Edition 50

for online tests. Basic knowledge of
Verilog gives an edge. Doing a simple
project or internship might help but is
not necessary.
How much importance does a company
lay on extra-curricular projects? Does
the absence of such a project hamper
a student’s chances?
For placements, a lot of emphasis is laid
on what you put in your project. It gives
the interviewer something to talk about
during an interview. The projects need
not always be research-oriented or very
high level, basic implementations would
also suffice.
As far as the internship is concerned,
knowledge of subjects is more than
enough. Interviewers rarely look into the
CV of the candidate. But having a few
basic Verilog projects always increases
your chances.
Core Mechanical
Placements
What is the importance of theoretical
research projects in a mechanical
engineer’s profile?
Theoretical research projects can provide
the candidates with an edge while
applying for roles aimed at Research &
Development. Generally, the recruiters
are looking for candidates who have a
strong conceptual foundation of the core
mechanical subjects, such as Thermal
Engineering etc. These hands-on projects
are of direct relevance, especially in the
aerospace and automotive sector.
DTU TIMES | February 2020- May 2020 | 43
How valuable is the work experience
that one receives in a tech team? Does
it translate to core placements?
While the grades of a candidate are only
an indicator of theoretical knowledge,
the work a student has done as part of
a technical team has a myriad benefits:
it gives the recruiters a glimpse into
how a student would perform in a
practical environment, whether they can
translate their theoretical knowledge
to accomplish some real-life objectives
within a given deadline, their ability to
work in teams etc. It also provides the
student with a greater confidence in
their own abilities which leads to a more
confident persona during the placement
interviews.
If you could narrow down the
requirements of all mechanical
companies and select a few, what
would they be?
The primary requirements include a
strong conceptual foundation of core
subjects and technical skills, which
should be evidenced by your grades,
technical projects and internships.
Decent communication skills, an
active learning mindset and general
awareness about the developments in
the mechanical field are also required,
to clear the rigorous interview process
conducted to seek the perfect candidate.
Non-Technical
Placements
How does one build a “non-tech
profile” and what are the absolute
essentials of it?
One of the primary requirements for
an excellent non-tech profile is having
coveted non-tech internships and
projects on your CV. A good CGPA and
knowledge of data languages like R,
Alteryx, Python etc. would be a plus.
Microsoft Office tools, Tableau, and
languages like SQL, C and C++ give your
profile a boost, and this sets you apart
from other applicants.
It is often heard that the pay package
of non-tech companies is low. How
true is that?
Yes, the average package offered in
non-tech profiles, in general, is lesser
than coding profiles. The initial phase
is purely a learning phase, and in the
corporate sector, you get paid in terms of
experience.
Is it possible to have a technical/core
profile and still catch the attention of
the non-tech recruiters?
Most of the students have a technical
or core background when they sit for
non-tech placements, without having
a single non-tech internship. Non-tech
recruiters look for your IQ, personality,
communication skills and last but not
the least how strong you are in whatever
you have mentioned in your CV.
Read the full interview on
dtutimes.dtu.ac.in/blog