Srinavas Rayavarapu

Background

Q: What is your name? 

A: Durga Manikanta Srinivas Rayavarapu

Q: What city/state are you currently in?

A: Seattle ,Washington

Q: What is your current company and  job title/role? 

A: Supply Chain Manager, Sub Same Day Delivery, Amazon 

Career Trajectory

Q: What was your first job out of your degree, and what strategies helped you land it? 

A: Supply Chain Manager at Amazon. Networking and applying at the right time were key. Understanding how recruitment works in my industry and target roles helped me secure an early opportunity.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to go into [industry/field], or did your plans evolve over time? 

A: Yes, I had a clear plan on my role and industry I wanted to get into Post MBA

Q: Have there been any unexpected detours in your career? How did you navigate them? 

A: No unexpected detours

Q: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? 

A: Focus on the quality of networking, not the quantity. Be intentional with your connections—build relationships, not just contacts. 

Industry Insights & Future Trends

Q: What trends do you think new graduates should be aware of in [industry]? 

A: New verticals emerging from existing teams and business units often signal roles with immediate hiring needs. Staying informed on these shifts can help students target opportunities that are both relevant and timely.

Q: Are there any emerging skills or technologies that you think will be crucial in the next 5-10 years?

A: Graduates should also stay informed on how AI/ML is being applied within their industry, along with the growing focus on sustainability technologies—both are shaping the future of work.

Q: What courses did you recommend current students pay particular attention to during their time at Questrom? 

A: AI&ML for Managers, Analytics for managers, Business model spreadsheets

Questrom Tools that helped in your career journey

Q: What resources in the career center helped you navigate your career journey? 

During my time at school, resources like the alumni directory, Handshake, and tailored support for international students played a key role in shaping my job search strategy. The networking skills I developed through university events, along with mock interview preparation from the career support team, were fundamental to my professional growth. Learning to initiate meaningful conversations, maintain relationships, and deliver strong elevator pitches opened countless doors. Mock interviews helped me master the STAR method, refine my body language, and gain confidence across various interview formats. These experiences led to internships, job offers, and a professional network that continues to support me. Most importantly, I realized that networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about building genuine, mutually valuable relationships, a lesson that remains central in my current work with teams and clients.

A: Advice for Soon-to-Graduate & Recent Graduates

Q: What advice do you have to Questrom students and recent alumni who are currently navigating the job market? 

A: For soon-to-graduate and recent graduates, it’s crucial to start your career planning early by building a strong LinkedIn profile, updating your resume, and beginning your job search 6-8 months before graduation while actively networking with alumni and industry professionals. Focus on developing both technical and soft skills through relevant certifications, improving communication abilities, and mastering essential business software, while also maintaining connections with professors and mentors who can guide your early career journey. Remember to create a solid financial foundation by budgeting wisely and understanding student loan repayment options, but most importantly, understand that your first job isn’t your forever job – focus on gaining valuable experience and building transferable skills while being adaptable to new opportunities in your chosen field

Q: What are the biggest mistakes you see early-career professionals making?

A: The market currently is in demand for specialists and not generalists. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, there’s a growing demand for specialists who possess deep expertise in specific areas like AI/ML, cybersecurity, data analytics, or niche industry knowledge, rather than generalists with broad but shallow knowledge across multiple domains. Early-career professionals often make the mistake of trying to learn everything at once instead of strategically focusing on becoming an expert in a particular field, which can dilute their market value and make it harder to stand out in competitive job searches. The key to success lies in identifying an in-demand specialization early in your career, developing deep technical expertise through focused learning and practical experience, and becoming known as the go-to person for that specific skill set, while still maintaining enough broad knowledge to collaborate effectively with other specialists and adapt to industry changes.

Q: How should recent grads approach networking, especially if they don’t have an established network?

A: Recent graduates should start building their professional network by actively engaging with their university’s alumni network, joining industry-specific groups on LinkedIn, and attending professional events or virtual meetups in their field of interest. They should focus on creating meaningful connections by showing genuine interest in others’ work, asking thoughtful questions, and offering value where possible – even if it’s just sharing relevant articles or introducing people with common interests. The key is to approach networking as a long-term relationship-building process rather than a transactional activity, maintaining regular contact with connections through periodic check-ins, engaging with their social media content, and being ready to help others before asking for favor

Q: What do you/hiring managers look for when hiring employees?

A: When hiring employees, managers primarily look for candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of technical competency in their field and essential soft skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities, along with evidence of their past achievements and impact in previous roles. Cultural fit is equally crucial – we seek individuals who align with our company’s values, show genuine enthusiasm for the role, and exhibit potential for growth, while also bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the team. Additionally, candidates who have done their research about the company, come prepared with thoughtful questions, and can effectively articulate how their skills and experiences directly relate to the position’s requirements stand out significantly in the hiring process.

Q: How can new graduates stand out in a competitive job market?

A: New graduates can stand out in today’s competitive job market by focusing on becoming specialists in high-demand areas like AI/ML, cybersecurity, or data analytics, rather than trying to be generalists, and demonstrating this expertise through relevant certifications, projects, or internships. They should actively build their professional network by engaging with university alumni, industry professionals on LinkedIn, and at professional events, while maintaining genuine relationships rather than just collecting contacts. Additionally, candidates should thoroughly research prospective companies, prepare compelling stories about their achievements using the STAR method, and clearly articulate how their specialized skills align with the company’s needs during interviews, while also demonstrating strong soft skills and cultural fit.

Final Advice for Soon-to-Graduate & Recent Graduates

Q: Are there any other thoughts or insights you would like to share?

A: I’d emphasize that success in today’s job market requires strategic specialization in high-demand fields rather than being a generalist, as demonstrated through your valuable insights about career development and hiring practices. The combination of developing deep technical expertise, building genuine professional relationships through effective networking, and mastering interview techniques using the STAR method creates a strong foundation for career growth. Finally, early career professionals should remember that while the first job isn’t necessarily their forever job, it’s crucial to start strong by demonstrating both technical competency and soft skills, maintaining a learning mindset, and always staying adaptable to new opportunities in their chosen specialized field.