Sanchit Singhal
"My advice to current iSchoolers would be to really try and spend some time to understand their personal interests and nail down the specific type of job they want."
In my current job, I am implementing automated, scalable data flows that connect operational and business intelligence systems with the big data platform. I use these information pipelines to develop data-intensive microservices, such as APIs, that can feed internal software applications and data science models. My MSIS degree from UT’s iSchool was a big contributor in securing this role. The Career Development Office helped me prepare for the job fairs on campus which eventually led to an internship at the firm I currently work at. Through this internship, I was able to learn and guage my personal strengths and weaknesses, and how I can improve my skillset to better alignment with industry requirements. This enabled me to take classes that assisted in achieving this goal during the remainder of my degree.
My advice to current iSchoolers would be to really try and spend some time to understand their personal interests and nail down the specific type of job they want. This can be challenging, but by attending networking events in and around town and conducting informational interviews, one can try and work towards identifying the type of work they want to pursue. Once this has been selected, I would advice focusing their energy towards aligning themselves with these types of jobs.
Finally, I would recommend getting involved at many organizations available to UT students. The school offers a plethora of extra-curricular activities and by engaging in them, iSchoolers develop relationships that can help in building a more all-round personality. A master’s degree is hard work, but I believe that if your approach is correct, it can be a very fulfilling and fun two years!