Dewang Rajkakati, a software development engineer from Dhemaji, Assam, has carved a successful career in the US tech industry, working with giants like Amazon and Salesforce. His journey serves as an inspiration for Northeast Indian students aspiring for similar opportunities.
Dewang’s expertise lies in developing custom applications for the Salesforce platform, a cloud-based CRM system. Before that, he honed his skills at Amazon Alexa, working on ‘How to Say’ and language learning features. He describes his Amazon stint as fast-paced and demanding, with 24/7 on-call responsibilities.
Dewang who recently visited his hometown in Assam said the Northeast students can target IT sector in the US. In an interview with The News Mill, he said software development, data science, cyber security and artificial intelligence jobs are in high demand globally.
Excerpts:
Q: Your LinkedIn profile says you are a ‘5X Salesforce Certified Lightning Developer’. What exactly is that? Can you simplify it for our readers?
A: I am a Salesforce Certified Developer and have the certifications Platform Developer 1 and II, Salesforce Sales Cloud, Salesforce Administration and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform that offers a variety of tools and services to help businesses manage their sales, customer service, marketing, and other operations. It is based in San Francisco, California.
As a Salesforce Certified Developer, I have expertise and skills in developing custom applications for the Salesforce platform. I work with Apex (Salesforce’s programming language), Visualforce (a markup language for creating user interfaces in Salesforce), Lightning components (a framework for creating dynamic web apps for mobile and desktop devices), and system integration.
Most recently I have worked as a Salesforce Developer for North American Bancard a company based in Troy, Michigan.
Q: And before that, you worked as a Software Development Engineer with Amazon Alexa. Can you define your work there and also share your experience?
A: I worked in Amazon in the Alexa division, working as an engineer for the Alexa Translations team. We developed two-way translations, ‘How to Say’ and Language Learning features on Alexa. We worked on the Java Platform. In short terms in the features, if a person speaks to Alexa in English, Alexa can give a response in Spanish and other languages. Work in Amazon is very focused and quite intensive I feel though I did love the meetups we did at Amazon Spheres.
In Amazon we also had to go ‘on call’, employees take turns being on call, which is usually done in shifts or rotations. I would be responsible for responding to any issues or incidents that may arise with the systems or services like two-way translations during my on-call period.
On-call is supposed to be 24×7 and we can get ‘paged’ at any time.
Q: Since when you have been in the US and what are the challenges you faced? Give an idea of your journey.
A: I have been in the US since 2020. I left at the height of the Covid pandemic. I studied at the State University of New York at Buffalo. One challenge I faced initially was that the first semester was online so had to do online classes.
As an Indian student we had to make our food as the standard American diet didn’t suit us, we tended to make food with our roommates which was mostly Indian food.
Also, I worked in the university coffee shop so we used to get meals at our university dining hall as well.
Q: What are the potential employment opportunities that Northeast youths can explore in the US? Are there any sectors or industries that are currently thriving?
A: People from the Northeast region can look at IT. The technology sector in the United States is expanding and qualified IT people are in high demand. Software development, data science, cyber security and artificial intelligence jobs are in high demand.
Also, the US is a worldwide financial centre, with job possibilities in banking, finance, investing, and financial technology (FinTech). Apart from that research in the US is also strong and they give good emphasis on education. One should look at STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Management and Medicine) fields as these students will get three years of work visas after graduation as opposed to one year on a non-STEMM degree.
Q: How can NE students and youth best prepare themselves to take advantage of the opportunities available in the US?
A: The NE students can best prepare themselves by striving for a solid intellectual foundation. Academic achievements, especially in relevant subjects, might boost the competitiveness. Consider pursuing degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, which are frequently in great demand in the labour market in the United States. A strong command of the English language is essential. To demonstrate proficiency it is mandatory to take standardized examinations such as the TOEFL or IELTS.
We have to take standardized tests, such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) for graduate schools or the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) for business programmes, depending on your field of study.
Also the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is for students who want to go after higher secondary directly. Investigate and select institutions that are a good fit for your academic and career aspirations. Take into account curriculum offers, teacher competence, and available resources.
Plan your finances carefully, taking into account tuition, living expenses, and other expenditures involved with studying and living in the United States.
Q: Are there any specific scholarships, grants, or financial aid options that students can pursue to support their educational journey in the US?
A: People do get scholarships in the US in the sense that part of the tuition fee is reduced it depends on the calibre of the individual apart from that The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme offers graduate-level scholarships in the United States.
It is a very competitive programme, but if accepted, tuition, textbooks, travel, a living stipend, and health insurance are all covered.
Q: Are there any specific challenges or barriers that Northeast youth might face when considering opportunities in the US? How can they overcome these challenges?
A: Northeast students might find it difficult to adjust to a new cultural context. Differences in lifestyle, communication techniques, and societal standards may be encountered. To counter this, it is beneficial to connect with local communities, participate in cultural exchange programs, and seek assistance from on-campus foreign student services.
Many Assamese students may not speak English as their first language, therefore language competency may be an issue. Focusing on increasing language abilities through language classes, practising with native speakers, and immersion in English-speaking situations may help to overcome this.
Studying in the United States can be costly, and financial limits may provide difficulties. To counteract this one should look into scholarship opportunities, and on-campus part-time jobs, and carefully plan and budget for costs.
