Student Talk | Nikhil Kulkarni

RWTH Business School: Why did you decide on the M.Sc. Data Analytics & Decision Science from RWTH Business School?

Nikhil: I was a mechanical engineer who loved to code. Also, I wanted a change in my career as I had worked in the same job and field for several years. This course offered me a perfect path to transition my career. Also, I preferred Germany compared to other countries due to its good systems like healthcare & public transport and low economic inequality in society.

RWTH Business School: What do you like the most about the M.Sc. Data Analytics & Decision Science?

Nikhil: I liked the optimization courses taught by the Operations Research faculty, which provides the decision science part of the course. I already had some clue about the data analytics part before taking the course but the introduction to optimization methods and models to arrive at a decision using data was interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed all the lectures and close interaction with the professors.

RWTH Business School: Did the mandatory internship give you valuable experience or even influence your future career path?

Nikhil: Definitely. My internship experience and projects I did during the course helped me get my current job. Also, I apply those learnings in my daily job as well.

RWTH Business School: Did you write your master thesis within a company?

Nikhil: No, I didn’t do it at a company, I did my master thesis under Prof. Britta Peis. I started applying for jobs after 4 months into my thesis and luckily found one that was suitable. It worked out well for me to do my thesis under a professor because there was more flexibility to choose a topic of interest.

RWTH Business School: You already got a job that you will take up after your studies – Congrats! What was particularly helpful in your job search?

Nikhil: I started writing my thesis report from the first month itself and I think that helped me get some free time to focus on job applications towards the end. After searching for jobs on various portals, I guess it is better to go to the company website and apply from there, after learning a bit about the company. Lastly, it took plenty of applications for me to even get an interview call, so lots of patience and faith in your abilities is needed as well.

RWTH Business School: In your opinion, how did you succeed in convincing your new employer of yourself?

Nikhil: I had four rounds of interviews and in each of them, I spoke about my projects and internship experience. Apart from basic technical knowledge, I think the interviewers looked for traits like entrepreneurial spirit & leadership qualities.

RWTH Business School: During times of Covid-19 – did you have the impression that it was especially hard finding a job?

Nikhil: Yes, it is certainly a little harder in these times to search for a job. Sometimes, it made me lose confidence and feel low. So, I did some free online courses from Coursera during my job hunt to gain some confidence in my knowledge & skills, and showcasing those certificates gave me a boost as well.  Also, for me, it was my daily meditation routine, evening walks, and hanging out with friends that kept me in good mental health. So do whatever works for you as I know it’s tough as a job-hunting student in a new country especially given the present Covid-19 situation.

RWTH Business School: Why did you decide on your new position and the location of your employer?

Nikhil: I looked for job roles in the supply chain field as I had developed an interest in it while working on an optimization project during the 2^nd semester. So I looked for relevant positions and locations I wanted to stay in and am happy I received a job offer in my field of choice.

RWTH Business School: Do you have any final tips for a persuasive job application?

Nikhil: If possible, attach relevant project reports and internship reports that you wrote during your coursework, along with your job application, and mention them in your cover letter. Relevant practical experience is worth a lot!

All the best on your future path, Nikhil!