IAM Talk Episode with Romit Gandhi

Introduction

• Host: Pranav Gaikwad
• Guest: Romit Gandhi, alumni of University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)
• Topic: Romit's experience during his master's in Supply Chain Management

Background of Romit Gandhi

• Undergraduate Degree: Mechanical Engineering from Dharamsi Desai University, India
• Interests: Traveling and exploring food from different states in India
• Career Path:
  • Two internships: Walgreens and a small company in Dallas
  • Contract role at Samsung as a Reverse Logistic Analyst
  • Current role: Business Analyst in Production Planning team at Amazon

Choosing the Field of Supply Chain Management

• Transition from Mechanical Engineering to Supply Chain Management due to:
  • Poor job prospects in India for mechanical engineers
  • Interest in management and efficiency
• Pursued an MIT MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management:
  • Challenging and valuable course, comparable to a master's degree
• Advice for Students:
  • Gain relevant experience before graduate school to clarify interests
  • Engage with online resources and podcasts on supply chain

Educational Experience at UTD

• Admissions and GRE:
  • GRE Score: 320 (competitive for UTD)
  • Fast application response from UTD
• Coursework:
  • Total of 36 credits for Supply Chain Management
  • Tracks include Retail, Analytics, Operations (flexible)
  • Importance of foundational courses: Statistics, Operations Management, Advanced Excel
• Curriculum Accessibility:
  • Program accessible for students from non-technical backgrounds
  • Skills in SQL, Tableau, and data visualization stressed as beneficial

Tips for Incoming Students

• Recommended courses for first-year students:
  • Statistics, Operations Management, Advanced Excel, SQL, Tableau
• Certifications to consider:
  • Courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy, Lean Six Sigma

Balancing Work and Studies

• Importance of time management
• Suggested workload: 3-5 hours per week on online courses alongside master's coursework
• Average total cost of master's degree: $45,000 - $50,000
• On-campus job opportunities can alleviate financial stress

Finding Internships and Jobs

• Importance of networking with alumni and peers for job referrals
• Suggested application strategies:
  • Start applying for internships after completing two semesters
  • Target companies with established internship programs (e.g., Amazon, Walmart)
  • Use job search platforms (LinkedIn, Glassdoor) and apply to at least 10 companies per day

Salary Expectations and Job Roles

• Entry-Level Salaries:
  • Analyst positions: $70,000 - $90,000 in medium cities; $100,000 - $120,000 in high-cost areas (e.g., California)
• Career Progression:
  • Starting roles: Supply Chain Analyst, Logistic Analyst, Production Planning Analyst
  • With experience: Transition to managerial roles (Supply Chain Manager, Program Manager)

Conclusion

• Importance of resilience and networking during the job search
• Maintain a positive attitude and keep learning
• Reach out for guidance and support within the network

Final Thoughts

• Romit encourages students to consider a career in Supply Chain Management and not to hesitate in seeking help and guidance.