‘Beyond the basic qualification, engineering jobs are now skill-oriented’

In this fast-moving, tech-driven world, it is easy to get hyper and start comparing your journey with others. While some bright sparks may get lost in their mundane routines, others can simply be caught in a web of tech algorithms. To put it simply, life isn’t that simple. But, Hrithik Rohilla, looks at it in terms of phases and time zones. He mentions, ‘Each one of us has a path and good things will come to those who keep at it.’ His theory is, success comes in a time zone, and sooner or later, we will be in it. An alumnus of Apeejay School, Saket, Rohilla shares more from his brainy brilliance. Read On, edited excerpts from the interview.

Please tell us more about your educational background.  

I completed schooling from Apeejay School, Saket in 2016. After that, I pursued a Bachelors in Technology programme at the prestigious Delhi Technological University till 2020. I got placed from the campus at CitiGroup where I am currently working as a Technology Analyst (Big Data) since 2020.

What do your roles and responsibilities entail at Citi?

I am part of the Data Engineering vertical. My focus area is Big Data technologies and the regular work includes looking into the security and services that the Group offers to its clients. My first year in the company was spent in the Treasury and Trade Solutions business where my primary work was to extract data.

What will be the new trends in your sector?

Financial Technology is going to evolve in the coming years. Many companies like Citi are working extensively on data platforms. Most importantly, handling data is not a one-person job. Therefore, there are ample job opportunities in the field since people are required to work across teams catering to different levels and stages, from data extraction to cleaning, analysing, etc.

Machine learning too caters to data. And, the field is advancing by the day. In today’s day and age, data determines how well an organisation can serve its customers. And so, in the near future, I can see a technological boom.

Engineering is an extremely competitive field in India. What would be your advice to those seeking jobs?

With the advancement of technology, people are now valued more based on their problem-solving skills. So, if one is well-versed in their domain and equipped with the right skill-sets, then a degree from any college will have a lesser role to play. Those who are looking to work for tech giants like Microsoft, Google or Amazon, must know that it is about how experienced they are in their domain. That’s what matters.

How was your experience at Apeejay School, Saket?

In school, I used to participate in many co-curricular activities. The school has been like a family to me and the ex-students, teachers, staff and alumni have taught me a lot. I fondly remember Mr. Arvind, my Sanskrit teacher, who is my guru. Not to forget, Ms. Anita Paul, the Ex-Principal, as she shared with us valuable learning each morning at the school assembly. Once out of school, those lessons helped me become mentally strong.  

Apeejay taught me how to stay patient, consistent and yet to not give up. In the inter-school competitions, I may not have always won. But, I never stopped participating. Ms. Seema Passi, my English teacher then, told me that it is a good thing to have lost, since it would mark the beginning of my journey towards improvement. Competitions are important so that we learn something out of it, despite winning or losing. In it, we not only compete, but work on ourselves, formulate teams, handle pressure, and all these are life learnings.

What are your future plans?

I will join a Business school in the coming few years. I wish to combine my know-how of technology with management since I believe that the future belongs to those who can pair these two domains. In the job market, more than engineers, employers are preferring technical managers.

Your words of wisdom for students?

Be clear about your calling in +2. If engineering is not your choice, do not fall into the trap of opting for it. Most people move onto different streams after engineering because they never chose it in the first place. Most importantly, always move on with life, no matter what.