How I Cracked JRF

I have been in the corporate world for over five years. Initially, you look for a job for various reasons: financial constraints or a desire to gain experience in how the world works. You also want to grow in different areas, including bonding with people—which is a core component of professional life. I believe that bonding is often more important than the work itself because you must adapt to the office culture, even if your boss practices red tape or favoritism. You shouldn’t always swim against the current; at the end of the day, everyone plays the game. This is where you learn what it means to be a team player. In becoming a team player, however, do not step on anyone’s toes or stab them in the back; someone else might already be struggling with the heat of the race. Be open-minded, but do not restrict yourself so much that you spoil your life. Don’t get too close to people, but don’t stay too far away either. Maintain a professional distance, avoid creating enmity, and try to make friends instead.

The dark side of the job is mostly the work culture—office politics and gossip. These are worst among people with immature mindsets. Maturity is essential for building bonds, yet mutual understanding is often overlooked in the corporate world. People may try to insult you or find your mistakes if you move ahead of them. Because of this, keep a close connection with your seniors and friends. Having worked with people from many different backgrounds, I’ve learnt not to look down on anyone. Be extra cautious and respectful regarding different nationalities and ethnic groups. Do not unnecessarily use sarcasm or dark humour; it can be suffocating to those around you. Don’t hate anyone, whether they are juniors or seniors; be a good person for your own peace of mind. You don’t have to overtake those already in line. Opportunity will knock for you, too; never give up.

Additionally, corporate romances usually end badly; keep romance away from the office as much as possible. Speak for yourself and stand up for your soul, but do not be rude or aggressive. Align yourself with everyone, regardless of their rank. Be a “nice guy”—nice guys are not losers. As the saying goes, “Leaders eat last.” Despite these lessons, the hardest part of my five years was sleeping during the day, as I mostly worked night shifts. Getting proper sleep was nearly impossible, which led me to realise I couldn’t stay in the corporate world forever. Finally, at the end of 2023, I was able to quit my corporate job. I am deeply thankful because I felt it was soul-crushing. You shouldn’t be discouraged by my experience, but I felt like I wasn’t living a “real” life. I learnt a great deal about living, though not necessarily about making money. Enjoy your life while you can; in the words of a poet, “gather ye rosebuds while ye may. ” While I gained wisdom, I also felt like meat being cooked in an oven. By God’s grace, I realized corporate jobs are not my cup of tea—nor my coffee or caffeine. I have chosen to be my own boss. These experiences have made me more aware and diligent and given me a broader view of work and life.

The Challenge of Balancing Career and Academics

Preparing for and appearing in the NET exams while working in the corporate world is a massive challenge to shoulder. Many aspirants are fully committed to this goal, often attending coaching classes for six months to a year before taking the exams. In my view, this type of preparation eases the process because students are properly mentored for the race. Today, competitive government exams have become a “big race”, regardless of the job. While there is a difference between those who take coaching and those who don’t, I am not suggesting that coaching guarantees success. However, a good coach provides structured information and in-depth knowledge that is highly beneficial. That said, coaching is not a necessity; many aspirants crack the exam without any tuition. If you trust yourself and truly put your mind to it, you can succeed.

My Journey in English Literature

After several attempts, I finally cleared the exam with a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). My subject, English Literature, is a vast sea—crossing landscapes and spanning centuries. Mastering it is no easy task. My main burden during those years was my full-time job, which made it difficult to find proper reading time. Nevertheless, I read almost every day. I set my mind on my goal despite a heavy workload. When I worked from home, I managed to read during breaks or alongside my tasks, which was a great advantage.

About the Exams

Qualifying for NET/JRF is a life-changing milestone. The journey is different for everyone because this is one of the most difficult exams in Indian academics. The questions are notoriously tough; they are rarely repeated, though the underlying theories and patterns remain consistent. The questions are designed to confuse examinees with “twists and curls”, even for simple answers. They require logic and strategy, and the MCQs are often overloaded with dense text, especially in English Literature. If you enjoy the subject, the process is thrilling. Appearing for the exam repeatedly allows you to encounter new questions, gain fresh knowledge, and build confidence over the years. I love those difficult questions I’ve never seen before. The content is global, pulling from Japanese, Korean, German, Canadian, American, Indian, Russian, and, of course, British literature. We study everything from 1066 to the present day, subdivided into eras like the Victorian Age, Romanticism, the Jacobean period, and the Elizabethan Age.

The Depth of the Subject

One benefit of choosing English Literature over other humanities subjects is its intersection with Western philosophy. You must engage with thinkers like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Seneca, and Longinus, moving through to Descartes, Rousseau, Derrida, Barthes, and Nietzsche. Theory and Criticism are the foundations of literary study. Concepts like deconstruction, post-structuralism, postmodernism, and post-colonialism are essential to understanding philosophical contexts. These theories are often anthropological, sociological, and political in nature. The content is “bulky and chunky”, making it a broad and difficult field to master. Beyond theory, you have prose, poetry, and novels. It is a vast sea where you can swim from corner to corner, enriching your soul. As it is written, words are powerful and can “pierce to the division of soul and spirit.” Reading literature provides well-formed thoughts; it is an “embalmment for wounds and a light for the feet.”

Back in the days when I was applying for an MA, I applied for both English and Philosophy. My applications were both accepted, but I chose English, and for the next two years, I was awestruck, as Dorothy had said, mostly with the theories. Those are the things, the only things, that drive us crazy in literature, and those theories, of course, were philosophy. (I would like to name some, but I keep it for you to find out, if you’re new to it.) Literary Studies is interesting because of this exact thing, but without a love of it, it’s nothing at the same time. Your conviction and interest are very important to do anything. Great lectures were some of the courses that became the eye-openers, but they don’t necessarily have to be exaggerated by saying that this subject is above that or vice versa. Just because this is new to you doesn’t mean that everybody’s going to like it. There was a girl whom I knew in an academic context. She told me that she took History over English, so we all have different interests based on the person who inspired us during the previous academic session, which is exactly the reason for me. In class XII, I have a very good English teacher, who inspired me to go for that, and in MA, there is no chance of running away from the inspiration. I cleared NET in 2021 and then JRF in 2022, and now I am doing a PhD somewhere.

(Note: While I love literature, science subjects like engineering, biology, and law are equally valuable. No subject should be underestimated; it simply depends on your perspective and interests.)

How I Qualified and How Life Changed

I did not take any coaching, though I now realise it might have been a great help. I cracked the exam through sheer time and effort while working night shifts in the corporate sector. My advice is simple: you can do it if you set your mind to it. In my case, qualifying allowed me to leave the hectic corporate life behind to start my research. Although my corporate salary was much higher than the JRF scholarship, the satisfaction I feel now is beyond words. I’ve never focused solely on the money; being a researcher offers happiness, contentment, and a better quality of life. Pursue what you truly want. A PhD is a long-term commitment of 4–5 years. If you are doing it only for money or because your friends are doing it, that is not enough. You must do what you love. Wishing you the best. Hakuna Matata.