From Floppy Disks to Programming Mastery: Rajesh Kumar’s IT Journey

The computing landscape has drastically evolved. Rajesh Kumar, an IT veteran with over 20 years of experience, shares his journey from the early days of floppy disks and DOS to becoming a skilled programmer. This story explores the challenges and milestones that shaped the IT industry in Punjab during the 1990s.

💾 The Era of Floppy Disks & Early Computers

In 1994, storage was primitive. The floppy disk was the main medium, holding just 1.2 MB to 2 MB of data. Computers were room-sized machines requiring heavy air conditioning to cool processors like the 286 and 386 series.

Operating Systems: Users relied on DOS (Disk Operating System), a command-line interface. Early Windows versions like 3.1 required tedious installation using 6 to 12 floppy disks.

🖥️ Rajesh’s Introduction to Programming

Rajesh’s entry into IT was fueled by curiosity during his engineering studies in Patiala. He started with BASIC, a simple language perfect for beginners, before moving to Visual BASIC and C. His passion extended to graphical design, marveling at early "Paint" software that replaced manual drawing.

🌐 The Internet & Professional Growth

The early 2000s brought the internet to cyber cafes, introducing Rajesh to HTML and web technologies. He began his career teaching computer basics in schools, eventually landing his first programming job in Mohali in 2005, specializing in PHP development.

The Y2K Challenge: Rajesh recalls the Y2K bug era, where Indian developers played a crucial role in fixing global systems, marking the rise of India’s IT prowess.

🚀 Evolution of IT in Punjab

In the 90s, Punjab had limited IT infrastructure. However, the growth of training centers in cities like Patiala and Ludhiana helped bridge the gap. Rajesh contributed by teaching in these centers before moving to multinational companies in Mumbai.

❓ Part 1 FAQ

Master Job Hunting in 2025: Avoid Scams, Upgrade Skills & Ace ATS

In a fast-changing tech landscape, job hunting is complex. With AI transforming industries and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filtering resumes, professionals must adapt. This guide highlights how to optimize your resume, avoid recruitment scams, and upgrade your skills for 2025.

📈 The Importance of Skill Upgrades

The Trap of Comfort Zones: Staying in a comfort zone with outdated tech (like sticking only to Visual Basic) can make you obsolete.

Embrace New Tech: Learning emerging tools (like cross-platform mobile development or cloud computing) can instantly boost job prospects. Rajesh shares how learning PhoneGap brought him multiple offers in just one week.

🤖 Navigating the Modern Job Market

Gone are the days of manual resume sorting. Today, companies use ATS software to filter applications.

⚠️ Beware of Recruitment Scams

Scammers prey on job seekers by promising guaranteed placements for a fee. Common tactics include:

• Charging "registration" or "processing" fees upfront.
• Fake background checks requiring payment.
• Assigning "managers" who demand money at every step.

🛑 Golden Rule: Never pay money for a job interview or placement. Reputable companies do not charge candidates.

🧠 Leveraging AI for Career Growth

Don't fear AI—collaborate with it. AI tools can help generate code, debug errors, and automate repetitive tasks. Learning to use AI assistants makes you a more productive and valuable developer in the 2025 market.

❓ Part 2 FAQ