In rural India, the lack of awareness about unconventional career paths and limited exposure to industry norms and culture create significant barriers for students aspiring to step beyond traditional or local occupations. Societal influences, coupled with insufficient career guidance, often prevent these students from envisioning a future in dynamic fields such as technology, design, or digital marketing. Raaha, a career development platform, aims to address these challenges by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to become career-ready in an increasingly globalized world.
A user-centered design approach was employed, involving foundational research with educators and students, 50+ survey participants, 20+ interviews, and field studies across 8 schools. Data collection included empathy mapping, journey mapping, and usability testing, analyzed through qualitative and quantitative methods to refine the platform design.

The findings reveal that rural students often lack access to career resources and mentorship, resulting in limited awareness of diverse opportunities. The platform, Raaha, demonstrated significant potential in improving career awareness, with a usability score (SUS) of 88% and positive feedback from initial users, indicating its accessibility and effectiveness.
This research contributes to education technology and career development by providing insights into the challenges rural students face and designing a scalable solution to address them. Raaha fosters career readiness by bridging the gap between education and global opportunities, empowering students to explore unconventional paths and thrive in modern industries.