At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Gaurav Wadekar for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. Gaurav is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Coach, Mentor and Change enabler. He is the Co-Founder at Jobseeker Circle. Let’s learn more about his background, his inspiring journey so far and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Gaurav:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey as an entrepreneur, please;
I come from a very humble background in Gujarat. When I did my Mechanical Engineering followed by Masters of Business Administration, my dream was not to start a business but find a good job, which I did. I started my career in IT services, moved to the USA and then finally landed in Australia.
However, somewhere, I always had a lot of ideas. Even at work, I would try to bring in new ways of solving problems and achieving business objectives.
Even today, I could say that I am one of those intrapreneurs who bring in entrepreneurial skills to the workplace to help solve some very complex problems faced by large organisations.”
After about 12 years of corporate journey working in various roles in some very large organisations in financial services, banking and aviation, I stumbled upon a real-life problem that many people face, including me. This was because of starting the Finding a Job in Australia meetup here in Sydney, where I conducted monthly events on topics associated with finding a job.
The problem is related to people moving to new countries and then finding it difficult to find the right job. I could relate to this problem, and that took me on an entrepreneurial journey to start helping people find jobs. I get immense satisfaction when someone is successful in finding the right job which is in line with their long-term career aspirations.
This has helped me set up my coaching business where I help people with their role clarity, resumes, LinkedIn profiles and interview preparation.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
I think the big difference that I find between entrepreneurship as compared to a corporate career is the ability to have an impact in the area in which you are passionate about.
I am very good at what I do in the corporate world. Helping large banks with their mobile and online banking solutions to help solve customer problems is a lot of fun. But, helping people find jobs, gives me another level of satisfaction.”
I feel that one can be really good at what they do but if it is in line with what they want to do as well, then they achieve a perfect combination.
‘Jobseeker Circle’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
As a Jobseeker, one can face many challenges. The challenges could be related to not having a good resume, not being able to crack interviews, not getting enough calls for interviews in the first place, not being sure about the roles that one should apply for and the list goes on.
There are many solutions out there to help people with some of these problems. However, I have not come across something that is holistic in nature and addresses the issues faced by Jobseekers during their job search.
Enter Jobseeker Circle! The idea is quite simple to begin with. If you are a jobseeker actively or passively looking for a job, come to Jobseeker Circle. Tell us a little bit about you and we will connect you with other professionals who are from a similar background as yours, to have a one-on-one conversation.”
This will help you with getting feedback from someone else regarding your job search, get feedback on your resume, compare notes related to your job search and if possible also get introductions which can help you further your job search process.
But we would not just stop there. A jobseeker can also get access to events and resources which can help them with insights into different aspects of job search like resumes, dealing with recruiters, interview preparation, using LinkedIn effectively and many other things.
What does your company Jobseeker specialise in?
The target audience for the Jobseeker circle is anyone who would like help in developing their network, especially with the intent to get assistance during a job search. Networking is a very interesting concept. One does not network when they need help but people network to build meaningful connections so in the hour of need there are people whom they can reach out to.
Mostly, I have found that migrants moving to countries like Australia, Canada, UAE, USA, Germany lack professional networks in the new country. By joining the Jobseeker circle, they are able to connect with other jobseekers from these countries to get insights into the job market and ways of working in these countries.
For example, if I am in India currently and planning to move to these countries, I would love to be able to talk to professionals who are based there in order to understand how the work in my field is done and what are my opportunities to find the right job. That is where Jobseeker circle comes in.
Currently, we are targeting professionals in Australia and people who are planning to move to Australia but the plan is to create a template based on experience gained in this country and then replicate it to other countries.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
When someone gets a job, I generally get a Thank you note. Each Thank you note adds to my motivation to keep going and helping as many people as I can. Balancing a full-time job with a side hustle which has the potential to become big enough to touch so many lives, is a challenge.
I have to make sacrifices when it comes to social time, family time but at the end of the day, it is all worth it. I think I was always looking to create something that could touch people’s lives and with Jobseeker Circle I have found it. I don’t mind burning those late-night candles because I know that I could make a difference in other people’s lives.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My wife and my kids are the biggest source, hands down. Without their support and motivation, it is very hard to keep going to these great lengths to create something like this.
There are times when I am working instead of spending time with them and they understand and support me. They can see my passion and zeal to help others and they allow me to continue on my path.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are a few that I believe have helped me:
> Being present in the moment!
> Understand the importance of time that you get with your family and friends!
> Maintain consistency in what you do!
> It is ok to make mistakes but the important part is to be able to learn from those mistakes and
keep going.
> Life is simple, do not complicate it unnecessarily!
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Success is defined as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. In this context, there could be a lot of things which can contribute but I believe there are five things which can truly help one to be successful in what they want to accomplish.
1. Be clear about your purpose
2. Stay focussed on it
3. Keep taking small steps every day towards your purpose
4. Be real. Not all days will be good, embrace all days as they come
5. Be open to learning new things and embrace change
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
One of the amazing qualities, amongst many, that kids have is curiosity. As people grow, the level of curiosity gets impacted, but if one wants a successful career, keeping the curiosity alive, I believe, is the most important behavioural trait.
By keeping a curious nature, you will be able to ask the right questions, understand the reason behind doing different tasks, be open to learning new things and getting more information about new topics. Curiosity will help you explore different kinds of careers, talk to people from different backgrounds and get an understanding of what kind of work people do. Be curious about yourself so you will know what you like and where your passion lies.
If you are able to find out what you truly love to do and make it your career, be it anything, that would be the true definition of a successful career, I believe. Another practical advice that I would give to today’s young generation is to use technology effectively.
That phone in your hand is not for just mindless scrolling for hours watching people dance and do funny things. The same phone can be used to get knowledge as well. Entertainment is important too but keep track of how much time you are spending on the device and for what purpose.
Last but not least, what are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
I have learned that I am the only one responsible for my life and the outcomes that I achieve, my state of happiness is defined and controlled by me only and working on myself is the best investment of time.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
