Work experience is one of the most important sections inquired by a business professional during interviews, sought after new candidates, and reviewed on a resume. It is a pivotal inclusion to help one get hired and find success in a professional environment.
In the state of America’s current job market with tribulations caused due to the rise of Artificial Intelligence solutions and technology, many jobs are being replaced with AI automation tools. In this state, practical work experience and skills are insurmountably beneficial to one’s portfolio to get hired.
Personal projects are a fantastic way of gaining skills and practical experience; however, it will not set you apart from the others with similar projects. In the age of AI, many leverage it to create their own projects within the matter of hours. Therefore, it is imperative to be involved in many real initiatives throughout your circle, create opportunities for yourself to shine, and leverage your capabilities effectively.
I have been doing that through my interactions with many student organizations at Illinois Tech, including Illinois Tech Robotics (ITR), the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), Illinois Tech Railroad Club (ITRC), and Podium Pros.
I have been using my influence and leverage to push for projects involving skills and components I am very interested in and pursuing further efforts to engage in professional development by spearheading events.
In robotics, I proposed that we could take inspiration from amazing real-life technologies like Tesla’s autonomous vehicles to create an environment consisting of our robots operated autonomously, controlled by one or two prime robots. The intention was well-received by the robotics crowd. I pursued this project, and with help, I was able to create an initial robot, AIRA (AI Robotic Assistant), capable of moving, sensing and sending instructions to other robots over Bluetooth using its Jetson Orin Nano.
This project was pivotal in helping me learn the process of building robots, integrating sensors, using C++ to perform sensor fusion, and more!
I have also begun starting professional development initiatives, automation efforts, and more throughout my orgs to infuse my personal skills and interests such that it leads to lasting and substantial outcomes. Throughout this, I have a lot to showcase as work experience because all of the extracurricular work I do can be considered “work experience” loosely due to the rigorous nature of my work.
By leveraging your opportunities, imperatives, and connections, much is possible to turn extracurriculars and other activities into effective points for work and practical experience. By leveraging my opportunities at Illinois Tech, meeting friends, and taking steps toward my goals, I have been able to set myself up for success, giving myself an edge in this competitive job market.
Loading...