?
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend my free time with family and learning new technologies. This helps me in keeping ahead of others by bringing those technology and trends to students.
What sort of experiences helped prepare you most?
Probably bad experiences helped us a lot in our journey so far. We accept the failures and learn from them in order to move forward.
What are the various career options for a Software Engineer?
Software Engineer can go into various roles, some of them could be:
- Development Manager – if you enjoy leading a group of engineers and collectively owning tools / apps / services / infra – likely not writing code (none -> part time)
- Technical Lead – if you enjoy setting technical direction for a team and overseeing the work of other engineers without direct people management responsibility – likely writing code (full -> part time)
- Technical Architect – if you enjoy designing systems that weave together work from both of the above (to meet functional or quality objectives)
- Program Manager – if you enjoy driving a collection of engineering teams towards a particular deliverable (to meet business objectives)
- Product Manager – if you enjoy setting the vision for what a collection of engineering teams should build (to meet user objectives)
- VP Engineering – if you enjoy building an organization composed of all of the above to (to meet company objectives) – likely internal face of technology
- CTO – if you enjoy influencing an organization composed of all of the above (to meet company objectives) – likely external face of technology
What do you think potential recruiters look for in a fresh Software Engineer?
- Hands-on any programming language who can make things work.
- Right attitude with learning mindset
- Good problem solving skills
How do I know if a career in Software Engineering is for me?
If you have interest in programming/coding and ready to learn new technologies, then this is for you.
Any recommended resources for aspiring Software Engineers?
What do you think everyone leaving higher secondary school should know?
In future, I do not see engineering degree as the necessary requirement to become software engineer. People from other background will also make it, as jobs will be offered based on their skill set and not degrees.
During the college days, one should focus on practical learning and for this he/she should take projects under faculty guidance or with companies like Forks Technologies.
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