Keep Learning Share and Pay it Forward Big Time with Lalitkumar Bhamare

Phil's guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Lalitkumar Bhamare. He is a Senior Software Test Engineer working at XING SE.   He is co-founder and chief editor of the magazine "Tea-time with Testers" which was first published in 2011 and now boasts a readership of 40,000 across the globe.   And is also the founder of TV for Testers and host of Techno Talk with Lalit.    In this episode, Phil and Lalitkumar Bhamare discuss the need to be a continuous learner and effective ways to do that. They talk about why it is important not to wait around until you land your dream job.   Lalitkumar also explains how he turned a small local tech newsletter into a global resource for all to use, in just 8 years. He shares why he always pays it forward.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.21) TOP CAREER TIP The day you are finished learning you're finished as a professional. You need to be continually getting your hands dirty. Stay current, read the blogs, try new things yourself, discuss them, write about them and stay current.   (4.18) WORST CAREER MOMENT After graduating in 2008 as a mechanical engineer Lalitkumar landed a job with a finance company. Unfortunately, because of the recession, on his first day he and many others were sent home. The firm said they would ask him to join them at a later date. But, it did not come for over a year.   Instead, he took a job with an Indian firm. That decision proved to be very beneficial for Lalitkumar. So, his worst career moment taught him that he did not need to wait to land his dream job to enjoy his work and have a good career.   (6.48) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Starting and making a success of Tea-time with Testers has been his highlight, to date. Lalitkumar got a huge amount of support for this community project, from across the world.   It started small, just as a newsletter shared with colleagues. But, the fact that everyone, including newcomers, had a voice meant that it grew really fast.   (9.45) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Lalitkumar feels that the future of I.T is bright. The possibilities are almost endless. With tech, so much can be achieved. It touches every aspect of our life, which is part of the reason working in IT is so exciting.     (11.49) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The fact you could work on solving people's problems and make a difference in the world attracted him to the world of IT. What's the best career advice you received? – Keep calm and carry on. You can't effectively solve problems if you are panicking. What's the worst career advice you received? – The boss is always right. Don't be afraid to challenge your boss and ask questions. What would you do if you started your career now? – Lalitkumar would like to build something special to help animals, especially dogs. What are your current career objectives? – Lalitkumar feels that things are changing drastically, right now. So, he is focused on understanding that change, so he can stay ahead of the times. What's your number one non-technical skill? – His ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders from different backgrounds. In the podcast, Lalitkumar gives examples and explains how to develop this skill. How do you keep your own career energized? – Lalitkumar stays curious, learns new things, speaks at conferences and collaborates to make sure he always stays fresh. What do you do away from technology? – Lalitkumar likes to connect with nature. He enjoys hiking, gardening and tree hugging especially when he does these things with his son.   (17.05) FINAL CAREER TIP Stay relevant, but also pay it forward. Give something back to your community.   BEST MOMENTS (3.30) – Lalitkumar - "The day you are finished learning you're finished as a professional." (5.30) – Lalitkumar - "It's okay to start from something in hand instead of waiting for the best opportunity" (13.22) – Lalitkumar - "Don't be afraid to ask questions and challenge ideas." (15.24) – Lalitkumar - "Learn to explain the same problem to different people, in their language." (17.06) – Lalitkumar - "Stay relevant.Pay it forward. Give your community something back by sharing what you know."   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at [email protected] and via the podcast's website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – Lalitkumar Bhamare Lalitkumar Bhamare is a Senior Software Test Engineer working at XING SE.   He is co-founder and chief editor of the magazine "Tea-time with Testers" which was first published in 2011 and now boasts a readership of 40,000 across the globe.   And is also the founder of TV for Testers and host of Techno Talk with Lalit.   CONTACT THE GUEST – Lalitkumar Bhamare Lalitkumar Bhamare can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lalitbhamare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitkumarbhamare/ Website: https://www.talesoftesting.com/