An Interview With Sandip Das
Sandip Das is an impressive engineer with Volkswagen’s CARIAD division where he is a senior principal SoC Architect. There he works on Volkswagens brands (Porsche, Audi, VW) autonomous driving and best in class in-vehicle infotainment systems.
Sandip has been a volunteer with The Job Forum since 2017. He is known for that rare combination of advanced computer tech knowledge along with a “can do” attitude. He is very successful collaborating across teams, using his listening skills, and smart valuable contributions to make the overall team successful. At the Job Forum, he is especially skilled in explaining to job hunters how to stand out in as a job candidate for a technical role. He emphasizes the importance of communicating that as a job candidate, you have the balance that is needed between hard technology skills and effective team collaboration and leadership.
We sat down with Sandip to talk about his experience
volunteering at The Job Forum:
How did you happen to join The Job Forum and what motivated you to consider volunteering?
[Sandip]: It was my friend, Mary Preschutti, who introduced me to the organization and its charter. She asked if I would volunteer and become a panelist. I agreed and ever since I have been a regular volunteer with San Francisco Job Forum.
What has caused you to stay on as a volunteer helping job hunters?
[Sandip]: All my motivation to volunteer is driven by compassion to help people who need guidance in launching, pivoting and re-starting their careers. People need a career to earn money and support their existence, happiness and their family. Providing guidance and help in achieving a job is what I find to be fulfilling and rewarding. That has been my motivation to continue as a volunteer. The fact that SF Job Forum is doing valuable community outreach and creating such an impact through numerous success stories is inspiring. Our advice and suggestions do make an impact and people find jobs. This is so positive.
What do you want tell job hunters are some of the reasons to come to The Job Forum when job searching?
[Sandip]: You have some of the brightest and highly successful people in the industry who are volunteering for SF Job Forum. It is not only their advice, resources and success stories, but it is also their professional networks that are of immense value to the job hunters. We volunteers are willing to share and help job hunters when they need us most – It is free of charge for them.
Why should job hunters support The Job Forum with donations and volunteering once they get a job?
[Sandip]: It is the only morally right thing to do- to give back to the system that tried to help you achieve the next step in your career success.
Why do you think The Job Forum merits financial support from Bay Area companies and foundations support for The Job Forum?
[Sandip]: The Job Forum is a high value, nonprofit, that is part of the Bay Area’s broad community outreach, and so it is part of providing equity and opportunity to all here in the SF Bay Area. The SF Job Forum is a voluntary organization – nobody is paid except a PT administrator. -and the non-profit volunteer leaders not only run these great programs but also need to “find” financial support to operate and create organizational continuity. Not easy.
It is worthwhile also to point out that companies can find an untapped talent pool at The Job Forum- people who are typically not on the radar of their recruiters.
I think it is also duty of the Bay Area companies and Foundations which care about a thriving workforce, to give to society and to community groups who are providing value around them.
What is something surprising or unexpected? What is something you think people wouldn’t guess is a benefit of either coming to or volunteering with The Job Forum?
[Sandip]: As a volunteer and as a job hunter, you make new connections and friends which might open up new avenues in your own career. Each volunteer is a high-quality business or non- profit person and they all care about the future of the SF Bay Area.
