Samir Avhad, working on Klynk Recipes, recently completed his internship and joined Futuristic Labs as a full-time Software Developer. We sat down with him to learn more about his transition, projects, challenges, and experiences.
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Why did you think of a career change? How challenging was it?
I graduated in 2020 in Mechanical Engineering. Right after graduation, I wanted to study at a coaching institute and prepare for the GATE exam. Due to Covid-19, I couldn’t go to a Metro city for preparation. For the next 2 years, I prepared on my own. I received decent marks in exams but they weren’t enough to get me selected in my desired field. I started looking for other opportunities and got to know about Full Stack Development. The more I read about it, the more inclined I got toward the field. I was at a crossroads and I had to make a bold decision. I joined a 6-month Full Stack Development course. Futuristic Labs came for placements at my institute. I cracked the interview and technical rounds. The next thing I know is connecting with my teammates to figure out accommodation in Hyderabad, and getting prepared for my first day of internship.
The transition was certainly challenging. It was a leap into the unknown. Many organizations still look at the field of your study while recruiting. Even when you want to move forward, it is always in the back of your mind. But I had to remember that I was starting a new chapter in my life, and there was no time to look back. 6 months into the industry with Futuristic Labs, I have more confidence in my work. I feel good about the responsibilities I’m being given, and I’ve much more clarity on the career path I’ve chosen. Support and guidance from my seniors have played a crucial role in it.
You’ve been working on Klynk Recipes. How would you explain it to someone unfamiliar with it?
Think about people who love cooking and sharing their recipes online. They love showing others how to make delicious meals. But they're having a tough time because the websites or social media platforms they use don't really understand their needs.
Here's what's lacking in their current culinary journey:
Smart appliances and machine-readable recipes are the future of home cooking. Current recipes are not compatible with smart appliances.
Social media algorithms are unpredictable. You never know which content of yours will go viral. You have no option but to rely on the algorithm (and your luck).
Monetizing your content is not easy. You can’t always say you are pursuing cooking as a hobby. Somewhere down the line, you have to figure out how you can get tangible value out of your talent.
Creating a supportive community and building a brand with existing platforms is like trying to have a conversation in a noisy room.
Klynk Recipes is a free platform for professional chefs, home cooks, food content creators, and influencers. It helps you share recipes, meal plans, articles, and cooking hacks, connect with fans on a deeper level, and build a distraction-free, thriving food community. Users can get these recipes on Klynk App available on Play Store.
Right now, the platform is in Alpha Testing Phase. We cannot wait to bring it to our users.
What was your role in building the platform? How will it help users?
From the first week of my internship, I was given the responsibility to improve the functionalities of Klynk Recipes. Initially, I was doing bug fixes, and collaborating with the User Experience Team trying to understand how the users will be interacting with the platform. As I gained more insights and experiences, I was involved in working on adding more features to Klynk Recipes. One such feature is the Article Creation Tool. Using this tool, chefs, home cooks, and food content creators will be able to:
Write in detail about their food stories, cooking hacks, and their varied experiences
Build and engage deeply with a food community
Grow their brand in more meaningful ways
Embrace and thrive in the future with automation disrupting kitchens
What do you think helped your internship be successful?
The support from my teammates. Whenever I went to ask them any question, they had something kind and valuable to say. I took on the opportunity to be more curious and asked a lot of questions. It motivated me to take ownership of tasks and work harder. There is no substitute for hard work. It took me time, but I was prepared to dive into the real-world work environment. I asked for help whenever I needed it, and the encouraging nature of experienced seniors gave me the ground to thrive. I think it helps a lot when you aren’t afraid to work for more hours in your initial days. Even when the working hours are over, you have to still upskill yourself at home. You will start working with unclarity, but the more time you spend on the problem, the easier it will get. People are always willing to help you out, but only when you take the next step.
From an intern to a full-time role, what made you stay at Futuristic Labs?
The people, innovative products, and opportunity for growth. On the first day, everyone was interested and somewhat amazed to know about my transition. I explained as well as I could amidst the nervousness and excitement of the first day. But since the next day, I never had to look back. My ability to complete the tasks and take ownership of my work was the focus, not my academic background. People here come from multidisciplinary backgrounds, and everyone’s experiences matter. The continuous learning opportunities here motivate me further to grow. I feel much more confident in my decision-making, learning about the product development process, and getting to take on more responsibilities for new projects.
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We are working on great products with great teams. #BuildWithUs at Futuristic Labs.