From Mechanical Engineer to Software Engineer: Naga's 35 Weeks Journey to Success

Naga Apparao Polamarasetti is a Mechanical Engineer by education but a software engineer by choice. Hailing from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, this B.Tech graduate came across Masai and saw a chance to level up his future. 35 weeks later, Naga’s turned that dream into a reality.

Taking time from his busy schedule as a Software Engineer with Pluralsight, he joins us for a chat over his Masai journey and his learnings from the same.

How did you find out about Masai?

I found out about Masai through Quora actually. Someone had written about the school and how it works on the Pay after Placement model, which immediately caught my eye. After looking more into Masai and other bootcamps, I also discovered the practice-based curriculum, another thing I found fascinating.

I decided to get myself enrolled in the Masai 0ne course as soon as I could.

How did your parents react to your decision?

I did have their support. But initially, I too took my time observing if this is for me. I knew that I had the first month to decide if I’m going to continue with the course. So after that first month was over and I believed that I could do this, I asked my parents for their opinion.

And they came out in full support, so I committed to my decision and didn’t look back.

My journey with Masai began with an unexpected discovery on Quora. It was by pure chance that I stumbled upon a post where someone was raving about Masai School and its unique "Pay after Placement" model. That concept instantly piqued my interest, as it seemed like a game-changer in the world of education.

Intrigued by the Pay after Placement model, I delved deeper into Masai's offerings and started researching other boot camps as well. During this exploration, I unearthed another gem in Masai's arsenal – its practice-based curriculum. This was something I found not only innovative but also incredibly appealing. The idea of learning by doing, of immersing oneself in real-world projects, resonated with me.

With my curiosity thoroughly piqued and my enthusiasm soaring, I made the swift decision to enrol in Masai's One course. It was a moment of excitement and anticipation as I felt that I was embarking on a transformative journey towards a new and promising career path.

What was your favorite thing about Masai?

There are a number of things that drew me towards Masai. The first has to be the practice-based curriculum, around the time I started looking into Masai, I also looked at other bootcamps. However, a number of them only offered part-time classes, so Masai's curriculum made it stand apart.

Another thing is that they offer live classes, which made a difference to me. Even the IA’s(Instructional Associates) were always ready to solve any doubt we might have. We had weekly tests that allowed us to constantly evaluate ourselves, and the curriculum was expansive.

So I guess the overall curriculum, and the faculty was what stood out to me.

What was your experience with the practice-based curriculum like?

It was definitely hard initially. I wasn’t used to investing that much time into classes, just sitting through all the classes could feel like a task. And then you had the assignments. But I stuck with it, I had already made my decision and now I wanted to see it through.

So as time went on and the units went by it became much more normal. I could sit through the same classes with much more focus and it became second nature. It’s definitely instilled a sense of discipline in me.

How was your construct week experience?

It was a very collaborative experience. We had already been doing individual projects during the course, but for the first time I worked in a team with others I could learn from and innovate with. That was easily the best part about construct week.

But the confidence boost from creating projects the like of which we’ll work on in the industry has to be a close second.

Tell us about your placement experience

I must have interviewed for around 6-7 companies before I landed my current position as a Software Engineer with Pluralsight. I was very interested in them, so when I cleared the first round and got called to Bangalore, I was excited.

There were 3 rounds in total, from technical to the in-person interview, but I wasn’t nervous. After all, I had sat for plenty of mock interviews during my revision classes with Masai, so I was prepared and knew what I needed to improve on. And that really came in clutch.

I had quite a journey before securing my current role as a Software Engineer at Pluralsight. In fact, I estimate that I must have interviewed for approximately 6 to 7 different companies before finally landing this position. Pluralsight was particularly appealing to me, so when I successfully passed the initial interview round and received an invitation to their Bangalore office, my excitement knew no bounds.

The interview process at Pluralsight consisted of a total of three rounds, ranging from technical assessments to in-person interviews. Surprisingly, despite the stakes and the competitive atmosphere, I found myself surprisingly calm and composed throughout the process. This was largely thanks to my extensive preparation during my revision classes at Masai.

During my time at Masai, I had the privilege of participating in numerous mock interviews. These practice sessions were incredibly valuable because they simulated real interview scenarios and provided constructive feedback on my performance. They helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to fine-tune my interview skills.

so when I faced the interview rounds at Pluralsight, I was well-prepared and knew precisely what areas I needed to focus on and improve. It felt like all the hard work and preparation I had put into honing my skills at Masai really came in clutch. It boosted my confidence and allowed me to perform at my best during the critical interview stages.

Looking back, I now realise that every interview I went through, even the ones with different companies, played a part in my development and brought me to this exciting job at Pluralsight. This shows how important it is to keep trying, gain knowledge from every experience, and be ready for the chances that appear in your path.

FAQs

1: How did Naga Polamarasetti learn about Masai School, and what drew him to enrol in their program?

Through a Quora post highlighting Masai's "Pay after Placement" strategy and practice-based curriculum, Naga Polamarasetti learned about the school. He was immediately drawn to Masai's distinctive qualities, which encouraged him to learn more about the community and ultimately convinced him to sign up for the Masai One course.

2: How did Masai School's practice-based curriculum and live classes contribute to Naga's learning experience, and what challenges did he face during the program?

Naga's educational journey was greatly aided by the practice-based curriculum, live courses, and committed Instructional Associates (IAs) at Masai School. He initially found the demanding schedule difficult, but it got easier with time. He developed discipline thanks to the curriculum, and the all-encompassing approach helped him concentrate and successfully transition from a mechanical engineer to a software engineer.