When I learnt coding for the first time then I learnt it from helmfile in 2003-04 from helmfile. Okay! And that too I learnt Pascal. That time we had floppy. Sure! Sure! Sure! So, taking Pascal from floppy and that too not in one day it had the capacity of 1.44 MB - how much will it come! So, it took 3 - 4 days just to bring Pascal from college. So, I learnt it at this level. So, that time I got to know that - Yes! I'm ready for coding. Now I can do coding. I made some projects by watching youtube & I was preparing my Github profile and was applying for jobs. So, I felt that I wasn't getting valued. Means no shortlisting, nothing is happening. I had even given 1-2 interviews but even there I was clear cut told that age is a very huge factor. My bio data wasn't that clear that - its not understood about the age, founders just assume that they might be a fresher or college pass out. When the video starts, when they see this face - that there's white hairs, then maybe they feel odd. But when I'm eligible for referral, like after 3 months when I became eligible for referrals I think it was 12th April when I was eligible. My job got confirmed on 19th April. Perfect Sir! 1 week! Awesome sir! Within a week. Amazing! Means your preparation was so good that within a week, you got the job. Yeah! After getting eligible for the referral. When we talk about coding, patience is very important. Exactly! Have patience, the code is your patience test there. Right! Exactly! How patiently you're understanding that problem, how patient you are and after that when you give up, analyze, then things come on to hold then it'll not work for once or twice or even thrice there is one point where your code will work. Welcome to a new podcast. So, is age just a number? Welcome to a new podcast. So, is age just a number. Today we'll get to know that in this podcast. Sometimes in life, due to family responsibilities you aren't able to complete your dreams. But if you're hardworking, you're engrossed in it that you want to do, giving some time then there comes a time when god makes the connection from somewhere. So, today I've such a guest with me - he is 38 years old. And until recently he became a front-end developer. His 15 years of struggle - ups and downs of life family responsibilities. And his main courage, the main power - were his daughter and his wife his wife supported a lot & today he's a front-end developer his journey will inspire you a lot. Watch this entire podcast. Fine! And let's talk with Jeevraj and get to know his journey. And do like this podcast, share it. And subscribe to the channel if you're new to the channel then. Like aim is 5000. Accomplish it for more such interesting podcast. Let's talk with him. So, welcome Jeevraj to our youtube channel. I get lot of comments on youtube and LinkedIn that - I'm 26 years old, 27 years old or 30 years old can I - like after 30, be it 31 or 32 - can I enter into software engineering? So, I think you are the right example. and we'll upload it on youtube at the right time. So, your story is very inspiring. Means you're 38 years old. And now you've got the tag of software engineering. Now, you're working in front-end. So, I'm excited very much even our audience as well. So, I won't take much time. Over to you, you can start. First with your introduction. What your background is, where do you belong to. How much time later did you enter into IT? What is its reason? Please over to you. Hi, Ajay & thank you very much for like having me. I was thinking since long that I would share my story through Youtube and I got the opportunity today. So, like my journey looks something like - my name is Jeevraj Tralkar. Like born in 1985, so my age is 38 according to 2023. So, if I talk about the educational qualification then, I'm from Chemistry background. And I don't have any relation with IT, with respect to my profession or qualification. And in lockdown, I felt that - I should transit from Chemistry to IT. So, I just started the journey. And after passing in 2008 from Chemistry, I did two types of jobs. One is, I was in a chemical industry. I was doing a job in chemical company. And also I was teaching, I was in coaching classes. Like, private coaching classes - I was working as a chemistry teacher. So, when there was job then - I was a part time teacher & when I didn't have a job then so, I was full time teacher. So, I had been as a chemistry teacher for 15 years. Rest of my chemical career in working in industries, is a very small part of it. Okay! So, from being a chemistry teacher - the interest that I got in lockdown the dream that I saw to become a developer during lockdown My journey - the excitement of sharing it is being accomplished today. So, were you a teacher for 15 years - chemistry teacher. Were you teaching in a college or school or offline? And how much were you earning at that time? Yupp. I was a chemistry teacher for 15 years in coaching classes. Okay! And - I was never a regular college professor. I never tried. Sometimes I used to get a job, then along with the job I had to continue my coaching at that time. And that's why I used to do coaching classes. Because part time is possible in coaching classes. So, if I ever got a job then I'll take only 1 or 2 batch & if I don't have a job then I'll take coaching classes the entire day. I got flexibility in coaching classes. That's why I was there. So, sir - I've a question, if you don't mind. When did you get married? Like, in your 30s or before that? Yes, at the age of 35. Okay! It was late. Okay! Okay! It was late. Okay! So, as I want to understand one thing. Then how much income could you generate from there on monthly basis how much money did you earn - because it was part time It wasn't full time. Yeah! If I talk about coaching classes then, there wasn't much income. Part-time when it was there. In full time, I could earn atleast to run the house. I couldn't earn much during part time through coaching classes. okay! Whatever savings I had from the job that I did in chemical industry, those savings helped me in lockdown. So, did you ever feel that you faced demotivation or you're earning less money how did you keep yourself motivated that time? Actually, I got demotivated when I passed out in 2008. Okay! Because I was from chemistry background and the IT placement that came in my college - I wasn't eligible for it just because of my background. And then I did fight for it that - I should also get a chance to work in IT industry. Or I could even sit at the placement but unfortunately, nothing happened there. It didn't work out there. So, that was a very big demotivation factor for me - in year 2008 itself. When I understood that now - nothing can be done. Because you get placement opportunity from college. And when we try off-campus then, there they required computer engineer - that was there at that time. Okay! And that's why then, the profession of IT there - my passion for IT coding, I won't say IT but development - the passion for coding I used to keep it as a hobby but I didn't ever think that I'll be able to convert in into profession in future because I was highly demotivated that it can't happen. And secondly, the profession in which I was there my seniors there or alumni said it before that - there's nothing in this field - leave it. There's nothing in this field, leave it. And, literally it happened the same way. When I came into this field, even after 10 years I felt that there's not much increment here as compared to IT. So, I used to see that my peers who were in IT & logically I felt that I.... means there's no such difference, I can think as logical as they can I have the same problem solving skills as they have just because they're in IT industry, they're having very good growth. in their respective companies, be it a service-based. They also get a good growth there. And in the chemical industry, work so hard I mean - working in summer you'll sweat, you know - we had even work while sitting beside the boiler so, in such situation when we work hard sometimes the water is boiling at 100 degrees & standing in front of that, I'm working so hard the IT industry that does in their AC rooms but still their increment is greater than me. So that was highly demotivating. When I saw that, an IT individual can buy his four-wheeler in 5 years and individual working in this chemical industry can afford a WagonR in 5 years, so. that was highly demotivating. So, sir - as much as I can understand - for 15 years you worked as a freelance teacher in chemistry & you worked for companies for some time in chemical industry, part time. Some times No, it wasn't part time. It was full time. Full time That was the job. It was the job. Okay! And the part about teaching students went along. Yes! So, I've a question for you, sir. As you taught the students chemistry then - was there at that time you're watching some coding videos from youtube or learning a language along with it, just as a hobby. As a hobby that you watched. And in 2008 when you didn't get the placement, you couldn't get into IT and then did you move forward in chemistry or did you practice something along? That if something happened in future then we'll surely do. When I felt that, I cannot come into IT then half of my aspiration ended right there. But still, I thought that I can crack MBA because MBA was the way through which I I had heard that people enter into IT consulting, after MBA So, I thought that its fine if I didn't get placement here on the basis of qualification. I'll try MBA & then I can go for IT consulting. I gave MBA exam - CAT, MAT - whatever was there. And I was even shortlisted at two places. But due to some incidents - a huge accident took place at home due to which I couldn't go. So, I had to leave everything & I understood that nothing can happen now. I mean this was the last thing that I tried, now it can't happen. So, my father's loss at that time due to which - since the father was bread earner. So, I couldn't go to college. Now I had to work. I had the qualification of chemistry so, I came back to the chemical industry. Sometimes - I'm learning a lot from you. What happens in life is that we want to do lot of things but due to some responsibilities and then you need to change multiple things because of it and you need to crush your dream at that time. That its fine, whatever is going on the income coming from it is important. And - But as easy it is for me to say it, the time would be that hard for you means - I salute your dedication, your hard work - I would like to know as well so, like when and why do you think that you should move from teaching you know, how did you think about coming to IT from teaching - what was the turning point or what clicked you? Okay! By the way, IT was a hobby for me. But when I learnt coding for the 1st time - I learnt it from helmfile in 2003-04 from helmfile. Okay! So, and that too I learnt Pascal. That time we had floppy. *Sure sure sure!* So, bring Pascal from floppy. And that too not in 1 day - how much will it occupy in 1.4 MB capacity? So, it took me 3-4 days to bring Pascal from college. So, I learnt it until this level. That time, I got to know that - yes - I'm made for coding. Means I can do coding. Because I was able to learn from helmfile. I guess, youtube wasn't there at the time. It wasn't there. Videos weren't there. Even after 2008, when I learnt C, C++, Object Oriented Construct I learnt that from book, like by studying. I learnt up to hardware programming - mean - I had learnt until parallel programming. So, it was like - whatever it is - is a hobby. There is no guarantee if it'll convert into job or not. And when I got to know that I cannot go into MBA as well - then it was 100% confirmed that now nothing can happen, means nothing - it ended. But still, my hobby coding woke up. In hobby coding, I used to practice HTML, CSS, JavaScript as time pass. Then the students who came for tuition they also had the subject HTML, CSS - so I used to practice even more to teach them. I used to teach little more than syllabus. So that they also enjoy web development. So, these were the entire journey. As you asked now, that what was the turning point - then before the turning point - it was confirmed that I cannot do thing in IT. Whatever is to be done - should be done from chemistry but I also knew that there's a good amount of money in IT, if I jump in it. So for the turning point I would say, first - there were two events first event was that - I can do something in IT. I won't say IT, I can do better - I mean whatever I earn from my teaching, from my chemical industry I can earn more than that. This clicked when my started showing me aspirations. My daughter, like, started showing that we need big house, big car and she was just 3 years. So, it felt like - who asks a big house and a big car at the age of 3. Even I didn't think at that time - that big house and big car And it isn't that - the house is small. Its good but still, she had a thing for bungalow type. So, I said - if my daughter has aspirations - fine, my aspiration had been crushed at that time. But is my daughter has aspirations, then I would do something for my daughter. So, me and wife started thinking - we've talent, we can earn. But just because, we don't have aspirations that's why we weren't doing it. So, I had to do it for my daughter's aspirations. So, we both thought that - what is the thing where we can do a good life earning? So, my wife had already done Bachelors - B.Tech. She was qualified. So, I told that her to start learning Python. Its easy. So I started teaching her Python. So, to teach her - until then youtube had arrived in lockdown. There were good tutorials, so even I started watching Python tutorials. And I started teaching. So, my wife got irritated - she said, that coding isn't her thing. So, when I was watching youtube tutorials - in between, I found things which made me feel that, now I can try myself. Means, I was telling my wife that I can try myself. So, that thing on youtube was That firstly, product based companies look at your skills. They don't look at anything else. They don't need age, nor their education qualification, they just want if you've made projects You've hands-on experience so, you need these so that was a turning point for me when I thought that - if they only look at skills then I can develop skills. That is one thing. And secondly, I guess it was a youtuber's video that IT is such a field when people learn from home, they can use laptop and earn lot of money. They can even earn lakhs of rupees per month. So, these two things triggered me. That if that is the case then, I'll also do it. Why should I not try? So, then I told my wife that I'll try. Just the problem is, IT is such a field where dedication is required. So, whatever earning I was getting I had to cut it & focus on this. So, my wife took the responsibility - she said that its fine - she took responsibility for 2 years. She'll look after the house. Oh okay! And I have to just focus on coding & have to get a job within 2 years. So, my wife gave me 2 years time. So, in this journey - fine, I got it early. Perfect, sir! You're very lucky! You got a very understanding wife that she looked after the entire thing & gave you the freedom that do things according to you. Because then only those things can be better when you become free with your mind. Very nice! Then, now by the way what are you currently working on in the company? Is it completely around web development - are you in front-end? Yeah! My text stack is Next JS for now. Okay! And whatever projects are there in the company - EduFund for now I've given the responsibility of the web app project among it. So, why did you choose web development - like in web, why not any other field? Any reason? Yeah! I tried many things, like I tried data science, Python, Java, I even tried many things in backend and finally, I got to know that web development is such a domain where entry is a little easy compared to others. Like, in Java I'll have to DSA until Dynamic programming which will take time. And even in Python - if I'm doing DJango then even in that I have to DSA. If its back-end, then its DSA for sure. Right! So, front-end was such a thing in web development that if I do only front-end, even then I'll get the entry. Then, while doing front-end I'll learn Back-end and DSA. But first, I should receive income from IT. That was the case. So - I mean its my analysis that front-end is an easy thing to get entry where - we say that qualification doesn't matter and all this is very suitable here - for front-end for frontend jobs. Tell me one thing, when you got the flexibility or freedom that - you can do things according to you when your wife took the responsibilities at that time was she working, like.... She's still working. Okay! Okay! In which - in IT or somewhere? She's in chemical industry. Okay! We were together in the same industry. Okay! Okay! So, now I would like to know - since you were studying from youtube, you got your wife's support as well you were even getting inspiration from the child. Right!!? So, how did you prepare yourself? Which resources did you follow? How did you get the job opportunity? Please tell us about it. Okay! Like, in 2022 when I decided to come into IT at the end. Means, I had decided in Diwali 2022 so, during that time when I made some projects while watching youtube and I was building my github profile and applying for jobs. I felt that, I'm not getting any value no shortlisting, nothing. I had given 1-2 interviews but there I was clear cut told that age is a very big factor. Means in Indian ecosystem, atleast age is a huge thing. Even some founders clearly told that - age is a very big number in fact, there was a program by Amazon - AWS I had applied for it & for their criteria - my profile was fit it was a course of cloud computing. We had to a 3 month course & then sit for placement. But the problem was that - the NGOS, or computer institutes Amazon has given the authority - I used to approach those NGOs or computer institutes then I've got lot of scolding due to age. So, two people called me just to scold me. So, before that I didn't think about age but when I was insulted to apply for that particular program. So, I felt that maybe in India age is a huge issue. In western countries, maybe it doesn't matter so much. But for IT system in India, as a fresher if you want to approach someone so, age isn't just a number - its a very big hurdle. So, I understood that - if I'm trying by myself then things are difficult. Now, it was confirmed that I'll need some platform - like any bootcamp from where I can get the chance to sit for placements of bootcamps. So, I was looking through many bootcamps of India & international so, finally I got a program by Crio and it was Crio's fellowship program, specially - dedicated to Mern stack. And I was looking in Mern Stack at that time like in 2022 end. And Crio had that program and the rest of the programs or bootcamps that I saw, in comparison to that the reason to select Crio was - firstly, age or qualification or self pace - which was the most important for me, like for example if I go for any program then their requirement was that I won't get self-pace, I would have to attend live lectures & I had to do assignments accordingly, so it had to take atleast 8 months. it would take minimum 8 months to get referrals. Crio didn't put that condition - they told that if you want to do it in your pace - in self pace then you can go ahead, we'll give you the recording. Do all the assignments at your pace & you can be eligible for referrals as soon as possible. And I had even heard that - some people get their placement I mean if the program starts today, they were placed within a month. So, I had heard this as well. So, for me that was it - so if you want placement as quickly as possible after paying the fees then this was the best thing. Sir, what was the duration of this course though? And this was like - a web development course. Yeah! It was a mern stack course - it was Crio's fellowship program Okay! Mern stack + DSA Okay! And there were 12-15 sprints & one sprint is finished in one month. Okay! So, in that as well - they had told me before that - among these 12-15 sprints 8 sprints are such that - if you accomplish that then you'll be eligible for referrals. Okay! You'll stat getting referrals. So, then I started focusing that first I'll complete these 8 sprints and take up a job rest, I'll look into them later. So, I completed 8 sprints within 3 months in my self-pace. Okay! So, I felt discipline - without discipline it wasn't possible to finish within 3 months. So, after that when I was eligible for referral - after 3 months I think it was 12th April, when I was eligible on 19th April, my job was confirmed. Perfect, sir! 1 week Very Amazing sir! Within! Very good! Means you preparation was so good that within a week you got the job. Yeah! After being eligible for referral. And are you currently working there itself or Yes! I'm working in EduFund only. Okay! Now, even in that - like, now when I apply outside even today, when we look that people apply from LinkedIn. There are 1000 applications there's one job and thousands of applications are there. The advantage that I got from Crio is that - there's one job and there aren't more than 10 applicants. There the probability to be shortlisted increased a little, so the age factor here, I didn't get to see that here. The founders were in live video conferencing with us. They were able to see me. According to me, it isn't clear in the biodata about age. Founders actually assume that there's a fresher so, must be a college pass out. When the video starts and this face is revealed that there's gray hair, so they might feel a little odd. I.. Yeah sure! Please, please.... do complete it. Yeah, even though the age is 38 but when I switch on the camera then it shows 50-53. So, it looks - by looking.... maybe the struggle that you did, fine, as you're talking with me & I'm able to connect who has to take the interview doesn't know much about you, what your struggle has been but still, even after looking at those things - keeping yourself strong & keeping your mind clear and moving forward not everyone can do it, sir. Not everyone can handle these things with so ease. How did you feel, when you got the offer within a week, like what was that feeling? I think, your wife would be very happy. Yeah, she was the happiest of all. I was a little stunned, I couldn't believe that it has truly happened, it was possible. So, I started my work - even after that I couldn't believe that I'm doing the job that I was dreaming of. So, the day I got my first salary - that I felt that it is true. Because everything can be acted out but not the money. So, when I was able to buy something from the stipend that I received from EduFund that was, I think, that day I expressed myself - yes, now its the happiness. I was happy. I'm happy. This is not something that was by yourself. I think your wife, your daughter, you yourself it was everyone's hardwork, sir. Exactly! Even the things aren't so easy but everyone had the equal contribution. 13th April was my birthday & that day I got my first interview from Crio. It was such a messy interview - means power cut occurred I mean it was the first interview & had a power cut Oh ho! Okay! That day went tragic because after preparing so much, when I got the interview & I got the problems it was so frustrating means that day went by in frustration. But, when I expressed my frustration before my wife she consoled me, she even told me that day - its fine, if its not happening even after paying so much money or so much hard work - you feel that you want to go back to chemical industry just leave it. Means she told me such a huge thing that - if you want to leave, then leave it. So, the support that my wife gave me - on 13th April it was a huge thing for me that if she can support me to that level so, can't I bear little more frustration. Fine! It was the 1st interview, maybe I'll get more interviews I'll do my best and get a job. So, all the interviews that I gave from 14th April - I forgot what happened on 13th April. So, again - understand that between 14th April & 19th April - there were more 5 days the reason to crack the job within 5 days was that I had forgotten the incident of 13th April. If I would've kept that thing in my mind, then maybe it would been difficult Okay! Very inspiring, sir! You saw many things in your time phases that was going on in that time. And I salute your mindset. The way your wife supported you. And fine, initial time wasn't in favor but later when things - when time came you got things & I think you're currently working on Next JS on React. Yeah! In React or Next JS? Next JS Okay! Okay! How are you feeling while working? Satisfied!? Very much satisfied! It was like - when we work for a job at office then problems do arise at work, frustration arrives but one thing, that doesn't lets me being frustrate in my job - is that earlier, when I used to get frustrated - when there were problem sin job, I used to get frustrated. But now, I don't get frustrated - whenever problems arise in job then it feels like what am I getting the money for - for coding, right! And this was what I wanted to do - what I liked. So, when I think about that then I forget every frustration. There's problem, struggle - but I don't care. I'll face everything I just need money for coding that is the motivation. When we talk about coding, patience is very important. Exactly! Keep patience, the code is your patience test there. Exactly! How patiently you're understanding that problem - how stable can you be and after that when yo de bug & analyze, then you grasp things then it won't work for once, twice, thrice there's a pint where your code will work. Sir! As you go what will be your final advice? The youngsters that are watching you, are in college or someone is aged 30, 31 whatever you learnt from life, sir those 3-4 things, what message would you like to give? OKAY! Firstly, I would like to advice them who're aged 30 & 30+ & as a fresher wants to join. I would say that keep your expectations aside & your ego - these are two things - expectations & ego the seniors that I talked to, from other developers - they say that - ego of 30+ people isn't culture fit. So, the place where I'm currently working at - the developers team that we've I'm the aged among them but I'm the juniorest developer in my team means there is no junior below me so, when I talk to any of my seniors, like if anyone is even 4 months more experienced then me so, I talk to them considering as a senior developer and even if they pick me on small things, then I'll accept that - means I'll not bring my ego in between so, that is one thing & other is expectation - expectation of salary. So, if we talk about chemical industry or any industry then - salary is going to decrease a little but have faith that the industry you're currently working in - you won't get exponential growth. There the growth is steady in IT industry, specially product based industry you've exponential growth, so the growth you earned in 15 years there you can that growth within 3-5 years. That I can assure, so I would like to tell these 2 things, definitely to 30 & 30+ people. It was talking to you, sir! Your journey was very inspiring, I was very inspired by you and I believe audience might've learned a lot from your journey. And maybe someone can relate the same. So, thank you so much. For coming to our channel - & give your time. And guys, if you liked this podcast then do like it the most, share. Subscribe to it. I don't know, just do it. And like aim here is - 5000 - accomplish it for more such interesting podcasts. I'll meet you in the next one. Till then, take care! Thank you so much! Thank you!
