Decision for field of interest Wasn’t a easy decision by any means

 Wasn’t a easy decision by any means.

Just to escape Mathematics, instead of general route Bachelor of Engineering, I joined Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM), which was a terrible idea.

While doing BHM, realised that it is not for me, so in parallel did Bsc Chemistry through distance education. Finally after completing both the degrees was in a huge confusion to what to do next.

By this time, most of my friends completed engineering and started getting jobs. But I was clueless about what to do next.

My options in 2007 were:

1. Job in Hotel industry: As I already worked for sometime in hotels and couldn’t see myself working whole life in this. Physical stress is huge, hours are more (12+ per day) and pay was less(4k INR per month). More importantly I wasn’t enjoying it and miserable all the time.
2. Job in Restaurant (USA): My fathers friend’s friend own a restaurant in US & offered me job there. Looks like a better option as they said no need to struggle as like in India and pay would be much better. All my well wishers tried to convince me as this is best opportunity. I thought about it, but wanted to get out of the Hotel industry all together, so finally let it go.
3. MSc Chemistry: I wanted to change the industry, chemistry seems to be viable option. This time didn’t make the same mistake as I did last time. Spoke with few people who already did the course about what job opportunities they get, kind of the work they do. Didn’t seem right fit for me.
4. MBA: As any graduate irrespective of the stream are eligible to do MBA. Again spoke with few people who are already working, seems decent to me. It was a tough call to choose between MBA & MCA, but my introverted nature pushed me away from MBA.
5. MCA: I already have mathematics as a subject both in +2 and in BSc, so eligible for MCA. But my fear of mathematics made MCA as a difficult choice. Again spoke with few people already working in software, but I could not understand what they were talking about. I wasn’t confident enough to pursue this, but my cousin who was then working on Computer networking and know me from childhood, gave enough confidence that, I will like it and do well. My instinct also pushed me for this. So joined MCA in Bangalore, far away from home, and career wise never looked back since.

Developer or Tester: As part of MCA final semester, did internship in one of the MNC and there was an opportunity for me to join full time as a tester. It was very good option considering as I don’t have eligibility for campus placements(only 54% in BSc). But my interest was always in development so had to pass this and look outside for the job.

In all this, huge advantage for me was my father, he supported me in every step, wasn’t easy, but funded all my courses, even supported when I passed on job offer.