From college corridors to BNY a glimpse into my journey | Sarah Khambatta| Entrance & Beyond | Ep 35
Welcome to another exciting episode of ENTRANCE & BEYOND! 🎙️
In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Khambatta — upcoming Analyst at BNY Mellon, Google Developer Groups SKNCOE Mentor, and former Web Lead. Sarah shares her incredible journey from college to landing a role at one of the world's leading financial institutions, and everything she learned along the way.
🎯 ABOUT OUR GUEST
Sarah Khambatta has built an impressive tech career right from Pune, combining technical excellence with strong community leadership. From leading web development initiatives to mentoring through GDG, she's someone who truly understands what it takes to succeed in today's competitive tech landscape.
📌 WHAT WE COVER
In this conversation, Sarah breaks down her entire journey with practical insights you can apply immediately:
✅ College Strategy
✅ DSA & Fundamentals
✅ Learning Platforms
✅ Pattern Recognition
✅ Networking & Communities
✅ Soft Skills Development
✅ BNY Mellon Hiring Process
✅ Resume Tips
✅ Core Subjects
✅ Interview Experience
✅ Corporate Learnings
✅ And Much More!
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — 🎬 Opening Scene
0:32 — 👋 Meet Sarah Khambatta: From College to BNY Mellon
5:50 — 🎓 Navigating College Life: Building Your Foundation
11:42 — 💻 Mastering DSA & Core Fundamentals
14:39 — 🚀 Best Coding Platforms & Resources
17:30 — 🧩 Developing Pattern Recognition Skills
20:55 — 🤝 The Power of Networking: Seniors, Peers & Communities
23:00 — 🌐 GDG Journey & Community Impact
24:00 — 💬 Leveling Up Your Soft Skills
25:40 — 🏢 Inside BNY Mellon's Hiring Process
26:39 — 📄 Crafting a Standout Resume
27:06 — ⚡ Cracking the Online Assessment (OA)
28:30 — 🎯 Technical Interview: Final Round Breakdown
30:27 — 🚩 Resume Red Flags to Avoid
32:11 — 📚 Core Subjects That Actually Matter
33:45 — 💡 Interview Insights: Experience & Key Learnings
38:50 — 🏦 Corporate Life at BNY: Working with Senior Engineers
48:40 — ⚡ Rapid Fire with Sarah
55:00 — ✨ Final Thoughts & Advice
🎓 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Whether you're a first-year student just starting out or a final-year preparing for placements, Sarah's story offers actionable advice on building your profile, preparing strategically, and standing out in the hiring process. From technical preparation to community involvement, she covers all the angles that helped her succeed.
💡 WHO SHOULD WATCH THIS?
Computer Science & Engineering students preparing for placements
Anyone targeting product-based companies or financial tech firms
Students looking to build their technical skills and community presence
Early-career professionals wanting to understand corporate culture
Anyone interested in AI/ML and emerging tech career paths
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Follow ENTRANCE & BEYOND:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entr...
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🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6n4p...
Connect with Sarah Khambatta:
💼 LinkedIn: / sarah-khambatta-468507259