Alumni Speak
‘I would suggest students not to depend on AI too much’
Apeejay Stya University’s alumni highlights why strong coding skills matter more than shortcuts
From adapting to online classes during the pandemic to securing his first job through campus placements, Anirudh Chauhan, alumnus of Apeejay Stya University (B.Tech CSE, Batch of 2022), has seen both challenges and opportunities in his journey. Currently working in Gurgaon as a backend developer, he shares how university training prepared him for the IT industry and why he believes strong fundamentals are more valuable than shortcuts offered by AI.
How did your academic journey at Apeejay prepare you for the industry?
Even though much of my degree was completed online due to COVID-19, Apeejay gave me valuable skills. For example, we had Oracle training which opened doors for me in ERP systems. That exposure directly helped me when I moved into SAP backend development, the field I’m working in today. The projects also strengthened my coding abilities and taught me how to collaborate with teams effectively.
How did you begin your professional journey?
My first opportunity came through campus placement, where I joined Motherson as a backend developer. The placement committee was very supportive and guided us through the process. Later, I moved to my current role, where I continue working in SAP.
What does your role as a backend developer in SAP look like on a daily basis?
Think of SAP as a massive database where companies store all their transactions and data. My role is to ensure the system works seamlessly. If a client needs a new report, form, or functionality – say, tracking inventory more efficiently, I develop it for them. I also fix issues whenever users face errors while working in the system.
AI is changing the way software engineers work. What’s your perspective on it?
AI can be helpful, but my advice to students is – don’t depend on it too much. From my experience, AI tools are about 70% accurate and won’t always provide a complete solution. If you rely only on AI, you’ll miss out on learning how to solve problems yourself. Building strong coding fundamentals is what truly makes you valuable in this industry.
