From learner to leader: my path into Australia's IT industry

Mehar Sharma, Bachelor of Information Technology 

Where it all started

I grew up in a small rural town in India where access to quality education was limited. Determined to give me better opportunities, my parents sent me to a high school in the city. There, I became interested in debating competitions and playing volleyball. My favourite subject was physics, and I considered becoming an astrophysicist as I wanted to advance our understanding of the universe but my dad, who was working in information technology (IT) at the time, encouraged me to study technology abroad and build a global career.

Australia was my first choice for a number of reasons – it offered world-class education, a similar climate to India, a great lifestyle and some of my relatives were already living there.

Although my relatives lived in Melbourne, I chose to study in Adelaide. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and build independence.

Award for academic excellence, aged 7

Choosing Kaplan Business School 

I chose Kaplan Business School because it offers high-quality education at an affordable price. What stood out to me was the smaller class sizes – something that makes a big difference to the way you learn. Some of my friends are studying at big universities and their classes have hundreds of students, so they have limited access to personalised support.   

At KBS, lecturers have the time to support every student. If I didn't understand a concept or have a challenging situation, they are happy to help. Classes are interactive and practical, so you're not just listening, you're actively applying what you learn.  

My academic internship 

My careers advisor at KBS recommended that I apply for an Academic Internship. I secured an IT support role at a car dealership that operated across multiple locations in Adelaide. I'm currently helping my team develop a learning management system to standardise employee training programs, while also supporting the migration of the company's content from a physical server to a cloud-based system. It's exciting to apply theory to a real-work environment.   

In this internship, I'm learning how to collaborate with different stakeholders, explain complex technical information in a simple way and work and interact in a professional environment.  

Differences between India and Australia  

One of the biggest differences I noticed between India and Australia is the emphasis on soft skills. Back home, the focus is often more technical, but in Australia, how you communicate and work with others is just as important as what you know.  

After a month I arrived, I started handing out my resume and landed a retail job at a store called Hype. I have been working there for the past 3 years, and it has given me opportunities to make friends, gain local work experience, understand the culture better and improve my communication skills. 

Another difference is starting conversations with strangers. In India, it's less common to suddenly start talking with people you don't know. When I first arrived in Australia, I wasn't used to talking with strangers, but over time, I became more comfortable initiating conversations with customers at work or making small talk with other students on campus. This skill is essential when it comes to professional networking – a key part of building your career in Australia. Building the confidence to approach new people, start conversations and form connections are important.  

Joining the Emerging Professionals Committee  

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is Australia's largest tech community, representing professionals across industry, government and education. They came to KBS last year to speak about what they offered and how we could be involved.  

Their team encouraged us to apply for roles in their Emerging Professionals Committee which focuses on elevating the next generation of ICT professionals through career development programs, leadership opportunities, and networking. I applied and was so excited to be selected as their Event Lead.   

In this role, I'm involved in every stage of event delivery - from organising speakers and collaborating with industry professionals to managing marketing and scheduling. One of my highlights so far has been emceeing a panel discussion and networking event, where industry experts shared their career journeys, insights and answered questions from our attendees.  

Looking ahead, I'm excited about our upcoming initiative, the Ambition Tour. We will be taking students inside some of Australia's leading tech companies. It's not easy getting roles at these organisations and the Ambition Tour will offer them a rare chance to connect directly with professionals. I am also organising mock interview sessions, where tech recruiters will coach our members on what employers are looking for. 

Emceeing the ACS panel discussion, March 2026

Representing ACS at the KBS campus, March 2026

What I love about IT 

What I love most about IT are the endless opportunities to create and build things for myself. By learning programming, I've been turning ideas into something real - my own software programs, apps and websites.  

The most challenging part is keeping up with how fast the industry evolves. Standards change so quickly. There have been times when I've submitted a project thinking it met industry standards only to realise - after seeing my classmates’ work - that the benchmark has already shifted. But instead of feeling discouraged, I see it as motivation to keep improving.  

To stay current, I actively follow industry news and attend networking events where I can learn directly from people working in IT. 

My view on the IT landscape 

IT has a variety of career paths to match different skill sets. If you're analytical or logical, programming might be a great fit. If you're a strong communicator who enjoys working with people, you can go into IT project management. It all depends on your range of strengths and interests. I recommend taking a psychometric test to gain insight into the type of roles that would suit you best.  

IT is an industry that evolves quickly – especially with the rapid growth of AI. You must keep yourself updated and informed. I could learn something today only to find new tools or standards emerging the next. Staying updated and adaptable is essential. 

Expect a lot of competition, especially when you're trying to enter the industry. But don't worry - there are many pathways to explore – whether it's AI, cyber security, software development or hardware. Getting into the industry is the hardest part. Once you get in, you will surely enjoy it. 

My future 

After graduating this June, I plan to continue building my career in Australia. I'm particularly interested in cyber security because it brings together networking, programming and digital forensics. However, entry-level roles are limited in cyber security, as companies need time to trust you with sensitive systems and data. Therefore, I can start in entry-level roles in networking, programming or IT support and build the experience needed to move into cyber security.  

My dream is to work for Google, but I need to develop the right combination of technical skills, and experience first. I'm also passionate about start-ups – the risks are bigger, but so are the opportunities to grow, innovate and make an impact.  

Want to connect with Mehar? 

LinkedIn: Mehar Sharma 

Develop real-world knowledge and skills and shape the future of technology with our Bachelor of Information Technology.  Learn the top reasons to study business in Australia.  

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