Dinesh Pathak
Director-BTG Program
I woke up in the morning and, as usual, picked up my phone. On WhatsApp, I found a message from an unknown number; the sender had not introduced himself — just directly stated his request. In the first line, he referenced me as Dinesh Pathak, Director-BTG Programs.
Actually, this gentleman was interested in Protecon BTG’s Project Management & Controls training program but wanted to take it free of cost. He mentioned his weak financial condition and assured that he would pay the fee after completing the course and securing a job.
Now the question comes, when even government institutions don’t provide free admissions, how can we possibly offer free training? We definitely train young engineers to make them job-ready for the industry, but against a fee, as it involves huge efforts & infrastructure. In the last few years, we have trained 300+ young engineers & secured quality jobs for them under a 100% job guarantee (on legal stamp paper) placement after just six months of classroom training. Our program covers specialized subjects that are usually not covered in the academic curriculum. Moreover, there is a huge difference in the training content between an academic professor & industry professionals…
Unfortunately, I had to decline his request as per company policy and suggested that he should enroll in our online training program, “Planning to Billing for the Construction Industry,” which is significantly more cost-effective. He then asked if the online program guarantees job placement. I said no.
He then deleted all his original messages and disappeared.
Now, the question comes: who will explain to these young engineers that dreaming of a job during B.Tech was probably encouraged back then too, but nothing came out of it just by securing a degree?
It is essential to understand that online training modules available in the market help improve skills and knowledge. Today’s young professionals must keep themselves updated continuously. The world is changing rapidly, and we must prepare ourselves accordingly to tackle future challenges.
My intention of sharing this incident is to inspire young professionals, highlight common mistakes, and offer valuable guidance. I assume that the sender was an engineer because our course is designed for experienced diploma holders, B.Tech, B.Arch freshers, or engineers with up to five-six years of experience. However, it would have been more professional if this individual had introduced himself first, properly mentioning his name, educational background, and experience—before asking any questions or career guidance. That would have made it easier for me to understand his situation.
A Few Important Appeals to my Young Generation:
Introduce Yourself Properly: Whenever you message an unknown person, especially a senior or someone from whom you expect something, always start with a greeting and introduce yourself first. Then, ask your questions. This helps the recipient develop a better understanding of you.
Education is Never Free and nothing comes free in this world: Every educational institution, whether a government school, college, university, or prestigious institutes like IITs and IIMs, requires a formal admission process and fee payment. If something is being marketed as “free” or “cheap”, then there is usually a hidden cost or the content is totally useless. Expecting a completely free or cheap course from any company is highly unrealistic or useless.
Confidence is the Key: Constantly writing and deleting messages signals a lack of confidence. Confidence is a crucial tool for success—without it, even a collection of degrees won’t lead you to your goal. By the way, gone are the days when degrees were given precedence. In today’s world, only knowledge speaks about career and sustainability.
Don’t trust websites or e-advertisements, talk to people directly, verify their market credibility and past performances.
Investment vs Outcome: A B.Tech degree costs at least ₹10–12 lakhs today, yet there is no job guarantee. Many engineers remain unemployed for various reasons. Instead of dreaming too big by investing 3–5 years for government exams after B.Tech or starting a startup, if engineers start their career with ₹40k–50k jobs immediately after B.Tech, their career will shine much faster than those who waste 4–5 years preparing for government jobs. Moreover, in these 4–5 years of industry exposure, you may be earning ₹10 LPA and may become an entrepreneur with just 4–5 years of experience.
Only Quality & Role-Oriented Trainings Will Lead to Jobs: Cheap or short trainings will never help you. Being a fresher, only detailed or comprehensive training will land you a job. Gone are the days of multiskilling. Today’s world only looks for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs – having skill set & knowledge for the role).
Last but not the least – Hard work is the key to all success. Being an engineer, you have to visit construction sites. The best learning comes from construction sites. Getting a white-collar job (sitting in AC rooms) will never yield a good career. Think about long-term sustainable career goals rather than hefty salaries with short-term careers, where you have a chance to lose jobs nearing 50 years (mid-life crisis).