What I Did Not Learn at IIT-B: Transitioning from Campus to Workplace

by Rajeev Agarwal

Every year graduating engineers are told that they are destined for success. But what are the habits and behaviours that actually lead to success? In What I did not learn at IIT, Rajeev Agarwal, the Founder and CEO of MAQ Software, has distilled decades of life experience into one accessible and informative guide. In simple language, he explains the success techniques he applied and what worked for him. Encouraging graduates to look at their careers over a 40-year span, Rajeev explains that successful people choose to be passionate about every job they have. Using a skillful combination of personal stories and checklists, What I did not learn at IIT provides students—young and old—with a roadmap for success.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2013

About the author

Rajeev Agarwal is the founder and the chief executive officer of MAQ Software. Prior to founding MAQ Software in 2000, he worked at
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, for nearly seven years in various product management groups.
MAQ Software has been listed as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US nine times—a rare achievement.
Rajeev holds a BTech degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kharagpur, a master’s in engineering from Iowa State University and
an MBA from the University of Michigan Business School, Ann Arbor.
He runs a non-profit organization, Foundation for Excellence, which provides science and mathematics education facilities to girls
in rural India.
Rajeev lives in Bellevue, Washington, with his wife, Arpita, and their two children.
Share your success stories at www.MBAbook.in.

Reviews

[Sarah Elder · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author loves passive voice as much as Kanye West loves himself.

[SeattleDoge · Rating 1 out of 5]

More like what I didn't learn from this book. boom, self five.

[Samarpita Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://sankshvet.blogspot.in/2013/12/...

[Lokenath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What after Engineering/graduation? How to continue your success in student life in a professional environment? You'll find pointers and answers to such lingering questions.
Particularly relevant for youngsters in the first 2-3 years of their careers. Even veterans would find a number of takeaways for sure.
A light and insightful read.

[Souvik Khamrui · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book advises on mainly behavioral practices & etiquette to be adhered to do better in professional life. Good book - enjoyed.

[Chinmay Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not being from any IIT, still gave it a chance and to my surprise the book is a very easy read. I'd say that I did not find the book to be that much deeply informative but still pointers were making sense and were actually knowledgeable. I found out some major pointers and jotted them down which I don't think I would have known until or unless I would have worked in some MNC.
The book gives an understanding of all the habits that one needs to have when one just graduates out of college, all the mistakes that a new graduate employee does normally and how to avoid such blunders and mistakes. There was this pointer that I really really was impressed by which is "Commitment of Time". Now according to this particular phrase, A company can be known all about by just observing at it's habit of finishing the work in the given timeline. Now this particular point is great in it's own sense because of the reason that some new companies as well as employees are quite negligent of this pointer (have experienced this myself many times).
I also got to know about Checklists, Email Habits and other important stuff.
Within my own startup I personally have used some of the pointers that were mentioned in the book.
The reason for me giving this a 3 star is mainly because of the fact that this book is more suitable for budding engineers and graduates who want to move into software roles or software industries. Also I would have liked if some pointers would been more detailed. Nonetheless, it was a good read and a recommended book from me to all the engineering graduates.

[Community Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rajeev Agarwal is the founder and CEO of MAQ software. In this book he shares his experience on how to grow or either leap in the corporate world. The language is very simple and filled with examples from his time at Microsoft. He explains how the world outside is too huge to just judge you by your marks, skills are what are sought for in the real world.
The ONE THING I picked up from this book is the "Locus Of Control" from the chapter titled, "Manage Personal Effectiveness". It states that, individuals with an internal locus of control believe that events in their life derive from their own actions. If a person with an internal locus of control does not perform well on an exam, they blame it on their own lack of preparation. If they did well on the exam, they would attribute this to their ability to study.
When a person with an external locus of control does poorly on an exam, they feel that the exam was difficult. If they performed well on the exam, they think they were lucky or the teacher was lenient.

[Sharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the book is 194 pages long, the actual content closes in at page 131, after which the Appendix starts.
The content is presented in a clear and concise way, through the author's experiences.
Its not an "advice to follow" sort of book, but a collection of the author's experiences in the industry and how those experiences helped him to be where he is today.

All in all, a good read.

[Ronal Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read many books regarding the topic so I can't say much. But the book is crisp ,to the point and best of all you does not regret after finishing it. A simple and informative book for starting a carrier after your college or education as the author said. As per my taste a quality book and must read for a beginner reader.

[Ayush Lakhotia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book gives a good overview of transition from college to job life but will not recommend this to anyone as all the points which are covered can be experienced in the first few months of starting work life.

[Adil Imran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read for Fresh graduates and the struggling professionals. The writer has preciously highlighted the common mistakes young graduates make and the ways to avoid them. I found it useful for my own self.

[drunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely utile and advantageous book sprinkled with plethora of advises across the pages. I am glad that I came across this pragmatic book. Must read for all Indian graduates.

[Mehul Sutariya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book all 3rd and 4th-year student have to read.

[Bookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the engineers who are out for work have to read this book.

[Antonio · Rating 1 out of 5]

There should be a website called "badreads" for books like these.

[Siddharth Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

must read book

[Viral Thakkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was refered me by my Boss.

Book has given introduction of profession life after engineering.Author talked about how professional life is different then your college life and that you could not learn in college. Author has given example of how one IIT and non-IITian at same company and at same position and how non-IITian help organization to grow further. In this way Author have given example for young people, how as employee you can help your organization to make better and make your own value as employee in company.

In this book author give advice on personal development with industry moves, also talk about health, personal savings and other different topics of their personal experience.

I highly recommend who are recently passout and have just joined in any company.

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rajeev Agarwal shares his experience and personal advice on how to make it to the top. Though it may be more relevant to IT or related professionals, a major part of the book makes it applicable to recent graduates in all streams of work. Very interesting and straightforward, Rajeev Agarwal's book acts as a ready reckoner in general behavior at work, physical exercise, Income Tax calculations (as of 2014), recommended management books and several other important information. An excellently researched book, which may be surpassed only by its next updated edition, hopefully if the author obliges.

I received this informational book in the Goodreads firstreads program.

[Jay Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this period I was preparing for my CAT. So I went for some light book.Rajeev Agarwal shares his experience and personal advice on how to make it to the top. Though it may be more relevant to IT or related professionals, a major part of the book makes it applicable to recent graduates in all streams of work. Very interesting and straightforward, Rajeev Agarwal's book acts as a ready reckoner in general behavior at work, physical exercise, Income Tax calculations (as of 2014), recommended management books and several other important information. An excellently researched book!

[Utkarsh Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of it was stuff I knew already. Worth a quick skim through though.

[Surajram Kumaravel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like a very Gen book, and the book gives a very limited view of things. I hope that if at all IIT junta read this, they use their discretion in following the steps he shows.

I did find the list of book recommendations at the end useful though.

[Archit Vora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find it interesting to listen to senior's experience and learning. This book provide it very well.

If you have something great to share write a book about it. If not then first do it and then write a book. :)

[Bhupesh Doda]

Good read :)

[Gopikrishna Reddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for freshers. Need to read when you are about to join a company. :)

[Rk Srinivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read useful book and a must read for freshers.

[Shahid Nasrullah]

yes i have good thinkning about it.

[Bharath kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book on useful practices by MAQ CEO. It is useful, short and crypt. It is a light one time read.

[Sukhveer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives great insights in to the problems new employees face in corporate world. The various checklist are helpful for quick review.

[Sumit Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really an amazing book for engineering graduates.

At first seems like someone has exactly written my story! But It was every engineer's story.

[Vestronge Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are wandering to choose a book, Want to focus on something, feeling aimless, struggling with your thoughts, This book is for you, a light read. You will learn something definitely.