Discover Ridhima's path to product management through her experiences at UC Irvine. From classroom to career, uncover insights and strategies for aspiring PMs in this inspiring journey.
Guest:
Ridhima Raina, MBA Leadership Development Program and Experian
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ridhima-raina/
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Host: Saman Fatima
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/saman-fatima
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Episode Description
Are you from India? Wishing to come to the USA for your studies? Is your dream university - UC Irvine? If yes, grab a pen, paper, and water; you are all good to know everything. From researching the dream university to getting selected and beating the elephant in the room (i.e. the VISA process) to settling up - you need to know EVERYTHING because it is a foreign land with a lot of newness, loneliness, and self-dependency.
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Resources
Be Cyber Aware in the month of October and the following months: https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month
Join the BBWIC Foundation Community: https://www.bbwic.com/
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For more podcast stories from Off The Record With Saman: https://www.itspmagazine.com/off-the-record-with-saman-student-abroad-podcast
Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0954PDs3hFI&list=PLnYu0psdcllS96iavkI5nQsErJ3795ow6
Road to Product Management - Ridhima Raina's UC Irvine Journey | Off the Record with Saman — Student Abroad Podcast
12:08:31 Hi, everyone! This is Samantha, and we're back on another episode on off the record with me, someone on its P magazine.
12:08:40 And this gives me again a great pleasure of finding amazing guests who have done like amazing degree programs. And this time we're again heading on to the west coast site to talk about more about University of California.
12:08:55 And we have rhythm here, and before we deep dive into the podcast. And the set of questions, we have to ask her about her experience through the program. We really wanted to welcome you as part of the podcast thank you for taking our time to sit and talk with us about your experience.
12:09:13 Well, thank you for having me here today. I am really happy to be here, and it was totally looking forward to our conversation today.
12:09:20 That's great. So without any
12:09:24 You know, full stops. Here, let's just start up with our 1st question, and where we want you to talk about your introduction, who you are, where you come from. How long have you been in the country, and what semester you came in for? Like what year you came in, and what degree did you pursue? From what college so.
12:09:44 Yeah, absolutely. So Hello, everyone I am. I currently reside in Los Angeles, California?
12:09:42 Go ahead!
12:09:52 And I come with a pretty long, extensive work. Experience.
12:09:57 So I got. I did my engineering degree in India in
12:10:02 Information technology. And then I worked for 7 years in the tech industry. So I worked with a company called C Event, which was A, b 2 v sas company for event management. Software.
12:10:13 And with them I worked in a couple of different roles. So I was. I joined them as an application support engineer did a little bit of project management and finally product management, and I. At the end, when I was in product, I spent a little bit of time there, I realized that this is what I really wanted to do.
12:10:31 And this is where I wanted to grow.
12:10:33 And so the next step for me was like, Okay, how do I grow in product management? I had a lot of technical education. My background was an engineering degree.
12:10:41 Worked with tech teams a lot, but I wanted to get the business side of it. And so the next obvious step for me was to get an nda.
12:10:48 So I came here to the Us. In 2021, which was right after Covid.
12:10:54 Got my degree, which is my full time. Mba. 2 year program. Did it from Uc. Irvine, which is in Southern California.
12:11:02 And yeah, I graduated last year, and I've been one year. It's been a year since I've been working full time here. So it's been a great experience so far.
12:11:13 My degree. We didn't have any specification, because I know I get asked that a lot. We didn't have a specialization in the Mba. We had a smaller version of that callers. So I did an immersion in digital transformation and an entrepreneurship. But there was no officialization. You could customize your degree on the basis of what you wanted to do, what courses you took, and how you participated outside the class and different clubs and activities.
12:11:35 That's great. And seems like a flex degree program where you're open to any sort of.
12:11:43 Courses together as part of the program. If I'm not wrong.
12:11:47 Yeah, absolutely. So the 2 year degree program, the way it's divided the 1st year you have some of your mandatory courses.
12:11:54 That you have to take, which is and their basic courses to an Mba which is like your finance. It's.
12:12:00 You know, accounting. It's your business analytics. So those are marketing. Those are like really core courses to the Mba. And then beyond that you have the flexibility of picking and choosing. You could do a class in public policy. You could do something in ventures. You could do something in there was a class set up on game theory. So you can like customize and like, take up things.
12:12:20 Based on what you want to do and based on things that you really want to explore.
12:12:23 So and I guess most Mba degrees are like that. Now.
12:12:27 Yeah, earlier this year. I also do to click a session with Bwic community where we had a product manager.
12:12:35 Talk about all these things, and then, you know, we get the mindset of a product management side as well how things are taken up.
12:12:43 How we have the requirements on plate, and how the solutions have to be advised. So.
12:12:49 That was a fun part looked easy, but I know I'm pretty sure it is not to, you know, actually devise all those requirements, and have the relevant solution ready for the customers or clients. So.
12:13:01 I guess we have a lot to talk about here.
12:13:04 So with that being said, I know, like product management has become the next field. When we talk about set of fields. And I've seen like really amazing people doing great work in the management side and having like such degrees in hand as well, which comes into use when you're actually sitting at an organization and talking about things. So when we go back in time in 2021, when you.
12:13:29 We're actually planning. And you were all set that you want to go into product management. And you know, obviously, the next step is to have the masters, so you would have had options of universities as well with Uc. Being one. So were there any more universities on the plate at that time, and what stood out for this particular curriculum that you went forward with it.
12:13:52 Yeah, so I was already in product management for me. It was I wanted to grow in that field and like you said.
12:13:59 That's 100% correct. But at that point, product really started taking off.
12:14:04 So a lot of people who are being hired or recruited into product management. Back then they all had advanced degrees, and for me that was like.
12:14:12 Okay, apart from learning the business side of it. If I really wanted to stand out. You know, when you're competing.
12:14:18 And it's a level playing field with so many other people who have advanced degrees.
12:14:23 That's also where I felt like I needed to get an Mba. To be able to move ahead if I wanted to grow faster than this role.
12:14:30 Oh, so I wasn't pivoting careers. I was in tech in product. And I was like, I want to grow in this.
12:14:35 Which was also a major factor for me. Choosing Ucr I had applied a bunch of different universities, and there were a top, the top 3 that I was contemplating between was Ucl, and there was one in Texas that there was one in Maryland.
12:14:50 For me out of all 3 of these. The one you see, or vine, of course, stood out because of the fact that it was in California.
12:14:57 And I was like heavily told that if you want to go to tech, what else are you thinking about? Like? Of course, California is the place to be. You have to be there.
12:15:04 So that was a very big factor for me.
12:15:08 The second factor was the scholarship amount. I think that's a very important factor that people should look at when you're looking at different universities, of trying to compare them.
12:15:19 I also looked at past alumni there were some people I could connect with, because.
12:15:25 It was funny, because one of the one of my alumni was actually from my school, and we were like classmates when we were back in school.
12:15:30 So it was like, Oh, small world, but I spoke to a lot of alumni, and I saw sort of looked at their success stories. What are they doing now? And is it similar to what I really want to do? What I want to achieve at the end of this program, and I could see that.
12:15:45 And then last was I spoke to the admission. I think this makes a very big difference, like when you talk to the Admissions Committee, and you reach out to more alumni.
12:15:52 The more I spoke to the Admissions Committee. They had.
12:15:55 They had really given us a lot of each one of us. A lot of attention.
12:15:59 We had student ambassadors reach out to us.
12:16:03 Individually. We had I remember someone on the Admissions Committee.
12:16:07 I had so many one on one calls with him just trying to understand the fee structure. What does the scholarship look like? How can I offset that fees? What do different opportunities on campus look like.
12:16:19 What is the study abroad program look like things like those? And they they would really spend a lot of time. And I think that is something that really stood out to me, not just the Admissions Committee, but the alumni also, like a lot of this individual attention.
12:16:31 Stood out to me a lot more than the that I was getting from the other universities. So for me then I was like that makes it clearer that I wanted to be at you right.
12:16:40 Yeah, I agree. And I remember my time as well. Like.
12:16:45 I've done like tons and tons of calls like I was always on the zoom. Invite for the college advisor.
12:16:52 Always going back with some issues like, what about this? What about this.
12:16:56 How can I just cut short this amount? What are the options? That being like an international student, I have on play? And then, obviously, you know, I don't know about your college and your time, but I've heard like a lot of people talking about here that they do a lot like.
12:17:12 Universities have now started doing a lot of webinars for international students.
12:17:17 Yeah.
12:17:17 At their correct time zones, and then.
12:17:19 Trying to learn more about the curriculum, the university, and they're trying to out spread themselves.
12:17:26 You know, just going beyond the local students as well and going beyond like international students as well. So that has become like a good thing these days, and I guess with California and with tech that that's that makes total sense, you know, skipping and Maryland over it, because I've had like couple of guests before who talk about like tech was the 1st factor choosing California.
12:17:51 But the other was like closer to beaches. And you know all of those perks. I was like, Yeah.
12:17:57 That works that works. We can't, you know, count on those things being part of Texas or other States, to be closer to those places, so makes sense totally to be closer to the tech.
12:18:08 And obviously to the beaches and other portions, as well.
12:18:10 I would really agree with the part where you know, universities are really putting in a lot of effort. Now, you see, Irvine, in fact, for their.
12:18:18 Full time Mba. Had. They went to India this time they did like a couple of cities in India. Did this whole tour with.
12:18:24 Which was a part of, I think, a bigger.
12:18:27 I would say like
12:18:30 A bigger event that basically hosts a lot of universities. But they like a lot bunch of these universities, get together and try to promote their a lot of their programs. And actually they went to India. This time their Admissions Committee went to India to do with this time.
12:18:42 So yeah, there is a lot of focus. And definitely, a lot of
12:18:47 There's a lot of anxiety for international students. How do I make it?
12:18:51 Yeah.
12:18:51 Through the visa? Will I make it on time we have those questions. Will I make it on time for the orientation or not?
12:18:56 Stuff like that. So.
12:19:00 Oh, really.
12:18:57 I never made it to my orientation because I was running that late for my visa and other things, and everything was so cut to card, that I had to skip it totally, and attended virtually, and.
12:19:09 Oh!
12:19:08 Elements that's like all in history. When I skipped my 1st class as well, because.
12:19:12 The process took so much time that I had.
12:19:15 You know that much from the college that Ok. I could skip it because this is a genuine reason that my passport has to come back, and then I have to fly.
12:19:23 So you know all that has happened. And now.
12:19:27 I have seen, like colleges, have become more like comfortable and flexible with all those terms when it comes to international students. And you know, hosting all these webinars, so.
12:19:44 Yeah.
12:19:38 I think it's really good to, you know. Go through the website, see if there are certain tools being organized in your country, and you know, if you can be part of it.
12:19:48 Ask live questions, because my college also does that India tour every year.
12:19:53 Hmm.
12:19:52 So they cover, like the major metropolitan cities, and.
12:19:56 They go there and take personal questions. So that comes in handy for you to know more closely about the University, and maybe the department as well if you have them on the tour.
12:20:07 So after.
12:20:07 Yeah, I wish that back. Then. I wish I had attended more of these things. I would have spoken to more of these people at Webinars and gotten to know universities better.
12:20:22 Same week.
12:20:19 But I would say a step before, like before the application process. I spoke to a lot of these people once I had my offer. So when I was closer to getting an offer but I wish I would have done that like earlier in the process. I think it's super helpful. And really, you really get to know stuff with the university, and you can like, sort of compare each one of them.
12:20:37 I agree, like the video calls wouldn't do much. You know thing when you.
12:20:41 Catch up in person, but.
12:20:44 I am happy that I'm glad that the universities are doing all these things now every year and taking it as a priority. And you know that that is really helping a lot of people who are coming now to our universities. So.
12:20:56 Yeah.
12:20:57 Okay? So obviously, you talked to brief about you know the scholarship part. But before we head on to that part wanted to just briefly touch point on the application process that you took.
12:21:09 Like wanna quickly skim through.
12:21:11 I know there are some usual things being asked like sops or.
12:21:16 Or you know, the scores. But was there anything else that you see as well asked for in terms of like an essay or a video interview, or anything, or it was just the usual of Sopo's and the exam scores.
12:21:34 Oh, I had applied to a bunch of universities. I don't remember if.
12:21:41 I think there was. There must have been
12:21:45 There were, there was like a video. There was a video interview for sure.
12:21:49 I don't specifically.
12:21:52 Remember if there was something else.
12:21:54 Excuse me.
12:21:59 But yeah, I know, because 2021 is that time when you know we would just after Covid and
12:22:06 A lot of universities had waved off on the test. So I was just meaning to ask if they added something else at that time, and obviously maybe not.
12:22:17 Oh, you know a requirement as of now, but.
12:22:20 At your time. What was it.
12:22:22 Yeah, I don't. I think they must have been a video interview, but I do remember that, for at that point I'd applied to a bunch of different universities.
12:22:31 I had also done like you do the regular essays. Some of them are like.
12:22:36 You fill out a form, some of them you can.
12:22:39 Just submit the Se. On your portal.
12:22:41 Some of them you.
12:22:43 Have to like. Ha! There's also video like you said, like, you have to.
12:22:48 There's a topic you talk about it. You record yourself and you submit it. And then there's a video interview. So there are like multiple steps to it.
12:22:55 I definitely remember doing a couple of video essays for some of the universities where there were questions, and you had to record yourself and sort of.
12:23:04 Turn it in. So I definitely remember that being a part of the process, so
12:23:09 I would definitely ask people to be prepared for juris questions your video. And then, of course, your video essays as well. I think there's like a separate component which a lot of universities do now, especially because it's.
12:23:21 For internationals. Everything's done virtually so. A lot of universities do kind of emphasize on it.
12:23:27 I agree. I gave a video interview as well. So, apart from the usual.
12:23:32 Scores, and
12:23:34 So. And like I submitted a video interview as well. I don't know if that helps.
12:23:40 A lot with your
12:23:51 Yeah.
12:23:43 With your entire set of application. But for me it does, because that's 1 place where you have to put yourself out. That's your creativity that you have to talk about those questions which are already given to you, and I guess they're all different sets of question to everyone to talk about it, and I don't know. How do they judge it? But maybe that is somewhere you're out there to talk about yourself and.
12:24:06 How you will add up to the entire.
12:24:09 University setup so.
12:24:12 Yeah. And I definitely think it's also a really great way.
12:24:16 So the we do, I say, is the is the part of the your initial essays, your initial application on before you actually get to the video interview.
12:24:24 And I think it's a great way to put yourself out there because your written essays don't really reflect who you are as a person, your personality. And I think that video essays are a great way to sort of stand out.
12:24:37 Put yourself out there. Put your personality out there, and that really helps.
12:24:41 Especially for a for the degree like an Mba like it really helps.
12:24:45 Who you are, how you conduct yourself, and how you present yourself out there. And yeah, that I think that that is a very important part, and I I personally feel like it should be a part of more application processes.
12:24:56 Because you get that opportunity to do that, and then sort of make your way to the video interview. I think it's it's something that should be included, though.
12:25:05 Perfect, I guess.
12:25:14 Yeah.
12:25:06 I guess it's it's best to give it out there that people should check it once more for the next year, or for the upcoming year, if you're already done with it, because 2021 is still like.
12:25:17 We're still talking about history.
12:25:19 It was comfortable.
12:25:19 A lot would have changed after Covid. Yeah.
12:25:22 So moving ahead like I really wanted to touch base on the broader categories of
12:25:29 You know the finances that we wanted to talk about the bigger chunk where, in terms of like, we know.
12:25:36 Moving to California is a big decision in terms of, you know, versus an East Coast State where we know, like California, is an expensive on those ends. And then with the tuition fees, and you can talk more about the scholarship. And how would all those.
12:25:51 Together, you know, help you in certain ways that you mentioned that as international students you had conversations with the college advisor and.
12:26:00 How can one bring down the amount to.
12:26:04 Lesser level per semester, so that it could help them in the longer run.
12:26:09 Yeah, of course, I think it's a very important part. Of like, I mentioned this earlier, a very important part of deciding where you want to go is.
12:26:17 How much you want to pay, and how much you actually have to pay.
12:26:22 So I was.
12:26:24 Obviously I spoke to people and.
12:26:26 Based on what I knew. I knew that it was. It is going to be expensive to not just studying, but also live in California.
12:26:34 So this is a very important part of like where you want to study. Look at the state, look at how much your expenses are.
12:26:41 I know I had friends in Florida who are paying like 1 3rd of the rent that I was every single month.
12:26:47 So it's definitely more expensive here.
12:26:50 But if I talk about the overall expenses, I will sort of divide them into 2 separate buckets. The 1st is like your personal expenses, which is your which covers your rent or rent. Your rent is huge, part of it.
12:27:02 Pure rent, and then your groceries and.
12:27:05 Your extra, all your all the other things that you want to spend on. You might want to go on trips, and you want to travel back home. So all of that is like your personal expenses.
12:27:14 Of the second category is, of course you should fees, which is the bigger part it forms a huge chunk of how much money you will be shelling out for your degree. And I guess, like I'm probably gonna talk about that a little more.
12:27:26 So you're you 1st have. The 1st level that you have is your college fees is like the biggest part that you pay.
12:27:34 Now there are multiple, different ways in which you can offset that you should probably mentioned before, was scholarship.
12:27:41 So scholarship ranges somewhere. I've seen it go from like 20 or like 100 scholarship to at universities, and.
12:27:49 I would say that that is the biggest factor like you should focus on your scholarship because that will really help bring down your tuition fee.
12:27:59 And then this, the the key to doing this is when you receive, and if you receive acceptances from multiple universities.
12:28:07 Most of them end up giving you scholarship amounts because.
12:28:11 I have never heard of international students not getting a scholarship amount, even whether it's a small amount.
12:28:16 So I would say most of it. Probably not all. But most universities give international students some kind of scholarship.
12:28:24 So now, when you have multiple offers, use these different offers that you have, and leverage them to negotiate a better scholarship with the university of your choice.
12:28:34 And that is key, and I think it's so underrated that it back. Then I I had done that a little bit, but I think there's a lot more scope to negotiate. And a lot more people should be doing this.
12:28:46 So definitely use that to negotiate for a higher amount, it really helps. Bring down your tuition fee.
12:28:51 So once you've cleared the scholarship part. The second part that was more applicable to me, not necessary in all universities is a teaching assistant or a research assistant position.
12:29:02 So that means that you're probably helping a professor run classes. You're creating homeworks. You're checking attendance and classes. That was what it was a part of teaching assistant for us at Ucr.
12:29:12 So the way it works at Ucs.
12:29:15 We have a quarter system, not a semester system. So every quarter.
12:29:19 If you're a teaching assistant, depending upon how many hours you have decided to allocate to your teaching assistant, there's an hourly rate that you get paid.
12:29:26 So you get paid a monthly stipend based on how many hours you've decided to put in.
12:29:33 And
12:29:35 That really helps offset your rent and your personal expenses, and all of that.
12:29:41 The other part of it is.
12:29:43 Ucs also are known to be pretty generous with.
12:29:46 The amount that they pay you for teaching assistantship. So they give you a tuition.
12:29:50 So every quarter. There's a certain amount that you will get off of your tuition fees.
12:29:55 Which again, really helps off. Bring down whatever cost that you're actually paying for your tuition.
12:30:01 So they they pay to you like these 2 separate parts, and I think Ucs are very generous with the way they do it.
12:30:07 Now, having said that, whether you get it at your university, and how much your university pays is very subjective, it depends from university to university. All thing also depends on the degrees and the courses.
12:30:18 That you're doing.
12:30:20 So I would say, when you're talking to university, when you have your acceptance letter, or you're negotiating a scholarship amount definitely, bring this up and ask them, what are the opportunities that I have to be a teaching assistant, and what, how much, how much would I get paid? How would that help offset my costs.
12:30:36 I think that is something that you should really keep in mind.
12:30:40 Most of these positions are not guaranteed by the university, so don't.
12:30:45 Consider that as a given, that if this is going to take some part of your tuition fees but yes, you should. I think, something that you should definitely work towards. If you have the opportunity. It really helps. Bring down your costs.
12:30:56 And the last part is a lot of other on campus. So Tas and Arras are also on campus. But there are other on campus jobs in case.
12:31:04 In case you don't really get the opportunity to do a.
12:31:07 I've had friends who worked at libraries and computer centers and Starbucks and subway on campus, so that really also helps you earn some kind of money that you can put towards your personal expenses and your end.
12:31:18 Or paying off your loan whatever you want to use it. So.
12:31:22 There are these different ways. But I would say 100 university about this. Let them know if you require a scholarship amount, negotiate your scholarship amounts, and and talk to them about like what are the different ways as an international student, that I can really offset my cost.
12:31:37 For me personally. Tas were very helpful in
12:31:42 And bringing on mutation fees, but, like also the monthly stipend, it was a great amount of money to like.
12:31:47 Pay for my rent and pay for like some part of the personal expenses as well. So it really helped me throughout this, like financially throughout the whole degree.
12:32:07 Yeah.
12:31:55 I agree to that point, because, like for my university as well, there was a set amount that was set aside that we'll be giving it to all the international students, irrespective of whatever merit based they are. But apart from that, I thought like, let's just ask like if there's anything more. And they were like, if you want to still go, or you know, being like a graduate assistant.
12:32:24 Oh, yeah, there you go!
12:32:32 New.
12:32:18 You can go ahead with that, and we'll have like a set amount for that as well. Apart from what you get from the scholarship as well. So that's up to you. You have to put in your application to the professor, and you know all those things that goes into interviews and understanding. So I did that for one entire year, and that's really brought down my tuition fees to a level that I was happy, that okay.
12:32:43 At least I am searching for a job, but at least I have less of a semester, considering the amount and expenses I have, as well in terms of.
12:32:53 Staying and eating, and.
12:32:55 Yeah.
12:32:55 What all other things are there as well, because there comes certain expenses in my curriculum that.
12:33:05 Logan.
12:33:01 I had to pay for certain lab courses and other things which not included in the tuition, but you have to give it out of your pocket, so.
12:33:10 That was really irritating. But yeah, you have to go ahead with that. So be prepared for like random expenses as well. That can crop up anytime and.
12:33:18 A lot of other things like
12:33:27 Yeah, yeah.
12:33:20 You know, getting your you know things set up at home, and then getting those weekly and.
12:33:29 Even getting a phone plan and paying for it.
12:33:32 A lot will come into picture. So we have to be like prepared for the buffer as well like. We have that amount to pay for all these things. So yeah, I did like couple of conversations with the college advisor on this, and I became like on the shameless side.
12:33:46 That I need to know.
12:33:47 100%. I think everyone should. I think.
12:33:49 Yeah, do you?
12:33:50 We think too much and are like, I don't know if this is something I should talk about. I honestly did not even know. I remember talking to them about this. I wouldn't say that I spoke to them very briefly about this, and I was like, how can I get those opportunities.
12:34:02 So do you see, either you have.
12:34:05 Professor relationships, or they assign you a ta.
12:34:09 But it goes through a bunch of different people before it actually comes to you.
12:34:13 I had my 1st ta offer when I I was in my 1st quarter, and I didn't take it up because.
12:34:19 I was looking for an internship I was still settling in, and I was like, this is already so overwhelming, and the academics were.
12:34:26 Unknown like. There were course, that we had courses in finance and accounting in the 1st quarter, and things I had never worked on before. So I was.
12:34:33 Very busy with all of that, and I was like, I don't know if I wanted to do it now. I eventually started it, I think in the second or the 3rd quarter.
12:34:41 And I was also like, I don't know. Will I be able to like, manage the load of the ta with my job search and my academics will I be able to do it.
12:34:47 And eventually, when I did it, I was like, it's pretty manageable like I could have done this earlier.
12:34:51 Yeah, in the starting. It was really difficult for me to manage that 20 h like.
12:35:06 Yeah.
12:34:57 Being an array. But you know so in my 1st semester, I was a. So I was like basically working on the assignment grading and making papers and all those things, and then.
12:35:09 With that semester coming to an end, I realized that.
12:35:18 Yeah.
12:35:11 I can request and be on the Re. Side, because with ta it comes with a lot of responsibilities to grade, and then to justify yourself in front of the students. That why were you graded like this? So I was like, I have to get out of this space.
12:35:26 And it's better I work more on the research bit with my professor that.
12:35:30 She's working on, and that's when the next 2 semesters, like my spring and summer, I was more on the Ra. Side, so I was still managing the work very nicely, as compared to being a ta.
12:35:42 But I've seen.
12:35:42 So you sounds like you enjoyed the part more than the yeah.
12:35:51 Yeah.
12:35:45 Yeah, like with Ta came with an added responsibilities of a lot of justification to tons and tons of students and.
12:35:53 I was not happy, or you know, okay, with that.
12:35:56 Oh, you know, setup. So I was like, no, I'll probably move to the side. And I said, Good.
12:36:01 I'm happy now here.
12:36:02 I don't think we did. I don't even know if we had R's, but we were all tas.
12:36:09 So, starting from my second or 3rd quarter, I think.
12:36:13 I was a T at the end, and then I was like I should have done this earlier. This is pretty manageable. I don't regret not doing it in the 1st quarter, because I feel like there's a lot in the 1st quarter. You're still getting adjusted, and it's a little overwhelming with like setting things up and.
12:36:28 Going through all of that stuff. But I was like, Yeah, after that, like, it's it was manageable. And for us there were like different options. So you could opt into like a specific.
12:36:39 Do you want to do? Say, for example, 10 h. Do you want to do 20 h, or do you want to do 35 h.
12:36:44 So based on that, you get paid. But
12:36:48 That also helps you like allocate your time like, if you feel like you don't have enough time. You could do like the lesser one get a lesser stipend every month, but at least it's it definitely still helps with your expenses.
12:36:56 Yeah.
12:36:56 And then, once people had their jobs, they were like doing the highest. I think it was like 37. It's called 37 or something. So people were doing that and getting paid like decently well, to offset their personal costs.
12:37:07 Nice nice, because for us it was mandatory to do 20 h, and it was only the option we had.
12:37:18 Yeah.
12:37:13 So we can't go beyond 20 h, because that would go against that structure that they had found. But yeah, I can still say, like different departments, had different payouts.
12:37:25 For the international students. So my department was paying fine. But if I see the other departments they were paying really well.
12:37:35 Hmm.
12:37:34 So, you know. But there, there were also certain rules like where you cannot jump off from one department to another. You have to have like permissions. If there is a space in the current department, why move to a different one?
12:37:45 So all those rules and regulations were there. So it was different for different departments. But yeah, at the end of the day it really helped.
12:37:58 Yeah.
12:37:54 Us with a lot of things with that amount coming in, and then that scholarship, amounting.
12:38:00 The highest, you know, level of the tuition fees.
12:38:06 Yeah.
12:38:03 And bringing it down to a good level. So
12:38:07 For me, like the scholarship, amount directly in the.
12:38:11 Off letter like this is what you get.
12:38:14 Hmm.
12:38:14 That's it. Upon that, if you want to go for anything else like there were a lot of things that happens in the college and looking on scholarships through that.
12:38:23 Eventually lower down your tuition fees for the next semesters. But yeah.
12:38:29 Yeah.
12:38:29 Basically, those things help you when you ask questions. Because if you don't ask, they just keep those programs up to themselves and not give it out, so it's better to ask questions. What we talked about.
12:38:39 Yeah, yeah, 100%. Yeah.
12:38:41 Yeah, so moving ahead like, we talked about a whole chunk of these categories, I just wanted to understand. Like, were there any specific preparations. I know you were already there in product management. But were there any specific preparations that you did, or.
12:38:58 You think one should do before coming for this particular degree program when they're coming in for their intake?
12:39:09 For me from a career perspective. There wasn't a lot I was very familiar with product because I'd spent some time in it.
12:39:17 I do remember that before we officially started our classes.
12:39:22 This is all from an academic perspective. But before we started our classes we were given the option, like our first.st
12:39:28 Quarter had finance and accounting, and they kind of knew that there are people who don't come with that background. So they had given us some kind of prep courses that you could go through like some basic courses and finance and accounting if you want to. And that was optional.
12:39:39 I know people who did it. I know people who didn't do it. I, personally did it because I was like, I don't expect in finance, and it was helpful to me to be honest.
12:39:48 So there was some stuff that was recommended by the University.
12:39:52 Outside of that there was nothing much, I think.
12:39:56 A lot of.
12:39:58 You just bring a lot of your experience that you have. You know whether it's 4 years or 6 years or 10 years of work experience. You just bring all of that and your Mba or your advanced. We just adds on on top of it. So from an academic perspective. I think that was that was all that they had given us to prep. And I don't think I know I prepared for anything else outside of that.
12:40:18 But for the other preparations. One, I think, we spoke about scholarship so definitely research, more about scholarships.
12:40:26 Readup scholarships on your website on your college website. There will be a list of scholarships and a bunch of different ones.
12:40:33 I had applied for the merit-based scholarship, but I'm sure there are a bunch of different ones, and if your applicable, then you should definitely apply for those. So research, those.
12:40:43 The other thing, I would say, is also lookup housing options. As soon as you decided where you've.
12:40:49 Where do you join?
12:40:51 Uc. Had very limited housing options in the 1st year we didn't get on campus housing, so we lived off campus.
12:40:58 And the second in my second year they had built these completely brand new apartment homes. So we got really good apartments.
12:41:05 We were eligible, for which was great. It was a brand new apartment. I had a great apartment, a great.
12:41:09 Roommate I lived with. But how singap options are usually limited? They're most likely they're affordable. But they're usually limited. Given the number of incoming students every single year. So make sure you research housing options. Well.
12:41:24 Put in your application, I think. Yes, you have to put in an application for the housing to the housing department and reach out to them if you have questions, or if you're looking for housing, but it gets it gets filled up really fast. And there's also priority given to.
12:41:36 I think sometimes it's give it to Phds. It's given to people who come with families. So if you want us to really stay on top of it. Make sure you get in your application quickly.
12:41:47 And the thought thing I would say is not a prep before, but throughout. But be very mindful of your entire visa process. Make sure your.
12:41:55 Even before you come or like, while you're here, you're in the right status. If you're moving in and out of statuses. If you're changing your addresses, make sure.
12:42:03 You are always informing your International Center of the University, no matter what, because they are the people who will help you through this process throughout.
12:42:11 But be very mindful of your visa process. Make sure you you have all your documents in place. You are in the right status. You're not getting like notices from Uscis informing you of something, and if they do like, just make sure you're on top of it. But I guess this is like throughout the day throughout your State in the Us. But that's something I would say.
12:42:27 These are the probably the only things that you should. There's also some. There's also
12:42:33 I guess there are immunization requests by the University.
12:42:37 I just remembered that now. But yeah, definitely. Remember that.
12:42:55 Yeah.
12:42:42 We are big 10 ones and I know that I thought like I can skip couple of them. But then, later, I was suggested by a lot of folks like considering the Alumina group and then the doctors and everything that you know, being an international student, you're traveling so probably get everything because you don't know.
12:43:01 What are you getting exposed to in a new country like.
12:43:05 Yeah.
12:43:05 Not saying that you would be, but at least you are still immunized.
12:43:08 And those things are really important, like, I would stress that fact sometimes for bringing that up.
12:43:15 Yeah, I just remember that now. I think some of them are also required by the university. So for us that we had a list that was sent by our university, and you're like this is mandatory, and if you don't, you have a time, but I think sometime in September or October, but, like, if you don't get it, they could also drop you off the course you get notices. I have a friend. Who's that? It happened with her. She had forgotten to get a certain immunization, and then she got a notice saying like, Hey, if you don't.
12:43:41 And done. By this day you could be dropped off the course.
12:43:42 So make sure you get all of that done before you come.
12:43:47 University was generous in some ways, saying that if you did not get it we'll give you here, and then you have to pay like.
12:44:05 Yeah.
12:43:53 A huge chunk of money. Because obviously, it's not the same amount. What you see back in your own country when the university gives you that shot. So they were okay, that come up. If something is missing, we give you that. But before that, like, obviously there was a bar there that if you don't get this shot from us.
12:44:15 Yeah, it was the same. Yeah.
12:44:13 Would not be able to sit for the classes yet like you have to get it. Yeah. So that is.
12:44:17 Like mid of 1st quarter they were like, if you don't get it like people were getting notices like you would be like if you don't get it in the next one week.
12:44:25 You'll be dropped off classes. I got one of them in the Us. I don't remember which one, but there was one that I got, but that was luckily insurance.
12:44:38 Yeah.
12:44:32 But everything else. I got it done in India so like, make sure you get that done, and don't skip that part. That's super important.
12:44:38 So I guess that is one thing that I wanted to like stress on as well, that you know.
12:44:44 Since you're on design. That's, I guess, our next question as well talk about the visa experience.
12:44:48 But you know you'll always have a chunk of document.
12:44:53 Which would range from your status to your address, to your bank accounts to immunization and a lot of other things, and related to health insurance as well so.
12:45:03 Keep like, make sure you're all mentally prepared to handle all of them in terms of a soft copy, hard copy, because they could be asked anytime, because.
12:45:11 I was all green through all my immunization records.
12:45:16 But middle of the fall semester, I was asked as like a non-compliant person for couple of, you know, immunization, and I had to represent the documents again, and I was then all green. So. But you know that just gives you a heart attack like a mini heart. Oh, my God! Did I not do it like.
12:45:32 What can they do? Can they send me back? Because I don't have those records and everything.
12:45:38 So it's just be always on the green side.
12:45:41 Yeah, yeah, 100%.
12:45:43 Yellow or red side at all.
12:45:46 So you mentioned about the visa experience? Obviously. So that's like just the elephant of the room. And let's just talk more about it. And I know.
12:45:54 Just after Covid, the experience would have been really tricky, uncomfortable, and getting slots and a lot of other things, and a lot of sorry, and a lot of travel mandates as well. So how was your experience in terms of once you got the off letter, and you know, how was that experience for you, for the visa.
12:46:17 It was nice, now that I think about it was a little crazy.
12:46:22 Because so we were the 1st that had started applying for visas after Covid, because we were the 21 batch, and the 20 batch never came.
12:46:32 So.
12:46:33 For the 21 batch.
12:46:35 The Us. Embassy in all the Us. Embassies in India were shot for a really long.
12:46:41 So they had just started opening up. I guess somewhere around
12:46:45 So on. May, June.
12:46:48 I know they had a huge backlog, and.
12:46:51 Requests were crazy. Whether it was for tourist visas, it was for b, 1 b 2, or it was for student visas.
12:46:57 And so when we started looking for these appointments, we saw nothing. Obviously it was like nothing. And people started panicking. And the same question. Everyone's like, will I really make it in time for the orientation? Will I make it in time for 1st class.
12:47:09 And sure honestly, if you are not able to do it. These are like in actual situations.
12:47:14 It's completely fine, because universities understand that they're very understanding of this.
12:47:18 But we were like, we really wanna make it for the orientation. What's gonna happen? Will we ever get a slot.
12:47:23 And a lot of these questions came up, and the Us. Embassy kept saying, that have patients will open up slots do not apply for priority visas because people started doing that. And I've also heard people who were applying for priority visas.
12:47:36 Who students were also getting rejected because the Embassy was like, We don't want you to be applying for priority. Visas like apply for regular visas.
12:47:44 And we will, we will 100% open up slots. So we just have had to keep waiting.
12:47:49 And each and every person on my batch eventually.
12:47:52 God a lot like, and much well advanced, and before time, so no one, no one, had a case where we had to like miss or itch. We were like well, in time. We came like a week before, like weeks before.
12:48:03 So eventually they did open up slots, and everyone got their slots in there.
12:48:08 But it was a lot of like monitoring and constantly looking at it. And there were a lot of travel restrictions back then. So you had to be vaccinated. So every and that was it was crazy, because that was also the dying on vaccines were coming out in India.
12:48:21 And not everyone was able to get it quickly. I still remember. So my cohort, like we were all talking together, like all the Indians.
12:48:27 We would use these virtual calls.
12:48:30 And talk about, how is our process going? What are we doing? Get an appointment? We just talk about updates.
12:48:35 I remember we'd always be like, Did you guys get like a.
12:48:38 Oh, vaccine Slot, because I've not been able to get one like we will always talk about it.
12:48:43 So we had to be vaccinated. We had to be must. We had to be tested like all of that stuff was going on. We were masked for the whole quarter, the 1st quarter that I was here, but everything was in person. The second quarter was another wave of forward, so it.
12:48:58 There was. We went for a month virtual, and we were like.
12:49:01 My whole class was. I don't know how to do this. Virtual lucky. It was only like I think it was where it was very brief.
12:49:08 But then the rest of the program was in person thankfully.
12:49:11 So that was a little crazy. But I would say this one really good point that you pointed out was.
12:49:17 Make sure for the visa appointment, and after you always have your documents, there's a list of documents I.
12:49:23 The Emc requires you to carry for the visa update visa appointment, which is your passport, or I 20.
12:49:32 Your you know. Proof of your admission. Letter proof of your finance.
12:49:36 Stuff like that. Make sure you have documents. I had a bunch of different documents when I.
12:49:41 Took the embassy, and I took them during my.
12:49:44 Travel as well, because.
12:49:46 There's it's also possible.
12:49:46 I remember. Sorry to cut you there. I remember I even had my tax documents as well, though, as if they'll ask me.
12:49:52 Yeah, the same.
12:49:52 Yeah, like, I was that.
12:49:54 I had my pay slip and my tax, and, like I had all of that.
12:49:57 Correct. Like Isaac. I have money I paid to the Government as well see like let me go. So it was that kind of a situation.
12:50:04 Yeah, I was like, and I think everyone does that because people are very nervous for visa interviews.
12:50:10 And I had all of that with me. I took that I took my covid vaccine proof, not for the appointment, but like when I was traveling, so when I was traveling I literally had.
12:50:19 Even like segmented my documents into like different stuff.
12:50:23 Make sure this is very important. Make sure you carry these documents with you in your hand when you're traveling, because there is a Po. There is a small possibility. But you could be when you're going through immigration. When you land in the Us. You could be question.
12:50:38 I think we're just asking basic questions like, how like I was, I was asked a bunch of questions at immigration which is like.
12:50:44 Where do you plan on staying? Do you have.
12:50:46 And it you have proof of your finances. How are you to pay for your degree? How
12:50:52 What is your have? Do you have an admission letter? Are you vaccinated and stuff like this? So always carry them in your head. Don't put them in your check in back. Please just carry those copies in your handbag.
12:51:02 I know I'd like good, like 2 and a half kgs of documents altogether all physical copies, and it was all in my car. And then later, I regretted. Like to pre ask anything for it, have I? Did? I put it? But I was like, and it's still there. It's still there.
12:51:16 I still have those. Yeah.
12:51:18 Influences, with all my bachelor's degrees, like the original ones, with its migration certificates and tons of other things, like even the Ca documents, everything that I got it done during the visa. Everything stands there as is.
12:51:34 So that's the funny part.
12:51:40 Nothing.
12:51:35 Most likely during your interview process. They don't even ask you for it, but it's always if they do.
12:51:40 I don't want to be in a situation where I don't have those. I want to be prepared.
12:51:43 Exactly so, you know I was. I was so ready that when he asked he asked me the finance question during the visa experience.
12:51:50 Like, I said. I'll just open it and give him the document. But at that time he was all good sorted by. We'll get you the password.
12:52:03 Yeah.
12:51:57 You know, weeks later, and then I was like carried this heavy document folder like nobody asked for it, neither on the visa interview nor at the immigration.
12:52:07 And it's all still there. But I would.
12:52:09 I was asked at immigration, but the visa interview I wasn't, and I think it's very common, because when I was sitting in line for the visa interview. I could see everyone around me had, like you can tell people who've come for student visa appointments.
12:52:22 And they all had like a big folder. They all had documents. They all had like answers and stuff like that. So which is the other thing I would say like there is, you probably find, like a list of visa interview questions. Just make sure you know what the appropriate responses before you go in, and the questions are usually, how would you fund it? How look, why are you going there? How long are you planning to go? Stay there. Are you planning to come back.
12:52:44 Like stuff like that. But just make sure you know the appropriate responses. And you're like prepared for an interview. It's it is a.
12:52:50 It is always a nervous experience. I don't know why the Us. Visa process is always a nervous experience.
12:52:54 I know. Yeah. And it's always.
12:52:56 It's honestly not that bad.
12:52:57 It's always different for everyone like there are people who have been asked like even.
12:53:03 Show me your house, documents.
12:53:06 Wow!
12:53:05 But people like us, they've never been asked like even I've had. Friends have been asked about this social media platforms.
12:53:12 And we're gonna go really.
12:53:13 So you know, it could be anything. But yeah, like, you cannot expect any sort of questions that they may not be your.
12:53:22 Do.
12:53:22 Question. Anything could come up. You have to be prepped for everything. So I don't know. But yeah, it's different for everyone. People are grilled at times, but people are like.
12:53:31 Easily given out, things.
12:53:32 So it's different. But be ready with your documentations that.
12:53:35 All of my friends. I remember all of us with my batch. When all of us went for the visa interview process, I.
12:53:41 As far as I remember, we all had like.
12:53:44 3 basic questions that you were asked like.
12:53:46 How are you gonna find your education? What do you plan on coming back? And that's it. And we were like, that's it like, because we were also super prepared. We're like, Oh, that's it!
12:53:53 Yeah. But like, I guess it definitely differs from like people to people.
12:53:57 I mentor as if I was going on for a debate competition that I'll put my pointers in front of you that see this this.
12:54:05 It was that quick like. In 12 seconds I was out of the room.
12:54:10 Yeah.
12:54:19 Yeah.
12:54:09 Like. I ran off the moment the officer said that you know. I'm just approving your visa, and you'll get your passport in the same place that you choose, and I just ran off like if he answers, or you know, ask for you wait for any other question was like I'll just run away. I'm done by.
12:54:29 I just done? Yeah, because I was that running on clock because of a lot of other things. But yeah.
12:54:36 Dude.
12:54:36 Priya in a nutshell. I keep all your documentations all good already, because till date we do refer to all of them.
12:54:43 And as your status is changes from a front to any other one you would need all of those.
12:54:52 Yeah.
12:54:50 Put a proof that what would your status there so.
12:54:55 Nud. I know we've talked a lot about things before you came here to the States like a lot of other things of.
12:55:02 How you choose the degree program, the college, the preparations and.
12:55:08 We just want to like quickly. Touch upon the point, like when you landed here.
12:55:13 In La, and you know, how were the initial couple of weeks for you like, how was the transition period in terms of.
12:55:22 Coming from India to us. And how are things for the initial couple of weeks.
12:55:30 I think
12:55:33 Honestly it was.
12:55:36 It's definitely an all learning experience. So when I came to the Us, this is the.
12:55:39 I've traveled to different country, lived across different countries, but.
12:55:43 This was the 1st time I came to the Us. And I didn't have a lot of.
12:55:47 Family here. So I came here. It's definitely exciting.
12:55:51 But beyond the point it starts getting a little overwhelming with things like, what bank account should I open up? What, SIM card should I get.
12:56:01 why is one bank account better than the other, or like, what kind of things should I do? Why should I go for groceries. Ha! I remember we used to talk about things like, how do we.
12:56:08 How do we pick up furniture from someone else's house? Because.
12:56:11 Like that's always a question is like, How do I do this? Because I don't have a car. I don't.
12:56:14 I had this question, that why are they giving such a nice furniture to us like.
12:56:19 Is there a catch there? And you know, also had those freeures at my student department. And that was like a big question to me that side of culture, exposure.
12:56:31 Was like really overwhelming for me, like somebody giving such beautiful furniture for free or for like really minimal cost.
12:56:37 You know.
12:56:39 So, yeah, I love that part. And.
12:56:41 You would like. How do we even bring that like? How do we get a couch home.
12:56:44 Yeah.
12:56:44 Like, how do we bring that.
12:56:46 So stuff like that like.
12:56:48 It was nice, I think, as a group like all of us really came around the same time. So we like.
12:56:54 Try to manage these things. People. Some people had friends here. Some people had families. So people were asking people around, and we were trying to figure things.
12:57:02 Out so it sometimes does get a little overwhelming like this is all confusing. I don't know how to figure it out. You've.
12:57:08 Left your entire, well settled life back in India, and you've come here to a place where you're starting from. Scratch
12:57:15 Some people have some kind of family here, some people, don't you? And but your whole family, I guess, is most likely back in India. So you've left that emotional support back in India.
12:57:24 And so sometimes it gets a little like.
12:57:27 Like. I don't know what is going on here. It's a little crazy. The biggest part, I still think will today is for the 1st 2 years I didn't. I have to driving in India for like over 10 years I came here and I was like, I don't have a car, but like 2 years, and in California, in Southern California, getting around.
12:57:44 Without a car is very, very difficult. So basically, you have to just uber rely on your friends and stuff like that.
12:57:51 But I guess, like the key to all of that is just ask people for help. Ask your classmates. Ask alumni. Ask people you're close to your friends, your family, because at the end of the day these are the people who also become your family here.
12:58:04 I've had great classmates. I made incredible friends. And a lot of times we got through these things together. They're super helpful.
12:58:28 I agree. I agree to that point.
12:58:12 Very, very nice. So like we would like, they would really like, be like, Okay, I'll help you like we get it that you're in the situation, and we're more than happy to help you. So I would say, don't hesitate. Just reach out to people want to help. You just need to ask them, you know, if you need help. But it's a little crazy for sure.
12:58:30 Yeah, it is crazy. But yeah, you make a second family here. With all those friends, and you know, friends of friends. And then I've had like those.
12:58:46 Yeah.
12:58:42 Walmart or other, you know, rides with my, you know. Obviously they are there with their families there, and they can take you if they go to the store, and you know all those things.
12:58:53 You know, that's like super helpful. It's.
12:58:56 Yeah.
12:59:01 Cool.
12:59:06 Okay.
12:58:56 Really helpful, and it's now that I look back. It's not a big deal like if I have a friend who doesn't have a car. I'm like, sure I'm going to get groceries. I can pick you up and drop you and then back. Then I'm like, Oh, that's great help. I remember.
12:59:07 My friend was like, you've never been to Costco, and I was like, No, what is Costco? She's like I have to take you to literally just what a cost, but just because she wanted to show me what Costco is.
12:59:17 Yeah.
12:59:18 I was like, Oh, this is nice. So she's like everyone should know what cost goes. Everyone should go to Costco. And I was like, Okay.
12:59:23 Look like I used to live with a working roommate apart from one of a student roommate as well, so she used to take us to Costco and all other places, and she used to drive us there, and I was so like.
12:59:40 Oh, my God, yeah.
12:59:35 Like felt so good. My God! Like, you know, we have a car in our own apartment, you know we can go anywhere. So there was a huge help in the initial days. And eventually, when you get the hold of it like, okay, this ride would help you take up there, or this change right would help you there. So you know, you understand things eventually. But still those things really help you like to quickly grab those things.
12:59:56 200%. Yeah.
12:59:57 Okay, and you know, with them, with her being in the apartment, you know, helped.
13:00:02 Me to understand. Okay, this place is good for this things. This place is good for these things, and.
13:00:07 Right now, after 2 years, I know. Okay, I have to head to this store for these products.
13:00:11 Yeah, yeah.
13:00:12 Pays for these products, and I'm pretty clear for it. Then back then I was like, everything looks so good, so fancy, so nice, and this and that. So we eventually understood those things as well when people helped us around. So it's good to like, take help and understand things here and not be overwhelmed alone, be overwhelmed.
13:00:31 Yeah, 100% people will always like. Eventually, we figured out like we figured out, there were bus routes that could take us to the supermarket, or we.
13:00:40 We would like go together like people who, like mates, would probably back and forth.
13:00:45 But I guess it's just about the whole initial experience. But, like.
13:00:49 Yeah.
13:00:48 Ask people for help, like, literally, people like, I'm going to get groceries. I can take you along. It's not a big for them. They're happy to help, so just feel free to ask for help. People will always.
13:01:01 All 100%. Yeah.
13:00:57 I, yeah. And those are like good times when you make good relationships. And you know all of those things. And yeah.
13:01:04 Find your like, you know.
13:01:07 When I went for the very 1st time to the Indian grocery.
13:01:22 Yeah.
13:01:11 I was shattered to death like a t to see all the costs and the prices and everything. And then, since I was in a group I we were able to tackle it altogether. That okay, this is it. We have to understand where we are standing.
13:01:27 Yeah.
13:01:26 And, like, you know, digest that fact. And now it's become like.
13:01:30 It's the whole! Repeated Dollar. You.
13:01:33 Oh, my God!
13:01:34 Honestly, the big advice I have is like, the quicker you can drop that conversion the easier your life is like.
13:01:39 I did that eventually, for the smaller things.
13:01:45 Hmm.
13:01:43 Like the things which I need every day.
13:01:49 Yeah, yeah.
13:01:46 I don't have to think every day like it's it's really trash. Then, if I'm thinking every day the tomatoes are this expensive, this that this, that but yeah, for bigger things. Yes, it was there, but eventually it decreased. Once got into a job, started earning, and been into a settled space. Not yet, but still way better to what we were as students, you know.
13:02:11 Yeah.
13:02:10 2021, or for me it was 2022, so.
13:02:19 Yeah, yeah.
13:02:14 Obviously, you grow by levels in, you know, expand all those things. So that's there. But yeah.
13:02:25 Hmm.
13:02:23 Great experience. Back then, for all of those things. And it's.
13:02:26 I didn't know strategic thinking about all those things.
13:02:28 Yeah.
13:02:30 That was fun like really great to explore different grocery stores. But.
13:02:35 Coming to the point here. Thanks for sharing that with the map. But wanna like quickly touch base upon. I know we both like graduates at that time when the job market wasn't that fruitful? Or I would say it was not that good? What we've got for the previous years that you know, the job market is really good, really opportunistic. And you know, you get a lot of opportunities.
13:03:00 But how is with your degree program? And how is the job market with you being in California? What were the things that you observed? Was it good? Was it fine? Was it not that good? And how was it for you.
13:03:14 So I started looking for my internship in. I came here in 21
13:03:21 July, August 21, and I started looking for my internship.
13:03:25 I think, somewhere around October, November, around that period.
13:03:32 When my badge was looking for an internships, the market was still in a decent state.
13:03:35 So I done with Zillow, which is the real estate software platform.
13:03:40 Interviewed with a couple of companies. So I.
13:03:43 I interned with Zillow as a product manager in turn.
13:03:45 But a lot of my classmates had offers from really good companies.
13:03:51 That goes sap. We did, Mattel. We did.
13:03:54 Adobe, the weed had splunk. We had data dog, and a lot of these companies are not recruited from Ucr. And before so it was a great time, for, like us, as interns, people were landing really, really good offers.
13:04:05 Somewhere halfway through. The internship is I guess when we sort of realize the market is.
13:04:12 Kind of shake. It's not that good, and it doesn't look like it's gonna go direction now.
13:04:17 And so around the end of our internships. Most of us found out.
13:04:21 But we were not getting offers, so I was pretty disappointed, I think, on my last day of the internship they told us that, hey? We're having budget cuts. We don't have headcount. We're not getting people back.
13:04:31 So we're not giving out offers to interns.
13:04:33 And that happened with most of my classmates, especially the ones who were in tech I think the other industries were relatively lesser affected compared to tech.
13:04:42 In tech. Most of them do not end up getting return offers.
13:04:45 For me. The good part was that I found out that I'm not getting an offer compared to a few other people, they were told like, Hey.
13:04:55 We're waiting to see if we'll get head count if we get head count would love to have you back. So it just dragged on the entire process because people were optimistic and waiting for their companies to get back. I don't think those companies ever got back to them with the head count, but there was a.
13:05:07 Huge waste of time in between.
13:05:09 So I see that as a blessing that I was told in the last trip that hey? You're not getting, and I was.
13:05:14 Honestly, really sad like, of course I would be. I spent like a day.
13:05:19 Being extremely sad about it, and I was like.
13:05:22 I really did well, and I thought I did well, and I thought I would get a turnover, and all of that.
13:05:27 But honestly, after 24 HI was like, Okay, I'm done being sad about the situation.
13:05:32 That is gone. What can I do now? What can I do to fix the situation now? And the next year onwards I started looking at job applications. I started talking to people. I started I started the whole job search process like, literally the next day itself. And I. That's why I see it as a blessing, because I did not.
13:05:50 Half the time to waste, and I'm like I need to get to this. The next day.
13:05:53 So a couple of things, I think.
13:05:56 I think that was that is one thing that really helped. But a couple of other things were. I reached out to people I knew already. So I reached out to alumni. I reached out to all this connections that I made when I was doing my internship search process, which was great, because I already had the connection in place.
13:06:11 And there were also some people who interviewed me during my internship process. So I was talking to those people, and they remembered me from the do it. They were like, Oh, yeah, we interviewed you. It was a great interview. I mean, these were the offers that I didn't take up so they were like, oh, we interviewed you, and we're like happy to put in a good word for you. So like those, all this previous connections were super helpful. I started making new connections.
13:06:32 And then
13:06:33 The other thing that really helped was, I kind of decided that when I see a job application.
13:06:39 Sorry a job position open up. I'm gonna get my application in the 1st thing that I can.
13:06:45 The whether it's the application, it's my resume or it's the cover letter. I think. A lot of times we overthink this, and we read over, engineer and perfect you may, and bring it to a point where it's really good. But by that time you have, like a thousand people who already put in their applications, and companies cannot process.
13:07:02 Over 1,000 applications. You're gonna look at the 100 they get their candidate, and they're like great. We don't have the time to go through 1,000 2,000 applications.
13:07:08 So that's 1 thing I really learned. Like, put in your edge, you can continue working on it. You can continue working on your cover letters and all of that eventually. But when you see a position, make sure you get it in.
13:07:21 And the 3rd thing that I did was
13:07:26 I used up a lot of the time till I had a job interview.
13:07:28 To prepare for the job interview. So I knew I was interested in product and strategy. So I was working on product questions, strategy questions, behavioral interviews.
13:07:37 Using a lot of the time to practice with the career center with
13:07:42 With my friends, with my classmates, doing a lot of practice by myself, making sure I had enough stories. I was following the star format and all of that stuff, but just being very well prepared because.
13:07:52 I wanted to be in a position that if I get a job interview I would be well prepared for it. And that's kind of happened. What happened with my current job, with experience.
13:07:59 When I got the job interview I was already well prepared.
13:08:04 Takes off a huge part of your stress, and you're a lot more confident during the interview. So I use the time.
13:08:10 Extensively. But having said that, it's really hard, like the job market is really bad. I've had great friends and classmates, and it's taken them a lot of time.
13:08:19 Some people get it soon. Some people get it 6 months. Some people get it. 9 months later.
13:08:24 The honestly. The key is to just have that confidence in yourself like, have that confidence and that faith that.
13:08:30 If you and it is really strong, it's very, very hard, but, like you have to be added.
13:08:43 I am.
13:08:36 That if I have the I, you have to have that faith that something good is lined up for you. If not now, you will get it eventually, and I know it's hard. It's like easier than done, but it's.
13:08:45 It is literally keep you going the entire time.
13:08:47 I agree, I agree, and I followed the same for myself as well like. I got it pretty late in my batch. A job.
13:08:54 And it was very late, like it was way past my confirmed date when I started up with my job.
13:09:01 And it was such a experience where it feels right now, really, psychological, or, you know, talking about.
13:09:10 You know something which somehow we know it. But.
13:09:14 The consistency really matters.
13:09:18 Yeah.
13:09:17 And you don't have to leave anything you can take breaks of applying to jobs like, okay, you have to have your physical breaks as well like where you're taking a day or 2 day off where you're just off. That's all done that as well like. I've taken a day or 2 off.
13:09:35 Yeah.
13:09:34 And where I'm not at all checking Job as like.
13:09:37 Let it be like I.
13:09:38 You just get months. Also.
13:09:40 Yeah, it. It took me like months, and I really had to get off that drain part, and I was losing a lot of health and everything. But.
13:09:53 Yeah.
13:09:48 You know that's what kept me going like those breaks. Help me to be consistent. Once I'm back on the 3rd day, and applying again and doing a lot of things in the tough market zoom. And it's also the point where, you know you are interviewing with a lot of organizations. You're going good.
13:10:05 But then there are like 7 or 8 interviews that are lined up, and you have to give all of them, and you don't have that much time and stuff like that, but still keep on going.
13:10:15 And keep it a mixture of both the organizations that I also kept, like small organization, bigger organization.
13:10:21 Oh, yeah, 100%.
13:10:22 So that you know you can at least.
13:10:24 Start your job with the smaller one.
13:10:26 If it's quicker and giving you the process, and then.
13:10:30 Waiting for other organizations as well. So that would be a good mixture. But the consistency part.
13:10:37 Like I am like banging it on that. It's 100% true. And.
13:10:42 And it took me like 7 to 8 months to get hold of this current.
13:10:47 But the consistency was the only factor.
13:10:50 I think that's a great point. And also.
13:10:54 Yeah. Keep your options open.
13:10:55 I think the mistake that a lot of people make initially is international students. It's.
13:11:01 Relatively harder, because your options.
13:11:03 You don't have as many options to apply, because there are only a limited set of companies that will sponsor you for your visa, and you want to work for those companies.
13:11:11 So there are not really.
13:11:13 Like you don't really apply to as much market as is visible out there.
13:11:17 But I think we often make the mistake of.
13:11:21 Always looking at a brand name or like, how can I go for the bigger company.
13:11:26 And that's where a lot of times you lose out of a lot of opportunities that are actually great like, especially for internships like startups. And you get so much learning and startups like smaller companies. Because you're working hands on, you're doing multiple tools at the same time. It's it's a lot of fun, but I think.
13:11:42 It's very important, like, keep from day one be like I'm gonna apply to whatever I think is suitable, but not restrict myself like just a big brand name, or just a big company like I very strongly believe.
13:11:53 I agree.
13:11:55 But I've seen like
13:11:52 Keep all the options open like eventually.
13:11:56 Yeah. But I've seen like people like really stringent upon like, I want to go into this dream company I had always thought about. And now they're on a, you know, hiring freeze.
13:12:13 You.
13:12:06 So you're all shattered. You have no plan. So you always have to have like a backup plan like that dream company.
13:12:14 But apply to 10 other organizations, seeing the current situation as well, because.
13:12:19 100. Yeah.
13:12:20 Yeah, it's hard.
13:12:21 Especially with this job market. Yeah, you have to be like extra cautious.
13:12:25 Extra wiggle that you hold.
13:12:26 Give me extra call issues. And you have to have that thing that makes you stand out because that particular role has been applied by.
13:12:34 Tens, and thousands of other people as well, who may have the same capabilities like you. So you have to stand out somewhere where you're different.
13:12:43 And put it out there. So.
13:12:45 Yeah.
13:12:45 That's how you can work on yourself, and that's something.
13:12:49 That's getting like really hard and hard with the current job scenario as well to what I've seen back in 22. And now what I've seen. 24.
13:12:57 Oh, my God, there's like a really bad situation, and I always just thank God that things happen for me last year.
13:13:04 Or else I would have been sitting back in India.
13:13:07 And would have gone back because I had nothing else on plate apart from, you know.
13:13:13 A lot of interviews going on, and then still waiting for of letters. And then there was the same reasoning that you know there's budget. Count like budget cuts.
13:13:22 Yeah.
13:13:26 Yeah.
13:13:22 Or you know, not sponsoring, you know, international student. And that's 1 thing that we.
13:13:29 Compulsory want that somebody has to sponsor us like either.
13:13:33 Artwork visa, or maybe have us on OP. To work on OP. So.
13:13:38 Damn!
13:13:38 That's a mandate for us. But yeah.
13:13:41 I'm glad it worked out.
13:13:42 Yeah. And I'm glad things worked out for you as well with the, with the, with the job market. It was really difficult to get hold of things, but I'm happy.
13:13:52 I know we're at the last segment where I wanted to quickly ask you.
13:13:58 You've had given a lot of advice through all the questions through the past 1 h. But anything that you wanted to say to the incoming students as like a.
13:14:08 And advice or suggestion, or any recommendation that you want to put out. You've seen in the.
13:14:14 Late this time, and you want to have them know more about it. So anything from.
13:14:19 You.
13:14:20 We think I think we pretty much covered, like almost everything like from the job market, like moving here in the visa process. I think we've pretty much covered all of it.
13:14:30 Opt is one thing that someone
13:14:32 This is actually given to me before I join.
13:14:36 And I I really struck a call with me, and I still hold.
13:14:42 With myself today. So he told me that.
13:14:46 Know your why?
13:14:48 Like know why you're coming here to the Us. To do get a degree? This why could be different for people like for people they want to grew in their career. They want to do a career shift.
13:14:58 Some people come here for their partners, and people are like, we just want to explore the Us. And so this is like a good way for us to get an advanced degree, and be here in a different country, whatever it is.
13:15:07 Know your why and know your why? Very strongly, because the process.
13:15:12 Throughout, not just as an international student, just as a student. You're leaving the workforce that you've been working for.
13:15:17 You don't have an income like you're gonna be off income for 2 years.
13:15:22 Everyone's away from their family to some point at some point.
13:15:25 So it could get a little stressful. You're juggling a lot of things as a job search process, and all of that. As a student in general.
13:15:32 And there will be a lot of times where you will question yourself like, what am I really doing here? Was it worth leaving the job that I had. I had a great job. Was it worth doing all of that.
13:15:41 So a lot of times you will question yourself, and this Y is what will really help answer all those questions, and will.
13:15:48 It'll make you feel like, okay. No, I belong here, and there's a reason that I came here. Just have that. Why, with you.
13:15:55 And that will really help you go get through, like most of the stuff through grad school, and honestly, just have fun like you're here to like, explore this new country, this new culture. I have 0 regrets about anything.
13:16:06 That I have done in the last 3 years, or like even coming here, getting my degree. And I think there's always something new to do something new to learn. Have fun, new experience.
13:16:17 So just have fun throughout the process. You'll make great friends I've had. I've made incredible friends through the program.
13:16:23 Through the program outside of college. 2 to 3 years that I've been here. But.
13:16:27 100% just have fun like, have fun through the process. This is.
13:16:32 Don't make it a lot more stressful than it actually is. So.
13:16:35 Yeah, I know it's a stressful process. It is not saying a no there, but obviously you have to, you know.
13:16:44 Live through it, enjoy it. What are the different sets of things? Because it's.
13:16:48 Totally different from where, from where we are coming from, as you know, earning people having their undergrad done back in a different country.
13:16:57 Move into a new education system. New.
13:17:00 Yeah.
13:17:00 Professional life system. And you know, grabbing this current
13:17:05 Job so difficult in a in a very difficult time, in a very difficult way. And we're just, you know, living our lives. That's something that we're sticking onto. But I know, you know. All through the hour there were great advices given up.
13:17:19 As part of different questions, and I think so. Everyone made sure to listen to it. But I would again say, Thank you so much for giving out time and sharing a lot of these things.
13:17:30 That would really help.
13:17:32 A lot of people who watch through this video. And obviously we'll have your.
13:17:37 Social media handles listed down below. If we did not cover any such questions, please go ahead and spam her as much as you can, and she'd be happy to help you there. But this was really a great hour to talk to you and talk a lot about your experience at Uc. Irvine and.
13:17:54 Will stay connected. So thank you so much.
13:17:55 Yeah, I am happy to answer any questions in case I couldn't.
13:18:01 I think this was a great chat. Thank you so much for having me here. A great conversation. I think Nostalg.
13:18:08 Yes.
13:18:09 Lot of questions really made us go back and think in time. But I've had a great chat. I truly hope this is helpful for people who are coming here.
13:18:17 And yeah, thank you so much for having me.
13:18:20 Yeah, thank you so much, and have a great weekend ahead.
13:18:23 You do right.