I didn’t get any time to update or post anything on my blog since I started full time. To be honest, the schedule has been jam packed. Learning new things, meetings new people – it’s been tiresome and exciting at the same time.

Posting this questionnaire that I recently filled up for my team. This is me being candid. Not trying to be a narcissist, just trying to post some new content, hahaha 😛

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What’s your career journey? (how did you start your career, navigation between companies till you landed in Facebook)

I feel extremely grateful that Facebook is my first Full-time job right out of school. I completed my Bachelors from India, flew directly to US of A for my Masters’ at USC. I interned at a couple of consulting firms, and Media companies before joining FB. 

When was the first time you decided you wanted to be a Data Engineer?

I have been interested in Data Science and Engineering for quite some time now. It was during one of my prior internships that I realized I was inclined more towards the Engineering side. 

I was introduced to this path by one of the professors of Data Mining at USC. It was one of the most challenging courses I had taken during my time there. Most of the assignments were practical and had a lot of constraints in terms of memory and time. So, the ultimate goal was not just to get the pipeline up and running – but also to make sure that it checks all the boxes. 

It was almost like solving a puzzle. We have to go from point A to B, finding the most feasible and efficient way to do it. I enjoyed it! I did similar things during my internships, and that’s when I knew I could do this. 

Could you zoom in on your experiences at Facebook?

I started about 2 months back. The experience so far has been overwhelming. Until the end of May, I was optimistic about the reopening but soon the hope faded. At the moment I have accepted the reality. 

To be honest, I have been much more productive. I still wish I could onboard in person, meet everyone and enjoy free meals, but this setting has its own perks. I get a longer duration to sit and grasp the concepts. Given the first 5-6 months are so critical, I feel like I will get more things done in this remote setting.

Everyone I have talked to has been supportive. I can feel myself intellectually growing in the company of such amazing people. 

What is that one advice that you would give to your younger self – either career advice or personal? (try to share the rationale why you are advising this)

“Keep Practicing, Have patience and monitor yourself constantly.” 

For eg, I always thought I wasn’t good at cooking. Honestly, I never even put enough effort into learning it, but I always wished to cook for my family and friends. This Quarantine period finally gave me enough time to invest in it. The assumption that I wasn’t “good at it” kept me from trying it in the first place. Getting past that phase is most important. 

Tell us a fun fact about you that others might now know

I am an introvert. People don’t realize it because I am an extremely curious person. I end up asking a lot of questions, which lead to longer conversations. But, it’s when I am out of questions, that shyness creeps in. 

What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?

“Be versatile enough to adapt yourself to different situations.” This came from my Dad. 

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Crazy, Modest and Amazebomb. 

What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?

You’ll find me somewhere on the beach watching the big waves Or sitting in my living room watching movies. 

If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?

Trading. It’s difficult to understand the market without having first-hand experience. Just theory sadly won’t work. 

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

I am not sure if this can be counted as a “hidden talent”, but I like writing articles and have my own Blog. Have maintained the blog for the past 4 years now. 

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

Teleporting!!! (I would travel between US and India without going through the hassle of Immigration process, Hahaha)

What’s one hobby you’d love to get into?

Creating Illustrations. (I have literally downloaded Adobe Illustrator but too lazy to kick start)

What’s one totally irrational fear that you have?

Standing in front of a big crowd, Forgetting my speech and going full blank. 

What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?

Want to go on a trip to Europe. Paris is on the top of my list. 

Thanks for reading 🙂