Alumni Spotlight: Modi's journey to success

Vatsal Modi (M.Eng.ME 2024) has put his career plans into action working full time as a remanufacturing technician III at Tesla after earning a professional master’s degree from Illinois.

Shortly after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Ganpat University in India, Modi decided to complete his graduate studies at Illinois. He was able to find on-campus employment and a co-op internship with Amitron, which led to him becoming more acclimated to his new environment. Modi notes that he found great support during his time in the program by seeking help and advice from M.Eng. Program Coordinator Susan Roughton.

“Vatsal was a really fun student to have in the program and I’m sure that we will continue to stay in touch,” Roughton said. “He made really good use of the resources that were here. A lot of students can be nervous about meeting with me, but Vatsal was not afraid to ask me questions—his own or [those of] his shy classmates. When a student who is respectful and eager to learn, like Vatsal, it makes you feel valued as an advisor.”

In the M.Eng.ME Program, students are provided with resources and support from staff like Roughton. They are also often connected with alumni of the program, which helps them find guidance from those who are working in the field that they wish to pursue after graduation.

After rigorous job searching, Modi found his current position at Tesla, for which he runs analyses on damaged products and works to understand the reason behind the damage or the error in the diagnostics. He places an emphasis on the significance of problem solving, adaptability, brainstorming, and analysis when completing tasks and projects in his role.

“The period of time that I was attending Illinois was filled with some of the best moments of my life,” Modi said. “The M.Eng.ME program helped to further develop my technical knowledge, as well as improve my communication and networking skills. I don’t know where I would be if I never came to this university, but I know that I wouldn’t have had as many opportunities as I have now.”

Modi encourages students to improve their networking skills and build a more meaningful relationship with alumni. Eager to help when contacted by Illinois students, he feels equipped to provide a more beneficial level of support when he knows more about who the student is as a person.

He also encourages current students who are applying for jobs to set aside time in their daily life to dedicate solely to job searching. Showing the same initiative that he did when seeking support from advising, he was not afraid to reach out to recruiters and work to improve himself for future interviews after meeting with them. Modi suggests that students reserve time for job searching in the early morning—he typically spent three hours a day searching for career opportunities—as this tends to be the time that most recruiters begin their workday. Modi never let rejection discourage him, instead viewing it as a way to better himself and continue to grow as a person.

“Recruiters were always kind and eager to help during my job search process,” he said. “I have found that the best question to ask at the end of an interview is ‘Where can I improve my career profile and skill set to be better for the next time I’m interviewed?’ I asked this during every interview, always finding opportunities for reflection and growth regardless of the outcome of the interview.”

When asked about his future, Modi has his sights set on three specific goals: pay back his loans, take his parents on a vacation, and be open to new opportunities for personal and professional growth. His parents have always been supportive of his goals and achievements, including when he decided to move to the United States for his graduate program and stay for his career.

“My family has always been important to me, even though we are not able to be together all the time,” Modi said. “My parents were able to give me so many opportunities in a selfless way, like when I moved to this country to continue my education. They were able to provide a good life for me and my sister, and I hope to someday be able to do the same for them.”

While discussing his family, Modi mentioned his competitive relationship with his sister, as they often challenge one another to succeed and be the best they can be. Doing so has remained a fun way for them to connect as siblings and find motivation from each other’s support.

While he credits his family and his time spent at Illinois for his achievements, Modi has worked hard to be where he is now. In his academic and career journey, he has shown resilience, determination, and compassion, which he will bring with him for future aspirations of growth.

“I made a promise to myself to never look backward,” Modi said. “If I don’t challenge myself, I will never make progress.”