Interview Preparation vs. Excellence: A Reality Check

Introduction: The Truth We Don’t Often Hear

There’s an uncomfortable truth in the IT industry that nobody likes to say out loud:

“The day you start preparing for interviews is the day you silently admit you’re not ready for the industry.”

That may sound harsh—but it’s a wake-up call. A call not just for freshers and students, but even for mid-level professionals and managers. In today’s fast-evolving landscape, it’s not about preparing for a question list—it’s about being in a state of readiness at all times.

From Question Banks to Practical Relevance

Earlier, we were all used to the traditional route: - Aptitude tests - Logical reasoning questions - A few tech MCQs or basic coding problems - And if lucky, an HR round

Yes, these are still there. But today, they’re not enough.

Companies now look beyond your test results—they look at your visibility, your online projects, your engagement in tech forums, and your ability to learn fast and adapt faster.

Real-World Experience Over Preparation

Take it from me—I’ve never “prepared” for interviews in the textbook sense.

What I’ve done is: - Kept building projects even if no one asked for them - Learned technologies based on intuition, not trends - Shared my thoughts consistently in communities. - Failed in some organizations—but learned like never before, which made me ready—not just for interviews, but for responsibilities.

A Warning for the Mid-Level Trap

In a process of upgrading yourself, many rely on interview questions, considering the trend. Example: 10 years in testing or web development and as the trend grows (ex: AI/Data science), you learn outside and try to re-resume, which can help you to get selected and chances to succeed too but failure and job stress in adapting situation is challengings

Instead, plan well for your change. Be multiskilled - love the future, and then you can learn things easily. Also, try to master the available sources in your organization itself, which is easy.

Students: Your Visibility is Your Resume

For students, especially freshers, here’s the new playbook:

Your GitHub is your portfolio; your blog is your thinking style - Your Kaggle or HackerRank activity is your hands-on ability. - Your LinkedIn activity is your reputation. Don’t wait to get hired. Be discoverable.

Managers: Stop Hiring Just for the Role

To my fellow managers and hiring leads—here’s a suggestion:

Stop hiring people only because they match your checklist. Hire them because: - They are consistent learners. - They have solved real-world problems, even if small. - They are visible in communities or forums. - They interpret technology—not just memorize it

Sometimes, the most promising people are not the loudest but the most consistent.

Rejection ≠ Failure. Selection ≠ Success.

Just because a company rejects you doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It might just mean: - You don’t match their current need. - They didn’t see your potential beyond the resume. - Or you’re simply ahead of their current game

Don’t over-celebrate a selection. And don’t over-criticize a rejection. Both are moments, not definitions.

AI360 Belief: Be Excellent, Interviews Will Follow

At AI360, we have a clear vision: we are not preparing people to clear interviews.

We are preparing them to: - Build real, deployable AI/ML models - Understand cloud infrastructure and optimize it - Solve business problems end-to-end - Use SQL, Python, Power BI, Azure, and GCP in real-world scenarios. - Present confidently to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Once you reach that level of excellence, interviews are no longer a hurdle—they're just checkpoints.

Career Gaps: A Phase, Not a Failure

You might be wondering, "Sir, what if I have a job gap?"

Let me be honest—a job gap isn’t the problem. Losing touch with technology is.

Job gaps happen for many reasons: - Layoffs - Health concerns - Family responsibilities - Market slowdowns (e.g., during holidays or unbudgeted quarters)

But what you do during that gap determines whether it's a detour or a dead-end.

There was a 6-month gap in my career. And I got a chance to serve a Government of India initiative during the COVID-19 crisis, helping automate data processes and support COVID tracking systems—not for commercial gain, but because I couldn’t afford to be technologically idle.

I didn’t earn money, but I earned relevance.

How to Handle a Career Gap the Right Way

Don’t wait for job calls. Use the time to build, write, and share your learnings. - Volunteer. Find a cause or institution where you can apply your skills. - Network intentionally. Stay in touch with people in your domain. - Reskill and upskill. Learn the tech trends relevant to your field.

A gap doesn’t mean you’re outdated. It means you had a chance to rewire your skills and return stronger. To make this happen, use best equipment and use good resources

Leadership Begins with Ownership

After 12–15 years in IT, you're no longer a lead—you’re expected to be a manager, a decision-maker, and a coach.

At that point: - You’re not judged on coding speed. - You’re judged on strategic thinking - You’re valued for your ability to grow others, not just yourself

Every experience—even gaps—shapes your leadership journey. Just make sure you’re always adding value, whether on payroll or in the community.

Why Excellence Matters More in the AI Era

LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Workforce Report shows a 36% YoY increase in hiring for AI and data-related roles. - McKinsey found that 82% of companies with successful AI adoption had leaders who emphasized hands-on problem-solving over certifications. - GitHub’s Octoverse 2024 revealed contributors with active public projects were 3.7x more likely to get hired. - The World Economic Forum predicts 97 million new AI-integrated roles by 2027—requiring thinkers, not just coders.

Final Thoughts: The Excellence Mindset

1. We’re entering a world where AI, data, and automation are rewriting how companies hire and grow.

2. If you’re still preparing for interviews like it’s 2010, you're not just behind—you’re irrelevant.

3. But if you focus on excellence, on solving real problems, sharing your journey, and staying updated—you won’t need to chase jobs.

4. Finally, in a process of transformation it is important to upgrade, in which you have to learn and master and then attempt interview with real-time case studies but not learn and master 100-200 interview question

5. You can only say what you have done, what you can do, how fast you can adopt

Jobs will chase you.

Your Madhu Vadlamani