Do you keep in mind the second you checked out a marksheet and noticed an unfavourable final result? You are feeling gutted, and for some, it leaves an enormous query mark concerning the future. Feeling this fashion after a result’s regular, however what makes a world of distinction is what we select to do subsequent.
In a rustic the place marks and success in aggressive exams are sometimes seen as the last word measure of accomplishment, the strain might be immense. Fortunately, issues are altering and there are a number of harbingers of hope on the horizon.
Jigyasu Agarwal had tears in his eyes when he noticed the outcomes of the UPSC Mains in 2022. He couldn’t discover his identify on the shortlist. A number of kilometres away, in one other metropolis, Gargi Gupta too confronted the identical dejection. She missed out on clearing the UPSC Prelims by a number of marks.
Throughout the nation, each UPSC outcome leaves a number of aspirants heartbroken. Whereas some determine to offer it one other shot, others attempt to discover completely different paths. The issue is that the majority aspirants seldom have a Plan B in place.
Jigyasu, 27, a dedicated rationalist, had already determined that he wouldn’t give greater than three makes an attempt. After deciding to look past UPSC, he waged a lone battle to discover a good job for himself.
His cousin, Akshat Agarwal, additionally walked an identical path a number of years in the past. Each brothers, who underwent tumultuous journeys earlier than discovering their niches within the skilled world, established a enterprise named Rebounce. Born out of a imaginative and prescient to assist ex-UPSC aspirants transition easily into profitable careers, Rebounce affords a second likelihood for aspirants.
A second likelihood for aspirants
Hailing from a village in Bishnoi, Uttar Pradesh, Jigyasu pursued electrical engineering from NIT (Nationwide Institute of Expertise) Patna. He was positioned in ABB Ltd, a Swedish–Swiss multinational company. Regardless of having job, he felt a way of ‘purposelessness’.
The seek for objective led him to pursue civil providers, quitting his job within the course of. “I wished to create an impression by way of my work,” Jigyasu tells The Higher India.
From 2019 to 2021, he ready for the UPSC together with his complete coronary heart and soul. Within the first try, he couldn’t clear the Prelims, whereas he was in a position to make it to the Mains within the subsequent one. He then selected to hitch his household enterprise, a books and stationery store.
Nonetheless, after a 3rd try, he determined to look elsewhere. Why he determined to do this can be a lesson in pragmatism. “After three makes an attempt, the sunk price fallacy kicks in, and also you all the time really feel that you’re very near clearing the examination. You retain wanting to offer it yet one more try. This course of can eat your twenties, making it very tough to transition to one thing else later,” explains Jigyasu.
He additional provides that the choice price in civil providers is about 0.1 p.c, so even the most effective candidates have a excessive likelihood of not making the minimize.
“Pondering in your early twenties that you’ll do no matter it takes to change into an IAS officer, regardless of what number of years it takes, would possibly sound brave. But when it doesn’t work out, and also you’ve spent six to seven years making ready for UPSC, it turns into very laborious to do one thing else,” he says.
The journey to transitioning to a distinct profession was not a easy one for both Jigyasu or Akshat.
Akshat had harboured a dream of changing into a civil servant since Class 9. He accomplished a grasp’s diploma in economics, labored for a yr and resigned to give attention to UPSC exams. After two unsuccessful makes an attempt, he determined to return to a company profession. Each brothers recall reaching out to mates, faculty mates, former colleagues and ex-UPSC aspirants. To their dismay, none of them actually helped out.
“I reached out to a whole lot of individuals and utilized to a whole lot of organisations. Only a few have been sort sufficient to reply. What I struggled with was discovering my area of interest. Deciding an alternate profession was tough as I used to be an engineer by schooling, who labored in enterprise technique and later fell in love with coverage and politics,” says Jigyasu.
After narrowing down on public coverage and political consulting as areas of curiosity, he spent about six months upskilling himself by way of on-line programs like Coursera and YouTube movies.
In August 2023, he secured a job in a political consultancy agency. When the 2 brothers met after this, the dialog turned heavy once they shared experiences concerning the tough street they launched into to achieve right here. A scarcity of steering and mentorship jarringly stood out.
A easy transition to a company profession
In an try and create impression, the duo launched Rebounce in October 2023. The social enterprise goals to render sturdy help to fellow aspirants transitioning from UPSC preparations to various fulfilling careers. Its mission is crafted round providing these people a ‘second likelihood’ by opening doorways to quite a few alternatives and guiding them in direction of satisfying profession paths.
Gargi (25) labored in direction of UPSC for almost 4 years after finishing her undergraduate diploma. When she couldn’t clear the examination after three makes an attempt, she determined to have a look at greener pastures. However what they’d be remained a query mark.
Whereas not sure about her subsequent steps, she heard about Rebounce. She reached out and obtained a mentorship session from Akshat and Jigyasu. “I used to be very confused about what path to take subsequent. Whereas I used to be within the improvement sector, I didn’t know easy methods to get in, which NGOs to use to, which fellowships I ought to goal for. I had no person to information me. Rebounce helped me by charting a path for me,” she shares.
Jigyasu explains that when an ex-UPSC aspirant approaches them, they first conduct a free mentorship session to assist them envision a path. “The most important query in most of their minds is what to do subsequent,” he says.
Rebounce helps them by understanding their pursuits, aspirations and abilities. Based mostly on these, they offer them sure choices for potential careers. Their flagship market readiness programme affords help at 5 factors.
Assist offered by Rebounce
- What to do subsequent: Determined based mostly on abilities, aspirations, and pursuits.
- One-on-one steering: Co-founders information candidates with no matter doubts they’ve.
- Upskilling: Programs and upskilling programmes to bridge ability gaps.
- Portfolio constructing: Tasks, fellowships, and volunteering to achieve hands-on expertise.
- Constructing a Resume/LinkedIn Profile: Creating an industry-recognised resume and compelling cowl letter.
- Interview readiness: Getting ready candidates to transform their abilities into jobs.
- Company referrals: Connecting candidates by way of an expert community.
Thus far, Rebounce has helped over 300 former UPSC aspirants, a lot of whom are actually working in public coverage, impression consulting, NGOs and different corporates, shares Jigyasu.
The enterprise primarily helps ex-aspirants showcase the talents they bring about to the desk. Jigyasu opines that the market doesn’t recognise the distinctive abilities that an ex-UPSC aspirant has.
“As an alternative of it as a clean hole of 4 to 5 years, recruiters ought to have a look at the talents that making ready for this examination builds in you. These candidates have lots of transferable abilities, that embody resilience, persistence, laborious work, perseverance, holistic considering and rather more,” he says.
Apart from their market readiness programme, which is paid, Rebounce additionally conducts free webinars and grasp lessons on public coverage, impression consulting, political consulting, the event sector, resume writing, and extra.
They’ve additionally began a podcast known as the ‘Plan B Diaries’ the place they communicate to profitable ex-UPSC aspirants who now work in locations just like the World Financial institution. They plan to launch upskilling programs quickly. Their goal is to assist aspirants shine in any boardroom. “We’re preventing in boardrooms of varied organisations by explaining what we carry to the desk,” says Jigyasu emphatically.
He desires ex-UPSC aspirants to understand that this examination is a way and never an finish. “Once you begin your civil providers preparation, have plenty of makes an attempt in your thoughts. In case you can’t make it, discover one other path to achieve your remaining aim. We’re right here to help you in making a easy transition to a satisfying and fulfilling profession,” he provides.
Gargi, who secured positions in two well-known fellowships, Educate For India and SBI Youth for India, because of Rebounce, says that whereas UPSC aspirants are well-versed with present affairs, they’re normally minimize off from the world when it comes to present abilities.
“I discovered somebody to again me up and enhance me. They even messaged HRs asking for the rationale for my rejection in some instances. They gave me a distinct perspective and helped me transfer on from an examination that drained me emotionally and financially. Most significantly, they made me assured,” says Gargi.
Life all the time provides you a second likelihood. It’s as much as us to seize it and profit from it.
Edited by Khushi Arora; Pictures Courtesy Jigyasu Agarwal
