Poorvita Mahesh Bakliwal, 23, faced a setback when she didn't secure a medical college seat. Encouraged by her father, she chose engineering and enrolled in the Information Technology branch at Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj's Karmaveer Baburao Ganpatrao Thakare College of Engineering.

As Poorvita advanced in college, her interest in data analytics and coding grew. She learned programming languages like C, C++, and Python, as well as Power BI, essential for analysing data. However, she lacked hands-on practice with real-world data sets. By her seventh semester, she was eager to gain practical experience and extract meaningful insights from data. It was then that she discovered the opportunity to enrol in the Next Gen Employability Program through her college's Career Guidance Cell.

She particularly found the course "Applied Data Analytics with Python, Power BI & MS Azure" provided by the Program useful in gaining the hands-on experience she had been seeking. This program included an AICTE Internship that exposed her to a capstone project using real-world case scenarios. Here, she applied her learning to develop interactive dashboards and derive actionable insights from complex data sets. “This practical exposure helped me understand how to use data visualization and its applications in solving real-world challenges,“ says Poorvita.

After enhancing her technical skills through practical experience, Poorvita found the volunteer sessions led by EY experts very helpful. These sessions taught her the importance of soft skills in standing out and securing a good job. "No one talks about improving soft skills," she reflects. "People often think being good with tech is enough to succeed in the industry. But these sessions helped me see how crucial soft skills are."

She found the LMS beneficial for accessing course materials and job opportunities. With hands-on data analytics experience and soft skills from EY-led sessions, she secured a job at Persistent Systems. Her family is proud of her achievements. Poorvita highly recommends the Next Gen Employability Program for enhancing skills and employability. She advises students to embrace learning, participate in projects, and fully use the LMS. With commitment, the program can be transformative.

A native of Telangana, Lahiri always aspired to achieve the highest education since her father could not study beyond the 10th standard. With determination and hard work, she secured admission to B.Tech in Computer Engineering at a renowned college through a scholarship. Her faculty instructor enrolled her in the Next Gen Employability Program because of her proactive approach to learning.

She says, “Out of all the school and college sessions I have attended, I found this program's sessions to be unique because they ensured that students have a better understanding of the topics through hands-on sessions. I now feel more confident with my coding skills in Full Stack Development, Cloud Computing, and Microsoft Azure.”

Apart from attending the technical sessions, Lahari also registered for the AICTE EY GDS internship as part of the program. She attended all the master classes and mentorship sessions which helped her to connect with industry experts and understand her skill gaps and areas of improvement.

Lahari regularly accessed the program through an LMS portal. Due to her regular attendance, she became eligible to apply for job openings at ACT Fibrenet through the portal and was selected out of 100 applicants. After joining the organisation, she feels more motivated and energized. Her goal is to grow within the organization over the next five years, and she believes that continuous learning is the key to achieving this.

From an aspirant to an engineer, Lahari has made it to where she is through her hard work and brilliance. Her father takes pride in her achievements and acknowledges her crucial financial support to the family.

Rahul is the only child of his parents and has had a modest upbringing in Bheemaram village in Hanumakonda, Warangal. His father works as a Hindi teacher at a private school and is the primary earner, while his mother runs a small tailoring business from home. Despite their financial challenges, they have always supported Rahul's education. He is currently pursuing a B. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering with a specialization in the Internet of Things (IoT) at the Balaji Institute of Technology and Science. The Career Guidance Cell at his college helped him discover the Edunet Foundation's Next Gen Employability Program.

Rahul trained in IR 4.0 technologies, coupled with hands-on practice to improve his domain skills. Additionally, he actively participated in soft skills training sessions to enhance his communication, teamwork, and problem-solving capabilities, ultimately boosting his confidence for job interviews. One of the most impactful parts of the program for Rahul was the AICTE internship. During this internship, he worked on real projects, applying his theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. His experience improved his skills and the valuable mentorship provided by the EY volunteer professionals helped him understand employer expectations.

By the end of the program, Rahul had transformed from a hopeful student into a confident and skilled professional. He says, "The program helped bridge the gap between my education and getting a job. It made it possible for students like me to succeed in our careers." He applied for several jobs and was offered a position at GS Venture as a Full Stack Intern (Software Web Developer) convertible into a job.

Rahul aspires to become an AI expert and work at a leading multinational company such as EY, Google, Microsoft, or Apple. With his determination and hard work, we hope Rahul's journey continues to be successful.