Adobe hires University of Hyderabad student on Rs 43 lakh pay

Hyderabad: V. Nandini Soni, a Masters of Computer Applications (MCA) student at the School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH), has secured a job at Adobe Systems with a salary of Rs 43 lakh per annum. UoH officials say this is the highest package any student has secured so far.

What makes Nandini’s achievement even more special is that she has a domestic job. Normally, it is international placement packages that make the news due to skewed conversion rates. Before hers, the highest domestic and international placements at UoH were Rs 22 lakh and Rs 42 lakh (converted in Indian rupees), respectively.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, an ecstatic Nandini said she hadn’t even dreamt of such an opportunity in her life. “I would never have imagined getting such a job,” she said. ‘I didn’t even have any dream companies. But this is an amazing feeling. My family is over the moon.”

Nandini is from Boisar, Maharashtra.

Interestingly, she is not a BTech, MTech or MBA graduate like those who usually hog headlines during placement season. Instead, she pursued computer applications at St Xaviers in Ahmedabad and a masters at University of Hyderabad.

“I knew I wanted to pursue my higher studies in computer science but I knew I didn’t want to be an engineer,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have been a good engineer. There were times when I was doubtful of my decision since this field is dominated by engineers. But I am glad I made the right choice.”

Nandini is one of four UoH women shortlisted by Adobe’s “Empowering Women @SheCodes” programme. She secured the job by scoring highest amongst her peers. She, along with a team, won the Smart India Hackathon 2019.

Nandini started projects group at UoH
At the university, she and her friends have started a community for software developers to come together, discuss and work on new projects.

She wished to become a “proficient software developer”. “Faculties, friends and family have supported me in each activity and that has directly and indirectly impacted on what I have achieved now,” she added.

Rajeev Wankar, chairman of the Placement Guidance and Advisory Bureau (PGAB) at the university, said that more than 200 students from all departments had been placed this year so far.

“The PGAB team is doing a wonderful job and this is evident by the increase in the number of placements,’’ the PGAB chairman said.