Graduands at St. Joseph College of Engineering were told to avoid relying only on technical tools and platforms when building their careers, with industry leaders stressing the need for ongoing learning, ethical behaviour and interpersonal skills.
Industry chiefs press for balanced skill set
At the convocation in Chennai on Saturday, K.M. Suceendran, head of the Academic Alliances Group at Tata Consultancy Services, said that graduates should cultivate what he called "actual intelligence" alongside digital know-how. He urged new degree-holders to keep reading, stay informed, meet people and maintain a sense of curiosity.
"Don’t depend only on technology; develop your own actual intelligence. Read, stay updated, meet people and remain curious,"
The message reflects a broader conversation in technology circles about how digital tools can amplify human capability but also create blind spots if relied on exclusively. Suceendran highlighted a mix of professional and personal practices — continuous learning, responsible social media use, networking and keeping well physically — as elements that contribute to a successful career.
Career paths are rarely linear, says Wipro talent chief
R. Parthasarathy, global head of Talent Acquisition at Wipro, told graduates that professional trajectories seldom follow a straight line. He encouraged proactive behaviour, ethical conduct, curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking, and suggested students focus on delivering meaningful impact rather than short-term gains.
B. Babu Manoharan, chairman of the St. Joseph Group of Institutions, presided over the ceremony, where medal winners were acknowledged.
- Continuous learning — maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills.
- Responsible online behaviour — manage social media use ethically.
- Networking and mentoring — build relationships and support junior peers.
Speeches at academic convocations often blend career advice with institutional values. In this instance, both corporate representatives underscored non-technical attributes that support long-term employability, such as adaptability and ethical judgement, rather than offering concrete tips on coding languages or specific platforms.
| Speaker | Role |
|---|---|
| K.M. Suceendran | Head, Academic Alliances Group, Tata Consultancy Services |
| R. Parthasarathy | Global Head, Talent Acquisition, Wipro |
| B. Babu Manoharan | Chairman, St. Joseph Group of Institutions |
Graduands who received gold and silver medals were honoured during the function. The recognition of top performers sat alongside calls from industry guests for a rounded approach to career-building — one that pairs technical competence with human skills and social responsibility.
For graduates entering a labour market shaped by rapid technological change, the counsel to remain curious and cultivate non-technical strengths is practical. Employers in software, hardware and services increasingly seek candidates who combine technical fluency with communication, ethical awareness and the capacity to learn across careers.
That emphasis aligns with ongoing debates about the future of work, where automation and AI alter job content but human judgement, creativity and relationship-building remain hard to automate. The convocation speeches are a reminder that education institutions and industry alike continue to shape expectations about what it means to be job-ready in a digital era.
