How Nitin Built a New Career in Cybersecurity with Leap Scholar

Nitin Rawat is currently working as a Cybersecurity Specialist at Bell. He holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance from Concordia University, Montreal. Nitin completed his undergraduate studies at Uttarakhand Technical University, where he earned a BTech in Electronics and Communications Engineering. Leap spoke with Nitin about his journey from Dehradun to Concordia and his transition into the cybersecurity field in Canada.

Q. Tell us about your background

I come from a teaching background. My entire family is involved in teaching as a profession.  So, growing up, academics were a major part of our household culture. I chose engineering  because I was strong in physics and math. I spent two years preparing for various competitive exams. During that time, I received an offer from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which aligned well with my undergraduate background. I decided to go with the BEL role. I did this job for six years and then i decided to do a master’s abroad. 

Q. Why did you decide to pursue a master’s abroad? 

I was doing the same kind of work there for several years. Since it was a fairly common job role, there wasn’t much scope to grow or enhance my skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I noticed that most people had shifted to working from home. Around the same time, I came across several news reports about cybercrimes, including bank frauds and security breaches, even in professional settings. I remember reading that Zoom had been hacked during virtual office meetings. That’s when I became genuinely interested in cybersecurity.

I began researching different programs offered by universities around the world. After careful consideration, I decided to pursue the cybersecurity program at Concordia University in Montreal.

Q. Can you take us through your application journey? 

You always have start your study-abroad journey a year in advance. I remember it was during the spring or early summer when I started my research. That’s when I came across Leap Scholar’s course. Since I was working in the government sector where communication was mostly in the native language, I felt the need to improve my English communication skills.

Leap Scholar became a turning point for me. I enrolled in a course where the faculty member was very supportive. They conducted several helpful classes, and I took those sessions for around three to four weeks. After that, I felt more confident about my communication skills and decided to book my IELTS exam.

Once that was done, I began applying to different universities. For me, Leap Scholar was the first key step that gave me both the confidence and the motivation to pursue my master's journey abroad.

Q. How did Leap help you with your study-abroad journey? 

One great thing about Leap Scholar at that time was that they would send out invitations to students who had registered for their free courses. Once enrolled, they provided lectures and modules specifically designed to help with IELTS preparation. I believe they also supported students with other important aspects of the application process, like writing the Letter of Explanation (LOE) and more.

The faculty was genuinely helpful, and the team managing everything was very supportive. They guided me through the application process and played a big role in helping me with my LOE and selecting suitable programs. For two of the universities I applied to, the faculty recommended courses, reviewed the program details with me, and helped me navigate the admission process.

Q. What was it like being a master’s student in Montreal?

Most people in Montreal speak French, so I decided to take some basic French classes before moving. It was just a one-month course, but it helped a little.I arrived in winter, and for the first time in my life, I saw snow like that, almost a foot deep everywhere. It was also during the lockdown, so everything was closed, and the city felt very unfamiliar.

But as winter passed and the lockdown ended, I slowly began to see a different side of Montreal. It turned out to be a really student-friendly city with a great atmosphere for learning.

The university had a solid orientation program, which helped me settle in. One thing I’d recommend to any student going abroad is to join clubs at their university. In India, we usually have a few options like technical or cultural clubs, but in Western universities, there are so many clubs catering to all kinds of interests.

I joined a few myself, and that made a big difference. It helped me connect with new people, understand the university culture, and get familiar with the city. It was a great way to integrate into the environment both socially and academically.

Q. Tell us about your job hunting process. How did you land your current role?

I started researching cybersecurity-related roles in my first year itself. By my second term, I actively began applying for internships and even a few full-time roles. I received a full-time offer during my third term, even though the course spanned six terms. That early breakthrough made a big difference. I used a mix of college resources and online platforms. My university held career fairs every term, where representatives from various companies visited the campus. These events were a great opportunity to interact directly with employers, hand out résumés, and get your profile noticed. 

Q. What is your life like now? 

When I moved to Canada four years ago, I left behind a stable job in India and my family. It was a big step, especially during COVID, when the global economy was uncertain and the future felt unpredictable.

But once I got this job, things began to fall into place. I work in the data security and privacy domain, which is a part of cybersecurity. Over the past two years, I’ve focused on enhancing my hands-on skills and staying current with industry trends. I also began attending various conferences, some geared towards students, others towards professionals,which gave me the chance to interact with experts from companies like Google, Arctic Wolf, Microsoft, and Amazon.

This journey has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve grown professionally, I’m financially stable, and I now feel confident about building a long-term future here in Canada.

Q. How instrumental was Leap Scholar in your journey from Uttarakhand to Canada?

Leap Scholar was the first place where I found the kind of support I needed when I started my higher education journey. The very first class I attended gave me confidence that I was in the right place. The faculty was great, my tutor, in particular, was extremely supportive. Because of that, I didn’t feel the need to look elsewhere. I took classes with Leap Scholar for about a month and also received help with writing my Letter of Explanation (LOE) and navigating the admission process.