Alumni Connect: Industry Insights and Career Preparation

An Alumni Connect session was conducted for MSc Data Science students on 9 September 2026, from 11:55 AM to 12:45 PM by the Department of Statistics and Data Science. The session was led by Ms. Anushya Francisca, an alumna currently working as Assistant Manager at Bajaj Life. Through experiences from her professional journey, she provided students with practical insights into placement preparation, industry expectations, continuous learning and the nature of data-related work in an organisation.

Ms. Anushya began by discussing the different stages that students may encounter during a placement process. She explained that logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities are commonly assessed before the interview rounds. Students were advised to focus on understanding the logic behind a problem rather than depending entirely on memorised programming syntax. Even when candidates are unable to recall the exact syntax, they should be able to explain their proposed approach clearly and systematically.

She also discussed personal interview rounds, which may involve questions from multiple panel members. As several questions are likely to arise from the candidate’s résumé, students were advised to be familiar with every detail included in it. She emphasised that candidates should be able to explain their projects clearly, including their individual contribution, the methods followed, the challenges encountered and the learning gained from the experience. Students were also encouraged to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications.

Drawing from her work experience, Ms. Anushya highlighted that technical knowledge alone is not sufficient for professional success. Employees must also understand the business problem and identify how data and technology can contribute to an appropriate solution. She explained that candidates can strengthen their preparation by researching an organisation, understanding the nature of its work and undertaking personal projects connected to relevant business problems. Such projects can demonstrate initiative and the ability to apply academic knowledge in practical contexts.

The interaction also provided students with an understanding of the data analysis involved in her professional role. Ms. Anushya spoke about working with unstructured data, identifying meaningful features and using them for further analysis. She used bank statements as an example to explain how transactions can be classified and transformed into useful information for purposes such as estimating customer income and assessing risk. She noted that this work often involves research, developing hypotheses, testing different approaches and modifying the method based on the results obtained.

Another major theme of the session was continuous learning. Ms. Anushya shared her experience of learning R for a project despite already being familiar with Python and Java. She explained that the technologies used by organisations may change and that professionals must be willing to learn new programming languages, frameworks and data structures according to project requirements. The ability to learn independently and adapt to change was identified as an important quality expected in the industry.

She also emphasised the importance of reporting and communication. Analytical results must be presented in a manner that business teams and other non-technical stakeholders can understand. The role of automated reports and user-friendly dashboards in communicating information effectively was also discussed. Students were encouraged to develop confidence, explain their thought processes clearly and communicate technical concepts in simple language.

The Alumni Connect session provided students with a realistic understanding of workplace expectations and the transition from academic learning to professional practice. The experiences and guidance shared by Ms. Anushya helped students identify the technical, analytical and communication skills required for placement preparation and long-term career development.