Growing in your career sounds simple on paper. But when you’re actually working, things can feel very different.
For Ankit Kumar, that realization came after almost 3 years in analytics.
“I Knew Things… But I Couldn’t Apply Them”
Ankit came from an Electrical Engineering background and was already working in analytics.
On paper, everything looked fine:
→ He knew SQL
→ He understood Excel
→ He had worked on projects
But something didn’t feel right.
“When it came to solving real problems or facing interviews, I didn’t feel as confident as I should.”
That’s when it clicked:
Knowing something is very different from being able to apply it.
When He Noticed the Real Problem
Like most professionals, Ankit developed his knowledge from courses, tutorials, and job. But over time he start noticing the gap:
→ He knew SQL, yet had difficulties with real world queries that were complex
→ He understood concepts, but couldn’t explain them clearly in real interviews
→ He had experience, but still couldn’t crack better jobs
Ankit feels frustrating many times because when you’re already working, you expect growth to happen naturally.
The truth, however, is that:
Experience alone is not enough. Growth needs direction.
Trying Everything… But Still Feeling Stuck
Ankit tried the usual ways to improve himself:
→ YouTube
→ Blog posts
→ Random online courses
But rather than helping him gain clarity, it only created more confusion for him.
“There was a ton of content and no clear path"
The issues were:
→ Lack of a roadmap
→ No feedback on what he was doing wrong
→ Too much time spent without real progress
While having a 9-5 job , this made things even tougher.
“I did not want to waste another 6 or 8 months doing random things to try and figure it out."
Finding a More Structured Approach
Around this time, Ankit started looking for a more focused and structured way to improve. That’s when he came across Bosscoder Academy.
He didn't believe there was going to be instant improvement.
However, he was impressed with the clarity and practical approach of teaching methods.
“For the first time, I felt like I was learning things the way they are actually used.”
What Actually Changed
Ankit's best improvement was from thinking theoretically to thinking practically.
It wasn’t just about learning SQL again. It was about:
→ How do real companies use SQL?
→ How do he deal with real datasets?
→ How to think step-by-step while solving problems
This made a huge difference in both confidence and performance.
What Changed with the Right Mentorship
One of the most impactful parts of his journey was 1:1 mentorship. Ankit worked closely with his mentor, Ekta Negi, who had experience working in companies like Deloitte and Fractal.
What made this valuable was not just knowledge, but practical and honest feedback.
Instead of generic advice, he learned:
→ How to structured answer in interview situations
→ Explain his thought process
→ Know when to provide a detailed answer vs short explanations
→ Compare various methods of approach (something interviewers use to evaluate).
“These small improvements made a big difference in real interviews.”
Staying Consistent While Working
Another important part was regular feedback and accountability.
There were consistent sessions where:
→ An assessment of his progress
→ An identification of his weaknesses
→ Clear next steps were given
This all helped him to remain consistent in his efforts and on track while working 9-5.
Because the truth is:
When you’re working full-time, consistency is the biggest challenge.
However, having a mentor who provides you with guidance and accountability will make this journey so much easier.
What He Learned from This Journey
If Ankit had to summarize his biggest learning, it would be:
" Experience alone is not enough. Structured learning and the right guidance accelerate growth."
In addition, he was able to:
→ Bridge the gap between theory and real-world application
→ Improve how he presents himself in real interviews
→ Identify what truly matters in the specific area of interest for the industry
Final Thoughts
If you’re a working professional and feel stuck, perhaps this might relate to you:
→ You have worked in a field before but continue to have doubts about your ability to do work
→ You think you understand relevant concepts but struggle to communicate those concepts in real interviews
→ You’re putting in effort but not seeing results
Then maybe the issue is not your effort. It’s the lack of direction and feedback.
Put some time and effort into correcting either one or both of these issues and you will see significant improvements sooner than you anticipate!
