This document provides career advice from an alumni to current students. It contains the following main points: 1) The alumni emphasizes developing a positive attitude and finding fulfillment in life rather than solely focusing on career success or prestige. 2) Students are advised to learn from their professors, perform above their current level, and find inspiration in using their skills to solve real problems and help people. 3) Building a career takes time and effort, and early career goals may not align perfectly with later outcomes. Students are encouraged to explore different paths and gain experience rather than fixating on a single outcome.

1. Hi.
Aditya Gupta
c’o 2015, IIITD

2. I was here 2 years ago.
• I have a lot of empathy for you all
• Theres lots I want to tell you that I wish I knew
back in college. Strangely, this was said, I didn’t listen.
• My journey had some soul-wrecking lows.
No, I don't mean my B- in Film Studies.
• I was angry. Frustrated. I saw the world in black and
white (people were ‘good’ or ‘bad’)

3. What this deck contains (and does not contain)
• Questions they asked me in my LinkedIn interview
• Questions they asked me in my Google interview
• Google’s Trade Secrets
• Productivity and success hacks (er…maybe).
• Genuine heartfelt advice, experience, and learnings - in
remote hope that they help in leading a happier, more
fulfilling, and aware life.

4. You’re young, hungry. Deprived of opportunity,
recognition.
Its not fair.
Is it fair?

5. Is there anything I can do to ever have a chance
to interview with Google?
“No”
- Some Exec, Harvard US India Initiative Conference Delhi, 2014

6. It is fair in that its equally unfair.
• Google is not the answer (and not a big deal)
What I think is a big deal
• Life is not perfect anywhere.
• A holistic view of success. Habits, health, life.
Ask your seniors. Your profs. Your parents.
• Some of you will go on to become IAS officers,
CEO’s, inventors, researchers. You will bring
more to the world than the ‘average Google
employee’.
• It is important to remember this.

7. Doing what
‘everybody else is doing’
Is the surest way to end up where everybody else is.
Its a choice, and can be a good or a bad thing.

8. Don’t compare yourself.
Don’t make your life hell. If you want it to be, it will be.

9. WAKE UP.
You’re responsible for your life.
For your energy, your happiness, your career. ONLY YOU.
Everything from your parents / university is a gift.
Look at yourself in the mirror. Make sure the person
in charge understands the responsibility they have.

10. It takes what it takes.
And some. Don't kid yourself. Get real!

11. If you cheat your way there, you will suffer.
Be honest with yourself. Read about job markets.
Understand why they are the way they are, find out where you stand,
what you need, and how to get where you want to be.
Also, we can’t really “google” the problems we take on.
We gotta “Google” them.

12. Stepping stones
and paths.

13. Paths
• Uni - Startup - Success
- Product Manager Role
• Uni - Software Engineer - Job
2/3
• Uni - Exceptional Coding Talent
- Software Engineer
• Uni - 5 years and reputation in
UX / Recruiting / Marketing - Job
2/3

14. It’s not “easier ”to find time after university.

15. You would need
• Not to be the best coder in the group, but very good.
• Not the best grades in school, but very good.
• Ability to pass the interviews in your sleep.
• Sacrifice.
• A love for building things that is obvious, genuine,
and goes beyond grades.
• An interview (a chance).

16. You’re not going to get it right in the first go.
Think darts. It takes time to build a career.

17. Early Career Idealism
• Getting to do what you want to do
• Where you want to do it, and how
• Sustainably
• At the level you want to
• With due recognition
is a process. Takes people a while to get all
this in order. I’m working on it too. Everyone is.

18. Advice
• A positive attitude is the number one quality in life.
A positive attitude is the number one quality in life.
No, really.
• Bring love to your work. You will never succeed without it.
• Learn from your professors.
They are amazing. And the best in the country.
Their experience is a goldmine. They’re willing to
share with you. Love them. Respect them.
Be a sponge.
• Perform @ 2 levels above your current place.
Acknowledgement will follow, not lead.

19. And please, never forget
• Sandbox Model vs Requirement Model
but, do remember:
• Machines are for people.
Solve people’s problems.
Find inspiration in that.
Motivation. You have power. Be their savior. A creative
force.
• Geeking out on CUDA programming, optimizations,
VR / Chatbots / “AI” or whatever that means to you
is cool. Super cool.