By: Maira Zamir, Peer Career Coach
Pranjal Sahai graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical engineering (honors). Below, he shared some of his experiences being a student here at Illinois Tech and his advice.
What is the greatest lesson you learned during your time as a student at IIT?
The greatest lesson I learned is that you can have a grand plan in your freshman year at college, however, life is unlikely to unfold the exact same way. You have to be mentally prepared, and have the qualifications ready to tackle any new challenge. As they say, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him, “I have a plan”.
Did you have an internship in your undergrad? If so, what advice do you have for people who will be interning or doing co-op in the future?
I got my internship at Gamma Technologies through a recommendation by my undergraduate research advisor Dr. Carrie Hall. I’d say networking is key; but forming a good relationship with your professors/peers also helps a great deal as they can definitely help link you up with potential employers.
What is one major thing you learned when you stepped into the professional world after graduating?
During my professional experiences, I realized that learning doesn’t end when you finish your undergrad. In fact, to have a successful career, your undergrad should just be the starting point of your education, not the end result. How did you land your first job?
My post-graduation job was just a continuation of my last internship.
What advice would you give to graduates of 2020?
These are challenging times for everyone. Finding a job is hard. However, one must accept that this is a once-in-a-century event. It’s an anomaly. This is not your fault. This too shall pass.