The Career Development Cell of IIT Dharwad recently hosted a captivating guest lecture by Mr. Anantha Lakshmanarao, Associate Director at KPMG, focusing on the diverse career paths available for engineers in the Big 4 professional services firms.
Key takeaways included:
1️⃣ Skill Transferability: Engineers bring valuable problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills that are highly sought after in consulting, audit, and advisory roles. Mr. Lakshmanarao emphasized the importance of developing Job Skills, Soft Skills, Communication Skills, and Leadership Skills.
2️⃣ Diverse Opportunities: The Big 4 firms offer a wide array of roles—from data analytics to risk management—where engineers can thrive and make significant contributions.
3️⃣ Networking and Collaboration: Building relationships and leveraging networks in professional services were highlighted as crucial for driving success, showcasing how collaboration can enhance career growth.
4️⃣ Career Development: Continuous learning and professional development are vital for advancing in this dynamic field. The foundations of a successful career were discussed as the triad of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude.
5️⃣ Industry Internships: The importance of internships was stressed, providing students with firsthand experience and helping them navigate the transition to industry, along with strategies for stress management.
A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Lakshmanarao for sharing his insights and inspiring our future leaders! Let’s continue to explore how we can leverage our engineering backgrounds to excel in professional services!