Consistency, Confidence, and Cybersecurity: This Apeejay graduate’s formula for success

From discovering her passion for cybersecurity to securing a placement as a Cybersecurity Engineer at Coder Roots Pvt. Ltd., Mohali, Karuna Sharma’s journey at Apeejay Institute of Management & Engineering Technical Campus (AIMETC), Jalandhar, reflects perseverance, continuous learning, and professional growth. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science Engineering with a specialisation in IoT and Cybersecurity, Karuna credits hands-on projects, faculty mentorship, and consistent preparation for shaping her technical expertise, confidence, and career readiness. In this interview, she shares her placement journey, key learnings, and valuable advice for aspiring engineers. Read edited excerpts: 

How do you feel receiving the placement offer? What position have you been offered?

Receiving my placement offer was one of the happiest and most memorable moments of my college life. It felt like all the hard work, dedication, and countless hours of preparation had finally paid off.

I have been offered the position of Cybersecurity Engineer at Coder Roots Pvt. Ltd., Mohali, which is a field I have always wanted to explore because of my strong interest in cybersecurity. Since cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing industries today, getting an opportunity to begin my career in this domain is both exciting and motivating.

This achievement has also boosted my confidence and encouraged me to continue learning and improving my technical skills. I am grateful to my college, my teachers, and my family for their continuous support throughout this journey.

How did you prepare for your placements?

My placement preparation started several months before the recruitment process. I first focused on strengthening my fundamentals in subjects like computer networks, operating systems, cybersecurity concepts, and programming.

Along with technical preparation, I regularly practiced aptitude questions, logical reasoning, and verbal ability. I also worked on improving my communication skills because I believe that expressing your knowledge confidently is just as important as having technical expertise.

I prepared my resume carefully, revised my projects thoroughly, and practiced answering technical as well as HR interview questions. Mock interviews conducted by the college helped me understand the interview environment and improve my confidence.

One thing that really helped me was consistency. Instead of studying only during placement season, I tried to learn something new every day. Small, consistent efforts eventually made a big difference.

How did your teachers at Apeejay help you during the placement process?

Our teachers were one of the biggest sources of support throughout the placement journey. They guided us not only academically but also professionally.

They helped us build strong resumes, conducted mock interviews, organised aptitude and technical training sessions, and constantly encouraged us to improve ourselves. Whenever we faced difficulties in understanding technical concepts or preparing for interviews, they were always available to guide us.

What I appreciate the most is that they believed in us and motivated us to stay confident, even if we faced rejection or setbacks. Their mentorship gave me the confidence to perform well during interviews and prepared me for professional life.

I sincerely thank all my teachers for their continuous guidance and encouragement.

What are your tips to crack a job interview?

From my experience, I would say that interview preparation is not just about memorising answers. It is about understanding concepts and presenting yourself confidently.

Firstly, build a strong foundation in your core subjects because interviewers often test your basic knowledge. Secondly, know your resume well because every project and skill you mention can become a discussion point during the interview.

Communication skills are equally important, so practice speaking clearly and confidently. Before every interview, research the company, understand its work, and prepare accordingly.

Lastly, stay calm and be honest. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s perfectly okay to admit it rather than guessing. Confidence, a positive attitude, and willingness to learn always leave a good impression.

What are your future aspirations?

My long-term goal is to build a successful career in the field of cybersecurity, especially in Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing. I want to continuously improve my technical expertise, gain practical experience, and earn globally recognised cybersecurity certifications.

I aspire to work on challenging security projects where I can help organisations identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their security systems against cyber threats.

At the same time, I believe that learning never stops in the technology industry. Therefore, I plan to keep upgrading my knowledge and stay updated with the latest advancements in cybersecurity so that I can contribute meaningfully to the industry.