From Tutorial Hell to Generative AI Engineer

One of the things that I love about the work we do in ZTM is the community that we’ve built.

• Sure people get started here and pick up their first tech skills and get hired

• And yes, they continue to skill up into more senior roles… 

But what’s also amazing is how almost all of those people stay active in the community long after they get hired, so that they can help and chat with others:

After seeing this note in our community, I wanted to reach out to this member and learn more - especially because they’re working in a rapidly growing industry.

This is their story.

Meet Rakesh

Hi, my name is Rakesh Korada, and I currently work as a Generative AI & Agentic AI Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

I’ve been working at TCS since August 2024, and a lot of my work involves solving real-world enterprise problems using Generative AI.

This means that I’m mainly focused on building AI-powered applications involving Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), multimodal AI systems, vector databases, LLM integrations, and intelligent recommendation systems. 

What did you do before this?

Before joining TCS, I was a Computer Science student at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada .

I enjoyed this program because I could explore different areas of technology and try to understand what truly interested me.

What was the goal or outcome you were hoping for from ZTM? Did you achieve it?

I just wanted a structured way to learn AI and Data Science because I felt overwhelmed by the amount of random content available online. (I kept jumping between YouTube videos and free resources without consistency or direction).

Even worse,  I often felt that many resources either skipped fundamentals or lacked practical implementation. Sure I had basic programming exposure from college, but I was still very much a beginner when it came to practical AI/Data Science implementation.

ZTM helped me build a strong foundation via a structured learning path, practical projects, and a community that could keep me motivated. This gave me confidence that I could actually learn these topics step by step.

I would definitely say I achieved my goal and much more, because what started as curiosity eventually became my career!

What were the biggest hesitations and doubts you had before deciding to join ZTM?

My biggest doubt was whether I would actually stay consistent and complete the courses.

I also wondered whether online learning alone could genuinely help me build a career. But after joining, I realized consistency and practical learning mattered much more than having the “perfect roadmap.”

After you joined, were there any difficulties?

Yes, definitely, but not with the content. It was more about trying to balance everything between college, self-learning, and projects, so that became difficult. There were also moments where concepts felt overwhelming.

But I learned that progress in tech is more about consistency over long periods of time rather than trying to learn everything quickly. The more I kept at it, the easier it got to understand.

What was your learning experience like?

Although I had some sticking points, generally the learning experience felt practical and beginner-friendly. One thing I really appreciated was that the instructors explained concepts in a way that felt approachable instead of intimidating.

A major part of the course was taught by Daniel Bourke, and his teaching style and sense of humor made learning much more engaging and memorable!

The community aspect also helped a lot because seeing other learners' progress motivated me to keep going.

What do you think differentiates ZTM from other resources you have used?

For me, the biggest difference was:

• Structured learning paths

• Practical project-based teaching

• Beginner-friendly explanations

• Motivation and consistency

• Strong community support

A lot of free resources teach concepts, but ZTM made learning feel much more actionable.

The main course that had the biggest impact on me was the Zero to Mastery Data Science course:

Intermediate

Complete A.I. Machine Learning and Data Science: Zero to Mastery

45 Hours •390 Lessons

Learn Machine Learning (Artificial Intelligence), Python, Data Science, Data Analysis, Tensorflow, Pandas & more. All using the latest in AI!

Andrei Neagoie&Daniel Bourke

It helped me:

• Understand AI/Data Science fundamentals

• Learn practical implementation

• Build confidence with projects

• Develop a problem-solving mindset

• Stay consistent in learning

More importantly, it made me realize that I genuinely enjoyed working in AI. However, I didn’t rush through the course. I had to learn gradually while balancing academics and projects, so it took me several months with breaks in between.

Knowing this would be the case, I focused more on understanding concepts and applying them rather than speed-running completion.

What has been the biggest challenge in your journey from learning to code to getting hired?

One of the biggest challenges was dealing with self-doubt and confusion about whether I was learning the “right” things. In AI and tech generally, there’s always something new happening, and it’s easy to feel behind.

Editor’s note: This is why courses can help as long as you make sure it's updated regularly. Here at ZTM, we update courses multiple times per year when needed.

Another challenge was transitioning from just watching tutorials to actually building projects independently. That shift made the biggest difference in my growth!

What steps did you take to get hired, and what helped you the most?

I focused heavily on:

• Building projects

• Learning consistently

• Improving problem-solving skills

• Exploring real-world AI use cases

• Creating a stronger resume and LinkedIn profile

Projects helped me the most because they gave me practical understanding and talking points during interviews. I also spent time understanding how AI systems are built end-to-end, instead of only learning theory, which paid off in interviews.

You’ve been there a few years now, but when you got this position, how did you feel?

Honestly, it still feels rewarding and surreal.

When I started learning AI/Data Science, I never imagined I would eventually work professionally in Generative AI. At the same time, I still feel like I’m continuously learning every day because the field evolves so quickly.

Is there a big difference in earnings in this new role from what you made before?

Since this is my first professional role after college, the biggest difference has been the opportunity to work on real-world AI systems and grow professionally in a field I genuinely enjoy.

What advice would you give other students who may have been in your position and are now considering joining the ZTM Academy?

My biggest advice would be:

• Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ roadmap

• Stay consistent

• Build projects early

• Avoid comparing yourself too much with others

• Focus on long-term growth. Most people underestimate how powerful a small, consistent effort becomes over 2–3 years

Also, don’t be afraid of being a beginner! Everyone in tech starts confused, but if you genuinely stay curious, keep building, and continue learning step by step, opportunities eventually start opening up.