How upGrad’s 360-Degree Career Assistance Can Help You Achieve Job Success

It’s no secret that technical skills aren’t the only thing you need to get a job in tech today. Sharp technical proficiencies are certainly an essential part of building a career, but once that’s achieved, you might be left wondering how and where to find your place in the varied landscape of tech.  

Doing this solo can feel overwhelming and isolating. This is why upGrad has developed a comprehensive program designed to help its graduates find their place in tech. upGrad’s 360-Degree Career Assistance covers every angle of guidance that students might need. No matter the area you require help with, upGrad is there to lend a helping hand.

What Is upGrad?

upGrad is a remote learning platform that takes a blended approach to education. Combining the deep theoretical knowledge and credentials of traditional university education with the practical and technical skill-building of bootcamps, upGrad presents the option for dynamic remote learning at a high level. 

Its courses cover a wide variety of career paths from machine learning to business management. upGrad partners with a plethora of internationally recognized higher learning institutions to grant certificates, while also partnering with industry leaders to provide students with up-to-date industry knowledge.

Can upGrad Help You Find a Job: An upGrad Alum’s Story

Nithin Ramesh is an upGrad alumnus who, prior to his time at upGrad, wanted to transition from a career as a Java developer to a data scientist. He found out about upGrad through a friend and co-worker who had done that transition and became the point of contact for big clients at their workplace. Watching his friend live out the career he wanted, Nithin followed in his friend’s footsteps.

“I had strong reason to believe that upGrad could help me in transitioning my career in the field of data science. I knew I lacked real-life experience, and no company would take me without me having a working knowledge of tools and languages.”

After researching further, Nithin knew that upGrad’s Data Science program was the answer to his goal. Not only does it have the right content but it also features a 360-Degree Career Assistance program, complete with career guidance from industry mentors.

Career Mentorship

One significant part of upGrad’s 360-Degree Career Assistance program is the mentorship program. upGrad students meet one-on-one with a mentor during their time at upGrad to help determine what career they are best suited for, to define a value proposition, and to help lay out a career path as well as establish goals and timelines. 

upGrad mentors also help students prepare for interviews, find jobs, and negotiate their salaries. The mentors are industry professionals with over eight years of experience in their particular field. 

Nithin found that the small group coaching and one-on-one mentorship sessions were extremely helpful in helping him prepare for the job application process. 

“Immediately after completing the first course, I understood how to face interviews and how to be more confident in mock interviews. I understood my areas of weakness and where to improve as well as what language to use. I learned so many soft skills along with the technical skill building of the program.”

upGrad Buddy

In addition to mentorship from people in the industry, upGrad also has a buddy program to connect students with peers to keep them accountable and motivated during their time in the program.

Nithin found this helpful to maintain focus during his studies, especially since he was juggling his then-day job with his studies. He found that having additional motivation helped him stay on the course when things got busy. 

“My upGrad buddy played a key role in motivating me to stay committed to the course and submit my assignments on time. She was extremely helpful, always mindful of concerns I had, and resolved my issues timely.”

The upGrad community is facilitated through discussion forums and study groups, in addition to the upGrad buddy.

“The discussion forum is amazing. It encourages participation from enrolled learners by associating scores with it. So everyone is motivated to help each other and add value to the entire batch thereby enriching the overall experience.”

Nithin said his study group was also a highlight of his upGrad experience.

“It was filled with like-minded professionals, all of whom are very eager to learn more, transition faster in the right industry. All of this helped me reach where I am today, and the learning continues.”

Employability Test

The employability test is a unique part of the 360-Degree Career Assistance program that allows students to quantify their learning. It tests how much students have learned during the course and helps them assess the areas that would require improvement before they begin applying for jobs.

The test takes place mid-way through the course, right after the basics modules, to help students understand their strengths and weaknesses. Students can then request a one-on-one session with a career coach to create a work plan that addresses their weaknesses and work towards a stronger overall aptitude. 

This, Nithin said, was especially helpful for career changers like himself. 

“The employability test helped me identify key areas I needed to focus on to make a career shift. This, along with guidance from industry mentors and career guidance experts, helped me reach my goal relatively faster.”

Resume Building and Interview Prep

Mentors and career guidance experts help students with the practical elements of a job application. Resume building and interview preparations are an important part of feeling confident and prepared to communicate your skill set to employers.

“Resume preparation and mock interviews made me so resilient,” says Nithin, “The real interview felt like a cakewalk. The career coaches helped me build a good resume and taught me how to create a profile on job portals with all the tips and tricks.”

upGrad even offers a ‘Just-In-Time’ session, which is an interview scheduled right before an actual job interview, to ensure students walk into it feeling prepared and confident. 

Networking Sessions

upGrad organizes online networking sessions between current students and alumni to facilitate connections and help current students access career opportunities. If you’re wondering what makes this service remarkable, a LinkedIn study found that 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking. 

“Over 3,000 professionals responded and the results showed networking as the number one way for jobs to be filled, even for the most active candidates,” the study revealed. In other words, while what you know is definitely important, who you know is also a crucial differentiator in your job search. And upGrad’s networking sessions give you the chance to expand your professional circle as wide as possible.

Make the Career Transition You Want with upGrad

No matter where you’re coming from or what you’re aiming towards, upGrad’s 360-Degree Career Assistance is designed for you to receive the support you need to excel. upGrad offers one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders, career guidance from upGrad’s career coaches, interview preparation tips, resume-building insights, and more. 

This is the same 360-Degree Career Assistance that helped Nithin secure his dream job. 

“I found the desired position within seven months into the course and I transitioned into the role of a data analyst. I even got a 100 percent raise when transitioning from Infosys to Deloitte—both amazing organizations to work for.

“A lot of people reach out to me through LinkedIn with queries about how I successfully transitioned, and I always explain how upGrad played an instrumental role.”

If you’re ready to be supported during your career transition, apply to upGrad and receive the same kind of support that launched Nithin to success.