GATE Material Search

Friday, March 9, 2012

My experience with M. Tech after job

I got the opportunity to go for M. Tech only after 4 years of my job. So when I stepped into IIT Delhi, I was stepping into an academic institute after a gap of 4 years. Like most people, I had questions like will I be able to study after such a huge gap, will my experience help me with placements, will I get placed at all. In this post I will share my experiences during mtech with such issues.


Academics

Everyone (including me) thought that studying after a gap of 4 years would be really difficult. I had been away from academics for such a long time. Plus I was enjoying a well paying job in Pune. But surprisingly I found no difficulty in dedicating my complete time for study. In fact I think I was at an advantage over people who had directly come to M. Tech after their engineering. They seemed slightly fed up with studies. After all, they didn't have any gap in studies from the last 10 to 15 years. Me on the other hand, I was enjoying the classes, the assignments, the exams. The 4 year gap felt like a 4 year vacation I took from academics and so I felt I was more enthusiastic and full of energy than others. I hope this is the case with everyone going for mtech after a gap.

Besides, if you have done a lot of C/C++ programming in your professional career, it might help you with the large number of programming assignments we get at IITs.


Placements

The fact that placements are not a problem for mtech CS at IITs, I have discussed in my older post here. But if you have a few years of experience, you would be thinking, will they consider my previous experience for placements? Will I get any advantage over others who have come directly after engineering? Will I be given a higher salary/designation than others? Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news first. You won't get any practical advantage because of your experience (at least at IIT Delhi, don't know the details of all IITs but I am guessing the placement system would be same). That is, you have to qualify for the CGPA cutoff and you have to appear for the written test with everyone. There is no separate criteria or written test for people with experience.



The good news is, once you are through the written test, your experience might help you a lot during the interviews. There is very tough competition at IITs for placements and people are not shy about displaying anything worthwhile they have done. So having a few years of experience definitely gives you an edge. Of course, it still doesn't guarantee anything, but it is a great help.

I have not heard of companies giving a different profile or a higher designation to people with experience. This is somewhat offset by the fact that your experience might help you get placed into a better company.

There is one thing that I would like to add though. I used to be under tremendous pressure for getting good a placement because I had left a well paying job to go for mtech. Imagine, leaving a good job, going for mtech and then ending up in a job of lower value than the one you left. One feels like he is competing with himself. Perhaps this pressure is unavoidable for someone coming after experience.

Conclusion

In general I faced no difficulties with studies or anything else because of the 4 years gap. If at all, this gap worked in my favor. I can't say this should be the case with everyone, but it was definitely the case with me.



Like my facebook page below to keep in touch with me. I will keep posting any links/resources relevant to M. Tech. You can also ask questions you might have on the Facebook page, and I will try to answer.

81 comments:

  1. Shouldn't companies offer more package after 4 yrs of job experience to people who have just joined M.Tech ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meant to say:-> Shouldldn't salary of (b.tech + 4 yrs of work experience + m.tech) > salary of (B.tech +M.tech) ?

      Delete
  2. @nitish, sorry didnt get your question?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meant to say:-> Shouldldn't salary of (b.tech + 4 yrs of work experience + m.tech) > salary of (B.tech +M.tech) ?

      Delete
    2. oh, I see.
      but that is not how it works. most companies come to iits with a fixed package and there is little scope to bargain. but yes, experience might help you get a better company, and i think tht should compensate for your loss.

      Delete
  3. Subject: Consideration of B.E marks in Gate Interview.

    Somewhere on internet i got to knew that having less marks in BE say 63% can affect the interview even if one is gate topper.

    Now,
    (1) Please tell me is this true?
    (2) I am scared that even after getting top rank, can they reject topper in Interview? (As i am from vernacular medium, my spoken English is not excellent. :( )
    (3) Tell us about gate Interview.

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Photon98, well your BE score will affect your chances, but i dont think it has a very high weightage. your GATE score and interview performance are very important.
    dont worry about english skills, as long as you know basic english and express yourself, its fine. IITs are not known for their english skills :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have been working with a MNC for 2 yrs now after completing BE(IT).. Its a service based org , i am lucky to have been working under develoment projects but the complexity of coding is far less ..
    it hasnt changed with time :(
    i now want to get into product based company / reseach ( govt companies will also do) ..
    few quick Q's

    -> do govt sector companies approach iit for placements ?
    -> is there any difference for placement after 2yr Mtech and 3 yr Mtech (research) ?
    -> if btech /mtech apprear for common placements, are mtech students offered better package ?
    -> does amazon have an office in india ? :)

    thanks a lot for being patient and guiding people in the right direction \m/
    may god bless you !!

    badri

    ReplyDelete
  6. @badri
    here are my answers:
    - Govt. companies do come to iits but they are very less for CS branch(i know only BEL). there are a lot of PSU placements from BHEL, BEL, NTPC, etc. for electrical/power/mech./civil branches.
    - there is no diff between 2yr and 3yr placements.
    - companies do offer higher package to mtech, but the different is not much.
    - yes amazon has offices in hyd/blore/chennai. their hyd dev center is their largest after seattle.

    ReplyDelete
  7. thanks a lot for the quick response ..

    badri

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey,
    First of all, your posts are really helpful..Thanks for putting them up over here.

    I am a final yr B.Tech(CS) student(in a pvt. college) and I secured 470 rank in GATE2012. With this rank I can't expect much, however with a preparation of 1 and half months I couldn't have expected more(I have applied in the IITs though). I wish to appear in GATE2013 with better preparation.
    But, right now I haven't got any job offers as such and I am in dilemma whether I should get a job first or just sit at home and study..because :
    - gaps in academics years matter in placements.(do they?)
    - and while on job it would be difficult to study.(I think so)

    If I should get a job, what kind of job should I prefer? Most of the IT companies have training period of 6 months to an year..will I get any exprnce letter if I leave within 6 months or so?

    I really want to get some quality education..all these four years have just dull my mind. =D

    Hope to get a reply soon, and Thanks again!! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @anita, well with a rank of 470 you have some chance at JCA and EET at IITD, and you have a good chance at IITB RA. Why not go for that? I think getting into IITB RA would be better than taking a drop for GATE and getting into IITB next year for regular mtech.

      gaps are always bad and you should avoid them. you can get some job which is not very hectic and allows you time for GATE prep. yes, you will get experience letter if you leave in 6 months or a year, but believe me, once you get into a good IIT next year, you will not care about that 6 months of exp.

      Delete
    2. @anita,

      remember, you have to apply separately for JCA and EET at iitd. JCA is run by maths dept and EET by electrical.

      Delete
  9. My last reply wasn't published I guess..

    Okay, I will keep these in mind..Thank you. =)

    My problem with IITB RA is that I may not be able to appear in the interview 'cause I have my final semester exam the next day..and I am in Northern India. Still,I have applied hoping exams get postponed or something. =)

    One more question I have,
    GATE Scores are valid for two years, so is any preference given to current year's GATE Score over previous year's during admissions in IITs..or is it all the same for them?
    For eg. GATE Score 700 of 2011 is considered equal as GATE Score 700 of 2012, in case somebody has applied with the previous yr's score.

    Thanks! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @aneeta, for all i know, gate scores are considered equivalent (thats the whole purpose of having a gate score in the first place, to make it easy to compare people from diff branches and years).

      Delete
    2. Alright.. =)
      Thanks a lot for all your help. I really appreciate it. =)

      Delete
  10. There are number of top ranker for ca,cs from career classes the reason behind that the main aim of Career Classes is providing proper guidance to students,increasing the level of their Knowledge and making them successful not only in these professional exam but also in their life too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi you are doing a great job guiding people in need. Here I too have a couple of questions, hope you can help.
    1. I have an AIR of 586 and GATE score of 707 in GATE 2012.
    2. With this rank I think I have chances in IITG, IITR and IITH. Which one do you suggest? Which has a better campus recruitment scenario? Cause all I want to go for MTech after 2 years is hoping to get a better job in a (Product) company.
    3 I hail from Guwahati and have 2 years of IT experience(if that is of any use while you answer my question).

    Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi,

    I have AIR 43 in CS. I have 2 years of experience in IT (Completed BTech in 2009). Someone told me that you will be in negative after completion of MTech. These things are shattering my motivation for pursuing MTech. Please help.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi,
    Would You Please tell me. How did you get opportunity to get admission into M-TECH program with IIT delhi just after 4 years of Experience .

    ReplyDelete
  14. raju,

    hi, thank u very much your infor helping me lot. I have some questions, can plz help me.
    1.i got AIR 288 rank in cs and i have obc resrv, can i get iitb or m.
    2.i am 2010 passed out with in these 2yr, i prepared for gate. Actually gate 2011, i attended at that time i got 12000 rank but i am not satisfied that so is these 2yrs gap will it effet on my career at the time of placements time ?
    Give me reply plz,
    Thank u for ur patience

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @raju, no your placements wont be affected with these minor things.
      I dont know about IITB, or IITM cutoffs for OBC, but there are chances you will get one of them.

      Delete
  15. You folks seem to reply to only a selected few people...i dont understand this discrimination

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @harihar,
      dude, there is no discrimination here. as for your previous question, its always hard to compare two institutes, especially when I have not been any one of them. so i always hesitate in answering such questions.

      but anyways, i have heard a lot of good things about iith. iitg is good too. i have heard that iitr does not have a good CS dept. this is all i know, that too what i have heard from their alumni. placement wise though i have heard all of them are equal. so take your pick.

      Delete
    2. Thanks a lot for getting back :)

      Delete
  16. Hi,
    I completed my B.TECH. in computer science and enginnering from NIT in 2003. I am interested in doing M.TECH. from IIIT, Hyderabad and my main objective is to learn new things in IT. I have been working with MNCs since 2003. Since it has been 9 years now,could you please suggest whether IIIT,H will consider me for PG. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I want to know whether IITB considers the gate score for shortlisting the candidates in written test for the interviews..???pls help..i have my written test/interview on 7th and 8th jun..

    I have got AIR 2616 in gate 2012 EE..gate score 503.

    ReplyDelete
  18. is there any difference between b.tech and m.tech placements in iitd in cs dept.? what was your company and your package after m.tech from iitd?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As i said, mtechs and btechs appear for the same companies in placements. btechs are allowed for finance companies too, while mtechs only appear for tech companies. otherwise, individual selection in companies is based on their performance in test/interview than anything else.

      Delete
  19. hi.. I have 3 years of experience in IT industry.. I have been admitted in BITS Pilani for ME. Should I go ahead with that? I mean does ME makes any difference in industry? or I will be considered as good as a BE guy?

    ReplyDelete
  20. sir what are the benefits of GATE score in placements?
    i am doing Btech(I.T.)[final year] so how should i start my preparation for GATE.
    plz suggest some good coaching institute or study material?
    and should i go for its coaching?
    plz reply asap

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having a good GATE score does put a very good impression. So it could be useful. If you are in BTech final year, you should have everything fresh in your mind, so i guess GATE prep should be relatively easy.
      Dont know anything about coaching institutes, since I never took any coaching.

      Delete
    2. sir
      plz tell me about some good study material for the same.(Books,website,tutorials)

      Delete
    3. @karan, have u read this post
      http://mtech-admission-iits.blogspot.in/2010/09/gate-cs-preparation.html

      Delete
  21. Hi
    I have an experience of 2 years and planning to go for mtech. but on thing that bothers me is I got low percentage in btech. So is it going to affect the placement's qualifying criteria of having a particular cutoff in btech.(like >65% in btech.) or that is not considered for experienced people ?

    ReplyDelete
  22. hi friend,
    Actly i have bit big questn bt plz ans me.
    Act nw m in final year BE my agg is 69%. I want to do mtech bt the problm is
    In 10th i gt 65%, 12th 43%.
    Thn on basis of 10th i did diploma n scored 72%.

    As i did diploma on basis of 10th, And BE on basis of diploma then my 12th % will taken into consideration or nt???
    I heard tht in iits throughout 60% is required.
    Plz tell me is it true?
    Wht should i do.
    Plz help me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @satish, i dont really know about this. you will have to read the IIT PG brochure carefully. if you still dont get the answer, you can send a mail to the IIT PG office.

      Delete
  23. There are number schools and colleges that have been set up in India and overseas to assist candidates around the country to obtain a technical degree to become a great addition to their resumes and help them to go places in life.

    ReplyDelete
  24. hi friend,
    does cgpa of B.tech play any important role in placement.I have heard that some good companies want 80% throughout in acads.What are the general criteria in acads considered by the companies in IITs.i have 88%(w.b board)in secondary,76% in H.S(w.b board)& 7.6 cgpa in b.tech.I am in a big dilemma whether i will go for Masters as i may be rejected by most of the biggies due to my academic career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. to some extent, but as long as you have a decent cgpa, it doesnt matter much. very few research orgs like IBM RL, Google, may ask for exceptionally high percentages throughout.
      your 7.6 cgpa seems reasonably good and apart from a handful of companies, you should not have any problem.

      Delete
  25. Hello sir,

    I am Amit, B.Tech CSE 2011 Passout from a UPTU colg

    I need your suggestion for my current situation :
    I am currently working for a MNC with now I year of experience and having a package of 4.2 lacs p.a. and working in Java.

    I am interested in only technical field and dont have any interest of MBA. means If I go for higher studies then I will be M.Tech or M.S. but never MBA.

    I want to work in some gud companies like Adobe, Amazon and other but as I have done my B.Tech from a UPTU colg, its not possible to land in these companies with experience.
    If I go for M.Tech, there after M.Tech I will opt for Job in companies and not interested in PhD.
    May be after M.tech I would like to work for these core companies like Adobe, Amazon and others.
    If I will appear for GATE 2013 and start prep now then during joining any IIT I will have 2 year of exp

    My Question is :
    1) If I continue to work in my current company and then is it difficult for me to get a job in good companies like Adobe, Amazon as I dont have b.tech degree from gud colg but I will have four year exp. ?
    OR
    Should I start prep. for M.Tech now and appear in GATE 2013 then after 4 years (2yr job + 2 yr M.Tech), It would be easy or better for me to get job in Adobe ?

    2) I dont want to do M.Tech only to get 6 lacs package after 4 years even I have spend 2 years on M.Tech and have not earn anything during that period in terms of money.
    Could you please suggest me average package at IITs Is it around 8-10 lakhs for M.Tech CSE ?

    Please guide me.
    Thanks for your help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @amit, it is not impossible for you to land in companies like Amazon, but it would be very difficult. you can keep applying the meanwhile.

      if your target is companies like amazon, they pay in the range of 10L, but there is a risk as there is no guarantee what company you will get.

      the decision is now yours as to how much risk you are willing to take.

      Delete
  26. i have 1 year drop in engineering! will i be able to get into iit mtech even if i get good marks in gate?

    ReplyDelete
  27. i have 1 year drop in engineering! will i be able to get into iit mtech even if i get good marks in gate?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Is it possible to land a job in a top notch tech company(Amazon,Adobe) for a graduate from a private collage without going for MTECH,i mean based on experience in an IT service based company..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dont think this is impossible but very tough. There would be a lot of competition.

      Delete
  29. I am doing my btech(final year) in Material sciences Engineering in IIT kanpur...but i would like to do MTech in computer science from IIT again as i am very much interested and have done couple of courses like datastructures , algorithms, computing etc. in my btech did well in them n also im pretty gud at maths(discrete)...Can u suggest me some gud material for GATE for core subjects like dbms, popl, os, networks etc so that i can read by myself and practice well..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have you read this post:
      http://mtech-admission-iits.blogspot.in/2010/09/gate-cs-preparation.html

      Delete
  30. hi..first let me thank u for all dis usefull information.
    :- i got "625 score" in gate 2012(rank-1327) and
    :- also got plased in "Infosys".
    i hav opted to go for infy.but my joing date is in apirl 2013.now i am preparing for gate 2013.if i get into some IITs.
    Please suggest me......
    wat will b the better option????
    "m.tech in IIT" or "JOB in Infy"

    ReplyDelete
  31. wat wud the range of package offered for m.tech IITians???
    plz do reply

    ReplyDelete
  32. wat wud b the range of package offered for m.tech IITians???
    plz do reply

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sir, is it good to go for M.Tech after experience or immediately after B.Tech?
    I have been recruited in service company.Earlier i thought of gaining experience and then go for M.Tech at IIT.Is this thought ok or i should go for it this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. its ok if you want to gain experience before going for mtech...just make sure you do not loose focus once you start earning money...

      Delete
  34. Hi..thanks for being there to answer queries..great job.
    I am BE(Electronics), with 2+ years of experience in embedded systems.
    I am keen to join some research work in the field of Computational Neuroscience, so thinking of joining M.Tech in IITs or IISc in CS.
    I am happy about my current job also(both workwise & moneywise)..
    Would it be worth to leave a job n go for M.Tech instead of joining free courses (e.g:MIT's opencourseware, Coursera, Udacity) & contributing in open-source research projects & directly apply for Ph.D?
    Would be grateful to have your views on this.

    Thanks,
    Vinayak

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hii..I am BE from electronics.My programming is more good than my core subjects . So i am contemplating writing gate for CS stream. But i don't know whether IITS would allow me to do that. n also i dont know how companies will treat me after doing mtech. So Plz help me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IITs allow people from other stream to do mtech in CS. go through the brochure of each IIT carefully to see the eligibility for each course.
      Some companies like Google/Amazon/IBM Research labs etc. want only CS btech students. still a large number companies should allow you to appear for them.

      Delete
    2. hey thank very much for your quick response. but in my case is it good to do MTech for 2 years and then go for job or getting same 2 yrs of experience of working in a IT company would be more plus. what's your view. I would be grateful to have your view.

      Delete
  37. 2 years gap without any experience in IT companey for cse students would affect the placements in iits.

    ReplyDelete
  38. hello, i have done my btech in IT with 72%, but i have 59% in my 10th class.
    i want to do mtech from nit or iit.
    is this problem of percentge will affect me in my placements even in iit or nit,s.
    or i may get some opportunities.
    should i do my 10th again simultaneously with my mtech 1st year.please suggest me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 59% in 10th could be a problem for some of the companies. but you should still get placed if you work hard in mtech and have a good cgpa. i have never heard of anyone going for 10th with mtech, so cant say anything about that.

      Delete
  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi..

    I request you to spend some time to go through & reply.
    1. I am BE(Electronics), with 2+ years of experience in embedded systems.
    2. I am interested in research in the field of Computational Neuroscience, so wish to join M.Tech in IITs or IISc in CS.
    3. Which one would be good: go for M.Tech OR joining free courses (e.g:MIT's opencourseware, Coursera, Udacity) & contributing in open-source research projects & directly apply for Ph.D?

    Thanks for your time.

    Vinayak

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have very little idea about opencourseware, Coursera, Udacity so cant comment or compare. besides, computational neuroscience seems to be a very niche field. only someone who has some experience int this particular field would be able to properly help you. see if there are some courses available in IITs with good profs and then take your decision.

      Delete
  41. hi
    I have done my B-Tech in CS and have 1 year experience in TCS.Now I want to go for a m-tech from iit.My question is that-

    1. Can you give the true view of IIT campusing for M-TECH students.Means the package etc.
    2.and chances of getting job in a good company like adobe,ms etc
    --Swarnendu

    ReplyDelete
  42. HI
    i have good percentage in 10th & 12th
    but 55% in btech(GM)CATEGORY ,if i score very good gate score,can i get mtech seat in iits,im keen intersetd to do in iits only so pls help me out
    tanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
  43. what will be the GATE cutoff rank to get placed in IOCL for CSE branch??plz do reply..i hav been seaching for the answer frm many days but cudn't find...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @above, sorry but I too dont have answer for your query...

      Delete
  44. Sir I am a B.tech(CS) with 8.00 CGPA and good Technical Knowledge but i have 62% in 10th and 59% in 12th, should i go for M.tech from IIT? will it be fruitful for my career and placement?
    As of now there are very less good companies for 2nd division students. will the scenario be same after M.tech from IIT or it will change? please suggest me something as i am in a Catch 22 situation weather to prepare for campus for those few good companies or Prepare for PSU or prepare for GATE2013. Thank you in Advance.

    ReplyDelete
  45. ummm join for mtech as far as i think dost :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sir i am a 3rd year cs student.I willing to do m.tech in iit. But my 10th and 12th marks are 75% and 53%.Is this percentage effect my career after completing m.tech.
    plz suggest me, I already starting my GATE preparation.

    ReplyDelete
  47. can u pls name some good companies i will be eligible to sit in after doing mtech in cse inspite of having btech in ee from nit agartala

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi sir, I have 2 Yr gap after 12th and 3 yr Gap after B.tech.
    if I prepare for GATE and join any IIT.
    Is there any problem due to Gap nad age.
    Sir,Please give some suggestion ,Your suggestion will be very helpful for me.
    Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  49. age should not be a problem but you might have to explain to the company about the gap. Since companies do not follow any set rules for placement, nobody can predict whether they will consider your gap or not. I think if you can give a good explanation, they might not have a problem, but as I said, nobody can say for sure

    ReplyDelete
  50. hi sir, my age is 27 now. I did B.Tech in Ece. I have nearly 3 years of experience in Java/JEE development. I am planning to take gate in CS in the year 2016, targeting to get into IITs.
    Considering my age will be 29 when I get into the institute and counting my 5 years of Java experience, How will M.tech in CS in IIT help my career??
    I am very good in mathematics and I am sure to get good rank.
    Is Gate at this age beneficial???? .........please answer....

    ReplyDelete
  51. a friend of mine have completed his be with cgpa 8.5 from reputed college . the problem is he failed in 12th because he suffered jaundice at the time of exam but next year he scored good if he pursue m.tech from iit will she find difficulty in placement will he be eligible for companies like amazon etc.

    ReplyDelete
  52. hi similar situation following me as it followed you. let me know I am having 4 yrs exp in software field . but if I want to do Mtech Cse dept in IIT am I eligible.
    bcoz I did btech eee..
    and finally I want to settle in teaching environment ..is it OK if I do Mtech the gate IIT...

    ReplyDelete
  53. Nice information posted here. One can check best gate coaching institutes in vijayawada here. Thanks!! http://www.icegateinstitute.com/vijayawada-gate-coaching.html

    ReplyDelete