For many students, earning a degree is only part of the journey. The bigger question is whether the classroom is preparing them for the workplace. Employers today are increasingly looking for candidates who can solve real-world problems, work with data and communicate their ideas effectively.That’s exactly what Uday Kiran Kandagatla says helped him secure a Systems Engineer (Prime) position at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). A student in the IIT Madras BS program, Uday believes that the program’s blend of academic concepts and hands-on projects gave him the confidence and skills needed to begin his professional career.Build a strong foundation beyond the classroomReflecting on his learning journey, Uday said the program introduced him to subjects that form the backbone of today’s technology industry.He studied Computational Thinking, Python, Statistics and Data Science, which helped him develop a solid understanding of analytical thinking and problem solving. According to him, the Diploma in Data Science was particularly valuable because it allowed him to explore the concepts of Machine Learning in more depth.Rather than focusing only on theory, the program encourages students to understand how technology can be applied to practical challenges.Learn to solve real-world problemsUday says one of the biggest highlights of the program was the opportunity to work on industry-oriented projects.He highlighted the Business Data Management (BDM) project and the Machine Learning project as key learning experiences. These projects required students to interact with business owners, collect and analyze data, identify patterns and present their results.The experience helped her strengthen not only her technical knowledge, but also her communication, teamwork and analytical skills – qualities that employers increasingly value alongside academic performance.According to Uday, these practical tasks played an important role in preparing for professional opportunities.Because projects matter as much as brandsAs the tech industry continues to evolve, recruiters are placing greater emphasis on candidates who can demonstrate practical problem-solving skills rather than relying solely on academic scores.Uday’s journey reflects this changing trend. Along with learning programming and data science concepts, he gained experience applying these skills to real-world scenarios, making him industry-ready before graduation.His appointment as Systems Engineer (Prime) at TCS also highlights a wider lesson for students: while strong academic foundations remain important, hands-on learning, project experience and the ability to communicate solutions can significantly improve career prospects.For students preparing for careers in technology, Uday’s story is a reminder that the most valuable learning often happens when classroom knowledge is put into practice.
