In today's time, you might notice numerous internet memes making fun of engineers struggling to find jobs. Social media is full of engineer memes.
Even in ads, some say they don't want an "engineer" for their daughters (ironically).
However, we should address this matter using statistics and logical thinking.
Every year, lots of people graduate as engineers in India. Around 15 lakh engineers finish their studies. But only 5-6 lakhs of them get jobs from college placements. This means that 40% of them find work, while 60% are without jobs.
Now, if we look at the United States, they produce about 1 lakh engineers every year. But they have a much bigger economy, around $16 trillion. In India, we have a $2 trillion economy. This shows a big difference.
Also, only a small number of engineer graduates in India, about 3%, get good tech jobs with high salaries of Rs 8-10 lakh and more.
The rest face unemployment.
Why is this occurring? Do you believe there aren't adequate job positions for recent graduates?
Certainly, there are various other explanations, but not related to job availability.
Know the Reality
Have you ever thought about how job websites like Naukri actually work? They earn money from companies. But, how does this happen if there are no jobs?
The reality is, there are actually a lot of job openings available. For instance, consider the field of Data Science & AI. You'll find a significant number of job opportunities there.
However, some people argue that there are no jobs for newcomers. But that's not accurate. In fact, there are thousands of job positions specifically designed for newcomers. The challenge lies in some individuals being hesitant to take up these opportunities or not having the required skills.
Let's be honest and acknowledge that we might not possess all the skills that companies are searching for. Rather than blaming others, it's more productive to focus on self-improvement.
Enrolling in additional courses to learn new skills can greatly enhance our career prospects.
It's a common tendency to point fingers at the government for the current job situation. Nevertheless, rather than just waiting for external changes, we should proactively take steps to improve our own circumstances.
Reasons behind software engineers facing unemployment
Saturation in IT
With a large number of engineers in India, we might expect sufficient job opportunities. However, the reality is different.
Earlier, the manufacturing sector was a major source of employment, focusing on core branches like Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering. Unfortunately, manufacturing's contribution to the GDP has remained around 17%, leading to reduced placements in these fields.
The Information Technology (IT) sector emerged as a new major employer, contributing almost 5% to the GDP in 25 years and providing jobs to millions of engineers. Over time, the IT sector is also approaching saturation.
Despite this, well-skilled IT engineers are still in demand.
Education System
Many colleges still treat less popular departments like mechanical and civil engineering the same as others.
Our Indian education system is old and needs updating.
Nowadays, many engineers end up working in fields unrelated to their college studies. This is a waste of skills.
In India, engineers are taught by those who lack real industrial experience. These educators haven't worked much in actual corporations, so they don't understand our needs. Their teachings are too theoretical, repetitive, and outdated.
The syllabus is quite poor.
For example, teaching C programming with TurboC is not effective. Many computer science and IT engineers lack the knowledge to make their C code secure. Even a single careless line of code can lead to serious problems like HeartBleed. It's no wonder that companies hesitate to hire engineers who lack attention to detail and proper understanding.
Universities don't actively compete for engineering projects from private companies. Instead, most engineering colleges provide what they call a "placement team". This team simply connects their students as interns to various companies, often for mundane tasks like data entry.
However, IIMs and management colleges handle this better. They engage in entire consulting projects, not just offering students as interns.
Engineering colleges should adopt a practice like Stanford and MIT, where they undertake projects from private companies. This might seem like a big goal, but it's worth aiming for.
Student's Rat Race Mindset
Some students join engineering because of societal pressures, but they lose interest along the way. They might spend their college years without truly engaging and gaining skills.
This happens because of a careless attitude, lack of discipline, and choosing subjects without real interest.
For instance, if a test gets cancelled, many students would stop studying. This behaviour isn't acceptable. Employers can't constantly motivate with rewards to keep employees focused.
This is partly due to our education system, which prioritizes exams and marks over genuine learning.
Attitude problems are a concern. Many Indian engineering students struggle to admit when they make mistakes. I've seen people hired just because they could admit their mistakes.
In a job, it's vital to be able to own up to errors before they become big problems in the final outcome.
Being inflexible is a common issue. Many Indian engineering students find it hard to work without precise instructions. This can be problematic for many companies.
Engineers need to think and not just follow directions.
Lack of Knowledge and Skills
Among every 5 candidates, 3 are engineers. But finding skilled engineers is hard. Many have degrees but lack practical know-how. Just having a degree, even from distance education or clearing backlogs, doesn't make someone a real engineer.
A company hired a computer science grad as a system admin. He struggles with simple tasks on a computer. He doesn't know basic commands. Though he studied UNIX, he can't write programs for CSV files. Surprisingly, he's great at other subjects.
Engineering is about practical work, not just theory. Engineers are judged by what they create, not what they memorize. That's why interviews focus on projects, not textbooks. We want to see what you can make or help create. It's straightforward. Unfortunately, India doesn't teach this approach.
The skills required in a company when we join as freshers are way different than what is taught to us in our colleges.
Only a few engineers truly get their field.
Indian engineering colleges stress memorization, not real learning. So, why hire such engineers?
Lack of exposure and Career Guidance
Many engineering colleges lack a proper Training and Placement Cell or TPO officer who can guide students effectively.
Some students prioritize high marks, while others focus solely on sports and activities. It's important to strike a balance so that when it's time to create a Resume (CV), you have meaningful experiences to showcase.
Numerous Indian engineering colleges offer inadequate or no internship opportunities. This leaves many engineers unfamiliar with the actual industry environment.
Tips From Working Professional
- Engineers need to be focused on delivering results. We're interested in outcomes, not lectures or excuses.
- Results are what matter because they are what we, or anyone, will offer.
- We don't care about your deep thoughts on complex equations or your doubts about scientific theories. These might have helped you publish research papers, but where have you practically applied them?
- Unfortunately, university professors often prioritize meaningless research papers that don't benefit anyone. Unless they lead to tangible results, they're not valuable to us. So, don't emphasize them on your resume.
- Don't list 20 skills where you're not good; show me one skill where you're quite skilled. It's simple.
- Becoming really good at something is an achievement. If you can become an expert in one area, there's a team that can help you become great at the specific skill we require.
- Having grades below B+ in all subjects is an issue. It's better to have A+ in projects and C in other subjects.
- Think about the real world, not just your grades. We understand that colleges and universities focus on theoretical tests. But we won't ask those kinds of questions.
- We hire you to complete projects successfully, not to discuss your grades.
Suggestion
Universities in India should collaborate with companies for projects, not just focus on placing students. If a student is skilled, they can be hired even outside of campus placements.
Exposure to real industry practices is crucial early on.
If your college lacks such partnerships, you can team up with friends and start a startup. Taking on corporate projects, even if they seem challenging, provides unmatched learning. Fresh graduates don't need to be experts, but they should be open to learning and adaptable to company culture.
Let's be unique. We can enhance our skills, learn new technologies, and improve our soft skills to increase our employability. This effort can lead us to better job opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the challenge of unemployment among engineers in India stems from various factors. It's important to look beyond internet memes and consider the statistical realities.
India produces a large number of engineers each year, but only a portion find immediate job placements. Compared with countries like the United States, the economy size plays a significant role.
Blaming the lack of job openings isn't the only answer. Social pressures, being too selective, lacking necessary skills, and avoiding personal responsibility all contribute.
How to solve this issue?
To solve this issue, a shift in mindset is required. Focus on self-improvement and skill development is crucial. It's essential to realize that practical skills are more valuable than just academic achievements.
Engineering colleges need to update their syllabus and encourage more practical learning. Partnerships with companies for projects, similar to what top international universities do, could greatly benefit students.
Being proactive, taking on projects, and improving skills can lead to better employability. Ultimately, it's up to individuals to stand out, learn new things, and make themselves valuable in the job market.
Cheers!!!
