Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, and this is something I take very seriously. When I was a student at MIT Chennai, I watched friends pay ₹5,000-10,000 for resume writing services and career counseling that should have been accessible to everyone. I made a promise to myself that Sproutern would never put career resources behind a paywall. Every tool, every guide, every resource you see here is free — not a "freemium" model where the good stuff is locked away. We sustain ourselves through non-intrusive ads (like the ones you might see on the page) so that every student, whether from IIT or a small-town college, gets the same access. That's the whole point. If something helps you get a job, it should be free.

No account is needed for most features. I designed it this way deliberately because I know the frustration of having to create accounts just to access a simple calculator or guide. Our CGPA converter, salary calculator, typing test, interview question banks — they all work instantly without any login. Some features like bookmarking resources or saving your progress do store data locally in your browser, so you won't lose anything if you close the tab. We do offer optional accounts if you want personalized features like saving your resume analysis history or getting tailored career recommendations. But the choice is entirely yours. I'll never force you to hand over your email just to use a tool.

I'll be honest with you — there are many career platforms out there. Some have bigger teams, more funding, and fancier features. Here's what makes us different: 1. **We're built by someone who literally just went through this.** I graduated from MIT Chennai in 2025. I didn't create Sproutern based on market research or business models. I created it because I struggled and I don't want others to struggle the same way. 2. **Real interview experiences from real students.** The interview experiences on our platform aren't scraped from the internet. They're written by actual students who gave placement interviews and wanted to help others. I personally review each submission for authenticity. 3. **No hidden premium tier.** Every other platform seems to have a "Pro" version that locks away the best content. We don't. What you see is what you get — everything. 4. **Indian context, Indian reality.** We understand CGPA conversions for Anna University. We know what companies ask in on-campus placements. We get the Tier-1 vs Tier-2 college challenge. Because we've lived it.

My name is Premkumar M, and I built Sproutern because I was frustrated and I thought someone should fix this. In 2024, I was a student at MIT Chennai preparing for placements. I had decent technical skills and some projects, but I was completely lost when it came to the "career" side of things — how to write a resume that wouldn't get filtered out, what interviewers actually expect, which companies were good for freshers. I failed my first three interviews. Not because I wasn't prepared technically, but because nobody had told me the "unwritten rules" — things that students from well-connected families or top colleges seemed to know instinctively. When I finally figured things out (by talking to seniors, making mistakes, and learning the hard way), I realized: why isn't this information available to everyone? Why should a first-generation college student have to struggle alone? That's why Sproutern exists. Every guide, every tool, every resource is something I wish I had when I was preparing. You can read more about my journey on the [About page](/about).

The short answer: very accurate, but always double-check with your university. We don't just use generic formulas. Our CGPA converter includes university-specific formulas for Anna University, VTU, Mumbai University, JNTUH, and more. These are sourced directly from official academic regulations and examination guidelines. That said, universities sometimes update their conversion methods. I've seen this happen — a friend used an online converter, got a wrong percentage on their resume, and had an awkward moment in an interview when the numbers didn't match their transcripts. So here's my advice: use our tool for quick calculations and planning, but when it comes to official documents, always verify with your college's examination cell. Better safe than sorry. If you notice that our formula for your university is outdated, please [contact us](/contact) — I personally review these reports and update the tool.

I want to be absolutely transparent here because I know how sensitive resumes are. Here's what happens when you upload a resume: 1. Your file is sent to our servers over an encrypted connection (HTTPS with TLS 1.3) 2. Our AI analyzes the content, looking for keywords, formatting, and ATS compatibility 3. You get your score and recommendations within seconds 4. **Your resume is immediately deleted from our servers** — we don't store copies We don't sell resume data to recruiters. We don't use your resume to train AI models. We don't keep backups. The only place your resume data exists is in the results displayed on your screen (which you can screenshot or download). I built this with the same care I'd want for my own resume. Nobody wants their personal information floating around on random servers.

Absolutely! I actually designed the tools mobile-first because I know students don't always have access to laptops. I remember preparing for placements and often using my phone to quickly look up things between classes or while commuting. The CGPA calculator, typing test, interview questions, salary calculator — everything works smoothly on phones and tablets. If you notice any tool that's difficult to use on mobile, please let me know. That's a bug I want to fix.

I genuinely love hearing from users. Some of our most popular features came from student suggestions. Here's how you can reach me: - **Contact form:** Visit our [Contact page](/contact) and describe your idea - **Email:** Send directly to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) - **Social media:** DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn I can't promise to build everything suggested (I'm just one person with limited time!), but I read every message and prioritize based on how many students would benefit. Features like the interview question generator and company-specific prep guides came from user suggestions.

Yes, and this is something I'm very particular about. Every interview experience published on Sproutern comes from an actual student who went through the process. We have a submission form where students can share their experiences, and I personally review each one before publishing. I look for: - **Specific details** that indicate genuine experience (exact questions, process flow, timeline) - **Consistency** — the details should match what we know about the company's hiring process - **Helpful intent** — is the student genuinely trying to help others or just promoting something? We've rejected submissions that felt fake, copy-pasted, or promotional. Our interview experiences may not have the volume of some bigger platforms, but I can vouch for their authenticity. If you've recently cleared an interview and want to help others, I'd love to publish your experience. Head to the Interview Experiences section to submit.

I treat content freshness seriously because outdated information is worse than no information. Here's our update schedule: - **Tools (calculators, tests):** Updated whenever formulas or regulations change. For tax calculators, this means updates with each Finance Act. - **Blog posts:** New articles published weekly. Existing posts are reviewed every 6 months for relevance. - **Scholarship listings:** Updated monthly, with deadline reminders added closer to important dates. - **Interview experiences:** Published as we receive and verify them. - **Company guides:** Reviewed quarterly to reflect any changes in hiring processes. Every page shows a "Last Updated" date so you know how fresh the information is. If something seems outdated, please flag it — I'd rather know and fix it than leave incorrect info up.

I'll give you an honest answer: scholarship information changes frequently, and we do our best to keep up. We source scholarship details from official government portals (NSP, state scholarship websites), university announcements, and corporate scholarship programs. Our team verifies dates and amounts before publishing. However — and this is important — **always verify details on the official scholarship website before applying.** We've seen cases where deadlines get extended or reduced, amounts change, or eligibility criteria are modified after we publish. Think of our scholarship listings as a discovery tool to find opportunities you might have missed. But for the actual application, go directly to the source. I'd hate for you to miss out because of outdated info on any platform, including ours.

Yes, all our study abroad and global career guides are updated for 2025. This includes: - Visa requirements and recent policy changes - Updated cost of living estimates - Current PR/work permit pathways - University application timelines I understand that study abroad plans involve significant financial and life decisions. The last thing you need is outdated info about visa processes or scholarship deadlines. That said, immigration policies can change suddenly (we've all seen this during COVID and after). If you're seriously planning to study or work abroad, cross-reference our guides with official embassy/consulate websites.

Not yet, but I understand why you're asking. Currently, Sproutern focuses on self-service tools and guides. The reason is simple: genuine career counseling requires time and expertise, and charging for it goes against our "free for all" principle. Offering subpar counseling just to check a box wouldn't help anyone. What we do offer: - Comprehensive guides that answer most career questions - AI-powered tools that give personalized recommendations - Interview experiences that share real student insights - Community resources where you can learn from others In the future, I'm exploring mentorship features where working professionals could volunteer to help students. If that interests you (as a mentor or mentee), let me know through the contact page.

There are several ways you can help other students through Sproutern: 1. **Share your interview experience:** If you've cleared an interview recently, your story could help someone else. Submit through our Interview Experiences section. 2. **Report errors:** Found something incorrect in our tools or content? Please tell us. Accuracy matters more than ego — I'll fix it. 3. **Suggest improvements:** Have ideas for new features or content? We're always listening. 4. **Spread the word:** If Sproutern helped you, share it with friends who might benefit. Our growth is entirely word-of-mouth. 5. **Support financially (optional):** We have a donate page for those who want to support our mission. It's completely optional — never feel obligated. The biggest contribution is simply using the platform and giving honest feedback. That's how we get better.

Yes, and privacy is something I care deeply about. Here's the complete picture: **What we don't do:** - We don't sell your data to third parties - We don't share personal information with recruiters without your explicit consent - We don't track you across the internet - We don't require personal info to use most tools **What we do:** - Most tools (calculators, tests) store data locally in your browser — we never see it - If you create an account, we store only what's necessary (email, preferences) - Resume analysis is done securely and files are deleted immediately after processing - We use analytics to understand how the site is used (aggregate, not individual) Our detailed Privacy Policy is available on the [Privacy Policy page](/privacy-policy). I wrote it to be actually readable, not lawyer-speak that no one understands.

I genuinely appreciate bug reports — they help make the platform better for everyone. The easiest way to report an issue: 1. Go to our [Contact page](/contact) 2. Describe what you were trying to do 3. Tell us what went wrong (screenshots help!) 4. Mention your device and browser if it's a technical issue You can also email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) directly. I personally review all bug reports and try to fix critical issues within 24-48 hours. For less urgent issues, fixes usually come in the next weekly update. Fun fact: some of the students who reported bugs early on are now credited in our internal "bug hall of fame." Your contribution matters!