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Stuck in Debt and Unskilled: How Can I Find a Good Job After 8 Years of Education?

Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1428 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Aug 08, 2024

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
Anmol Question by Anmol on Aug 05, 2024Hindi
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Career

i done my b.com from kanpur in 2018 after that i took 2 yrs drop to prpare CAT Exam but sadly I got very less marks inspite of studying day and night and than I thought to took admission in tier3 college in Greater noida instead of wasting 1 more year but sadly after completing MBA in Marketing stream I also took loan of 4 Lakh for same but Sadly I did'nt got placement in college in 2022, then I decided to return To kanpur and search Job there because it requires additional accommodation cost outside city to search job there but Sadly I didn't get job there since there is very less oppurtunitiies so in 2024, I decided to move to noida city to search job but Sadly here I am getting only 10-15K job in BPO sector even Class 12th passout also getting the same, I realise I wasted 8 years in collecting degrees have no use. I am also in DEBT of 4lack, That i took to finance MBA course, What should i Do????

Ans: Can look at doing short courses online (there are free courses available on various platforms) to upskill yourself and keep looking for better jobs by going through a placement agency.
Asked on - Aug 08, 2024 | Answered on Aug 09, 2024
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but I hav done many courses- digita mareting, accounting, etc but not got oppurtunity in that domain
Ans: Then focus on getting a job by contacting placement agencies.
Asked on - Aug 09, 2024 | Answered on Aug 10, 2024
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NO, I HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE TO NOIDA AND SEARCH THERE
Ans: Ok
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Pradeep

Pradeep Pramanik  | Answer  |Ask -

Career And Placement Consultant - Answered on Aug 03, 2024

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I have completed my civil engg from reputed govt college in 2016 and after that I went for gate coaching i got 35 marks in gate 2017. (I know this is not my best I can do better). After that I started preparing for technical govt exams. After one year some of my prelims were missing by .25 marks 2 marks that time I gave up. And started doing site internship to start my own civil engg consultancy firm. But I got one opportunity to do job as lecturer in polytechnic college so I started doing job at polytechnic college. After 6 months again I started doing studies and cleared mains of state 2019 PSCs Assistant engg. And missed rrb je post by 2 marks in mains. After that exam corona came and I couldn't keep myself on the track and one year again wasted. In 2021 March I have started preparing for prelims and cleared prelims and for mains exam I joined one online class named super 40 and already half syllabus was over at time.of joining so I started watching lectures and as lectures were lengthy and so much lectures were there so I couldn't do revision properly and I lost my self confidence due to that coaching and it was totally waste of money. Again that time it was time everyone was saying do software classes to get job and many of mine friends done those classes so I also joined one to get job and successfully wasted another 6 months. I don't know what to do now. I still feel that If I can study for another 5/6 months I can clear rrb je. In between I got offer of 25k per month as site engineer I denyed that. It's been 8 years since my degree and still. unemployed. Please help me out.
Ans: Dear Friend , When You are not focussed or keep on changing your plans , it is bound to happen. In these precious 8yrs you could have made your career in Civil Engg. However you wanted to start your consultancy or then wanted to try your hand in Govt Jobs or some times you tried your hand in teaching but quit the job. If you delay in taking a firm decision , even getting a job in your core field will be difficult. So get into a stable job and build you career.

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Sep 09, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 09, 2025Hindi
Career
Could you help me to get out from my situation? I graduated in 2022, later on I started preparing for govt exam PO/SSC, big mistake switching here and there, failed, joined bpo in 2024 and it is 2025, now it more than 3 year since my graduation I am left with nothing where my friend enrolled themselves in PHD and their stiphend is more that my salary, some got into IIM, some become CA and some become govt officials. In mean time I lost all my earning in options trading (5 lakh 25k), also I have chronic gastro illness which need constant medical support. Family background is lower class. Please help
Ans: Making a clear, achievable plan now can help you regain control and build stability despite past setbacks. Begin by acknowledging your current strengths: you hold a bachelor’s degree, you have experience in a BPO environment, and you’ve demonstrated perseverance in preparing for competitive exams. These qualities form a foundation on which to rebuild.

First, stabilize your health and finances. Addressing your chronic gastro condition is paramount. Explore government-supported health schemes such as Ayushman Bharat or state health insurance programs; these can significantly reduce your medical expenses. Simultaneously, create a basic emergency fund. Start small: set aside any surplus after essentials, even ?500 per week. This builds financial resilience and prevents future setbacks from trading or other high-risk activities.

Next, regain professional momentum. Leverage your BPO experience and communication skills to seek roles in customer service, operations, or back-office support at reputable firms. These roles often offer training, clear performance metrics, and opportunities for incremental promotions. Apply through professional portals like Naukri.com and LinkedIn, tailoring your resume to highlight problem-solving and client-management achievements. Simultaneously, pursue short, job-oriented certificate courses in high-demand areas such as digital marketing, data entry automation, or basic programming through platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or NIIT’s certification programs. Certificates signal commitment to prospective employers and can boost your initial earning potential.

Once employed full-time in a stable role, dedicate a fixed daily slot—say one hour—to upskill strategically. Identify fields with strong entry-level demand and growth potential that align with your interests and aptitude. Options include: database administration, digital marketing, basic web development, or business analytics. Use free resources from government initiatives like Skill India or SWAYAM to build foundational knowledge. As you progress, aim to complete one certificate every three months, showcasing each on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Concurrently, rebuild your competitive exam strategy if a government role still appeals to you. However, avoid repeating earlier mistakes by focusing on one target exam at a time—choose the one that best suits your background and timeline. For example, clerical banking exams often have slightly lower cut-offs and combine well with your BPO experience. Use guided programs from reputed coaching institutes and online test series to maintain discipline.

Networking is crucial. Join online forums, local meetups, and professional groups related to your target industry. Mentorship can accelerate your progress by providing guidance, feedback, and sometimes referral opportunities. Don’t hesitate to ask experienced contacts for advice on navigating entry-level roles, interview preparation, and career advancement.

Finally, rebuild your financial health. Steer clear of speculative trading and focus on systematic savings and low-risk instruments—consider monthly SIPs in mutual funds or recurring deposits. Even modest investments of ?1,000 per month can compound over time, providing a safety net and reducing stress.

By combining health stabilization, immediate employment in a growth-oriented role, targeted upskilling, disciplined exam preparation, and prudent financial management, you can transform your current situation into a sustainable, upward career trajectory. Remember that recovery takes time; focus on incremental progress and celebrate each milestone—small victories build momentum toward long-term success. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
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Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...Read more

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