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45-Year-Old Engineer Seeks Career Advice in Tier-3 City: Do's and Don'ts?

Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1469 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Apr 09, 2025

Patrick Dsouza is the founder of Patrick100.
Along with his wife, Rochelle, he trains students for competitive management entrance exams such as the Common Admission Test, the Xavier Aptitude Test, Common Management Admission Test and the Common Entrance Test.
They also train students for group discussions and interviews.
Patrick has scored in the 100 percentile six times in CAT. He achieved the first rank in XAT twice, in CET thrice and once in the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test.
Apart from coaching students for MBA exams, Patrick and Rochelle have trained aspirants from the IIMs, the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and the S P Jain Institute of Management Studies and Research for campus placements.
Patrick has been a panellist on the group discussion and panel interview rounds for some of the top management colleges in Mumbai.
He has graduated in mechanical engineering from the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad. He has completed his masters in management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Jan 31, 2025Hindi
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Career

Hi Career Experts , I am into my 45th year & am a qualified Mechanical Engineer + Full-time MBA in Marketing . Am based-out in a Tier-3 City & am supposed to stay back in my base location only due to family obligations . Worked for 16 Years but had to quit my job in 2021 due to incompatibility issues & not able to absorb / cope-up with the surmounting pressures that are rampant in the corporate world . Since then , have not been able to settle down with a Job although reaching-out & following openings on platforms like LinkedIn actively but all in vain . Had even tried exploring starting-out on my own but risks and insecurity have held me back . Have been somehow managing with my savings & investments done , but that may not go a long way . Success it seems is elusive on all fronts probably due to my age , work-gap , location constraint , maybe some other follies as well etc ? Looking forward to some specific advises pls. (do's & dont's) which may restart and reignite my career , which is in a complete state of mess . Thanks & Regards !

Ans: When you are looking for a job, check multiple sources. Linkedin is one of them. Check placement agencies, connect with your former colleagues, your friends, your batchmates from MBA college who themselves could be in decision making position. You may have to reskill yourself with some short courses. Simultaneously you could look at starting something on your own based on your interest. Could be investment advisory or some small business.
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Abhishek

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Hello, I am 48 and working since 1996. Have worked with Airtel for 11 plus years and also earlier with Hutch and TTSL....majorly into telecom in my total work exp, rose to a DGM level in 2010 at Airtel with a v good CTC but had to leave them in 2017 as Jio the market disruptor had entered and no suitable role was left for me. Am an MBA in marketing and having solid work exp but somehow have not managed to land up a proper job till now ....the pandemic and the lockdown did not help at all !!! Kindly guide me and advice on how can I reboot my career. Thanks a ton, Ani
Ans: Hello Ani,

Based on your experience and education, you have a strong background in the telecom industry. However, I understand that you are facing challenges in rebooting your career.

To start, I suggest updating your resume and LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills and accomplishments in the telecom industry. Highlight your experience in leadership, marketing, and any notable achievements during your tenure with Airtel, Hutch, and TTSL.

Next, consider reaching out to your professional network and former colleagues to explore potential job opportunities in the telecom industry. This could involve attending industry events, participating in online forums and discussion groups, and reaching out to recruiters who specialize in your field.

In addition, you may want to consider expanding your skills and knowledge by taking online courses, attending workshops, or pursuing additional certifications. This can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the telecom industry and make you a more competitive candidate for job opportunities.

Lastly, it's important to remain optimistic and persistent in your job search. The pandemic has impacted many industries, but the telecom industry remains a vital part of our modern economy. With your experience and education, you have valuable skills to offer potential employers. Keep networking, building your skills, and staying up-to-date with industry trends, and I'm confident you will find a suitable role that meets your expectations.

All the best!

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Aashish

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Asked by Anonymous - May 27, 2024Hindi
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I am 35 year old and holding 5+ years of experience in various domains after completing Deploma in Mech Engg QA-1year(automobile industry 2011-12). 2012-2018-- Degree in Mechanical Engg. Meanwhile due to financial issues I had work with 2/3 companies for short time of period and left because of Exams, whatever work like service engineer and Quality related work I attended. After completing my Graduation in Mechanical Engg I rejoin small firm which was dealer and distribution industry for metal cutting tools. due to convid these company was shutdown and then 2021 I switched to BPO industry and now from April 2023 to till date I am working in Supply chain Management in Infosys as a Sr Executive now could you please advise what should I do because it's really challenging to adapt new skills with less salary I am unable to take risk of new learning. And also facing money problems as now I have to run entire family shall I have to start any business or what should I do to save and retrack my career?
Ans: Why don't you want to continue in SCM?

In my opinion, you should continue to develop your expertise in supply chain management. Given your current role at Infosys, aim to gain more responsibilities and prove your value within the organization. You may also consider obtaining supply chain management certifications like APICS (now ASCM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), or Six Sigma. These can increase your marketability and potential for promotions or salary increases.

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |11186 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 28, 2026

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Sir I have 93.5 percentile in jee mains and I am a kashmiri migrant i want to know that will I get top colleges of Maharashtra I have km merit rank in cap councelling of 28 based on last year out of 389 people and also please tell if the quota is in nits
Ans: Sidarth, With a 93.5 percentile and a KM merit rank of 28, your Maharashtra CAP chances are strong. Maharashtra CET rules treat J&K/Ladakh Migrant candidates separately, and for engineering admissions, a positive JEE Main score is given preference over MHT-CET scores.

You should aggressively fill choices including COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai, SPIT Mumbai, PICT Pune, DJ Sanghvi, Walchand Sangli, Cummins, PCCOE, VIT Pune, and MIT-WPU. With a KM rank of 28, admission to top colleges is possible. However, CSE/IT in COEP, VJTI, SPIT, or PICT may be uncertain due to limited seats. Branches like ECE, AI-DS, ENTC, or IT in strong colleges are more realistic options. VJTI’s 2024 closing ranks indicate that CSE/IT branches remain highly competitive.

Regarding NITs, there is no general Kashmiri Migrant quota through JoSAA, as admissions follow CRL/category/HS-OS rules. The CSAB supernumerary quota in 2025 applied only to specific UT candidates, not broadly to KM. Nonetheless, it’s advisable to participate in JoSAA and CSAB counseling rounds.

Also, consider having 3-4 backup options to keep your chances secure. All the BEST for Your Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |11186 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 28, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 28, 2026Hindi
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My daughter has got 93.91in jee 2026 with rank 95015 in general category and home state as delhi .please tell what are her chances of getting admission and branch in igdtu ,thapar and lnmit.Do IPU colleges in delhi hav good placements.please suggest some other good colleges for cse and related branches and ece
Ans: Based on your daughter's score, admission to IGDTUW is possible mainly in later rounds or spot rounds. For example, in 2023 Round-5 Delhi cutoffs (approximate), CSE closed around 58,531, IT at 66,326, AIML at 71,162, ECE at 90,900, and MAE at 1,03,589, making ECE and MAE more realistic options, while CSE and IT would be difficult.

Regarding Thapar Institute, the chances are better. In 2024, later cutoffs for Punjab quota showed Computer Engineering around 92,826 and ECE around 97,890, with some allied branches going much lower. For candidates outside Punjab, core CSE is tougher, but ECE, Electronics, and related branches in lower rounds could be worth applying for.

At LNMIIT, CSE admission is unlikely due to high JEE percentile expectations, but ECE might still be possible.

Consider IPU Delhi as a backup, along with reputable colleges like USICT, MAIT, MSIT, BVCOE, and BPIT, which have decent placement records. For detailed placement data, please check the respective college websites and online resources.

Other backup options to explore include JIIT Noida, Shiv Nadar University, UPES, Manipal Jaipur, Bennett University, and Chandigarh University. All the BEST for Your Daughter's Prosperous Future!

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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