Do you take into accout the instant you checked out a marksheet and noticed an detrimental consequence? You are feeling gutted, and for some, it leaves a large query mark concerning the long term. Feeling this fashion after a result’s customary, however what makes a global of distinction is what we select to do subsequent.
In a rustic the place marks and good fortune in aggressive tests are ceaselessly noticed as without equal measure of accomplishment, the drive will also be immense. Fortunately, issues are converting and there are a couple of harbingers of hope at the horizon.
Jigyasu Agarwal had tears in his eyes when he noticed the result of the UPSC Mains in 2022. He couldn’t in finding his title at the shortlist. A number of kilometres away, in every other town, Gargi Gupta too confronted the similar dejection. She overlooked out on clearing the UPSC Prelims through a couple of marks.
Around the nation, each and every UPSC end result leaves a number of aspirants heartbroken. Whilst some come to a decision to provide it every other shot, others attempt to in finding other paths. The issue is that almost all aspirants seldom have a Plan B in position.
Jigyasu, 27, a dedicated rationalist, had already determined that he wouldn’t give greater than 3 makes an attempt. After deciding to seem past UPSC, he waged a lone combat to discover a excellent task for himself.
His cousin, Akshat Agarwal, additionally walked a an identical trail a couple of years in the past. Each brothers, who underwent tumultuous trips sooner than discovering their niches within the skilled international, established a project named Rebounce. Born out of a imaginative and prescient to assist ex-UPSC aspirants transition easily into a hit careers, Rebounce provides a 2d likelihood for aspirants.
A 2d likelihood for aspirants
Hailing from a village in Bishnoi, Uttar Pradesh, Jigyasu pursued electric engineering from NIT (Nationwide Institute of Generation) Patna. He was once positioned in ABB Ltd, a Swedish–Swiss multinational company. In spite of having a excellent task, he felt a way of ‘purposelessness’.
The seek for function led him to pursue civil services and products, quitting his task within the procedure. “I sought after to create an have an effect on via my paintings,” Jigyasu tells The Higher India.
From 2019 to 2021, he ready for the UPSC along with his entire middle and soul. Within the first strive, he couldn’t transparent the Prelims, whilst he was once in a position to make it to the Mains within the subsequent one. He then selected to enroll in his circle of relatives trade, a books and stationery store.
Alternatively, after a 3rd strive, he determined to seem somewhere else. Why he determined to do it is a lesson in pragmatism. “After 3 makes an attempt, the sunk price fallacy kicks in, and also you at all times really feel that you’re very just about clearing the examination. You stay in need of to provide it yet another strive. This procedure 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 services and products is set 0.1 %, so even the most productive applicants have a top chance of now not making the lower.
“Considering for your early twenties that you’re going to do no matter it takes to turn out to be an IAS officer, regardless of what number of years it takes, would possibly sound brave. But when it doesn’t determine, and also you’ve spent six to seven years making ready for UPSC, it turns into very arduous to do one thing else,” he says.
The adventure to transitioning to another occupation was once now not a clean one for both Jigyasu or Akshat.
Akshat had harboured a dream of turning into a civil servant since Elegance 9. He finished a grasp’s stage in economics, labored for a yr and resigned to concentrate on UPSC tests. After two unsuccessful makes an attempt, he determined to go back to a company occupation. Each brothers recall achieving out to pals, school buddies, former colleagues and ex-UPSC aspirants. To their dismay, none of them actually helped out.
“I reached out to masses of folks and implemented to masses of organisations. Only a few had been sort sufficient to reply. What I struggled with was once discovering my area of interest. Deciding an alternative occupation was once tough as I used to be an engineer through training, who labored in trade technique and later fell in love with coverage and politics,” says Jigyasu.
After narrowing down on public coverage and political consulting as spaces of hobby, he spent about six months upskilling himself via on-line classes like Coursera and YouTube movies.
In August 2023, he secured a role in a political consultancy company. When the 2 brothers met after this, the dialog grew to become heavy once they shared stories concerning the tough street they launched into to achieve right here. A loss of steerage and mentorship jarringly stood out.
A clean transition to a company occupation
In an try to create have an effect on, the duo introduced Rebounce in October 2023. The social endeavor goals to render tough strengthen to fellow aspirants transitioning from UPSC arrangements to choice enjoyable careers. Its venture is crafted round providing those people a ‘2d likelihood’ through opening doorways to a lot of alternatives and guiding them in opposition to pleasurable occupation paths.
Gargi (25) labored in opposition to UPSC for almost 4 years after finishing her undergraduate stage. When she couldn’t transparent the examination after 3 makes an attempt, she determined to have a look at greener pastures. However what they’d be remained a query mark.
Whilst not sure about her subsequent steps, she heard about Rebounce. She reached out and gained a mentorship consultation from Akshat and Jigyasu. “I used to be very at a loss for words about what trail to take subsequent. Whilst I used to be within the construction sector, I didn’t know the way to get in, which NGOs to use to, which fellowships I will have to goal for. I had no person to steer me. Rebounce helped me through charting a trail for me,” she stocks.
Jigyasu explains that once an ex-UPSC aspirant approaches them, they first behavior a loose mentorship consultation to assist them envision a trail. “The most important query in maximum in their minds is what to do subsequent,” he says.
Rebounce is helping them through figuring out their pursuits, aspirations and abilities. In keeping with those, they provide them positive choices for conceivable careers. Their flagship marketplace readiness programme provides strengthen at 5 issues.
Toughen equipped through Rebounce
- What to do subsequent: Determined in line with talents, aspirations, and pursuits.
- One-on-one steerage: Co-founders information applicants with no matter doubts they have got.
- Upskilling: Lessons and upskilling programmes to bridge talent gaps.
- Portfolio construction: Initiatives, fellowships, and volunteering to realize hands-on enjoy.
- Development a Resume/LinkedIn Profile: Growing an industry-recognised resume and compelling duvet letter.
- Interview readiness: Getting ready applicants to transform their talents into jobs.
- Company referrals: Connecting applicants via a certified community.
Thus far, Rebounce has helped over 300 former UPSC aspirants, a lot of whom at the moment are running in public coverage, have an effect on consulting, NGOs and different corporates, stocks Jigyasu.
The endeavor basically is helping ex-aspirants exhibit the talents they create to the desk. Jigyasu opines that the marketplace does now not recognise the original talents that an ex-UPSC aspirant has.
“As a substitute of having a look at it as a clean hole of 4 to 5 years, recruiters will have to have a look at the talents that making ready for this examination builds in you. Those applicants have numerous transferable talents, that come with resilience, endurance, arduous paintings, perseverance, holistic considering and a lot more,” he says.
But even so their marketplace readiness programme, which is paid, Rebounce additionally conducts loose webinars and grasp categories on public coverage, have an effect on consulting, political consulting, the advance sector, resume writing, and extra.
They have got additionally began a podcast known as the ‘Plan B Diaries’ the place they discuss to a hit ex-UPSC aspirants who now paintings in puts just like the International Financial institution. They plan to release upskilling classes quickly. Their goal is to assist aspirants shine in any boardroom. “We’re preventing in boardrooms of quite a lot of organisations through explaining what we convey to the desk,” says Jigyasu emphatically.
He desires ex-UPSC aspirants to understand that this examination is a way and now not an finish. “Whilst you get started your civil services and products preparation, have a variety of makes an attempt for your thoughts. If you’ll’t make it, in finding every other trail to achieve your ultimate purpose. We’re right here to strengthen you in creating a clean transition to a lovely and enjoyable occupation,” he provides.
Gargi, who secured positions in two well known fellowships, Train For India and SBI Adolescence for India, due to Rebounce, says that whilst UPSC aspirants are well-versed with present affairs, they’re generally bring to an end from the arena relating to present talents.
“I discovered any person to again me up and spice up me. They even messaged HRs inquiring for the cause of my rejection in some circumstances. They gave me a special viewpoint and helped me transfer on from an examination that tired me emotionally and financially. Most significantly, they made me assured,” says Gargi.
Existence at all times will give you a 2d likelihood. It’s as much as us to seize it and benefit from it.
Edited through Khushi Arora; Photographs Courtesy Jigyasu Agarwal