My first interview

It was yet another lazy sunday morning, and I didnt have too many entries in my usually lengthy "To-do" list at home.. I was just to go and get a decent summer friendly hair cut and that's it... It was around 9 in the morning and I was still happily sleeping.. but nope.. she cant stand that.. She wont miss a chance to ensure that, she pours a big bucket of cold water, literally on this happiness of mine.. Yup.. am talking about my mum... She came and yelled..."Wake up... its 9 in the morning"... After the regular mundane routine of brush thy teeth, wash thy face, read newspaper.. I decided to watch some movie on my lappie... There wasnt much to watch on TV either, so I decided to stick to watching some movie on the lappie.. "Three idiots" was the unanimous choice.. Though I had watched this movie a couple of times, I decided to enjoy "Chathur Ramalingam's " astonishing hindi accent...

        This time as I watched the movie.. I suddenly realised that I was seeing bits and pieces of my ever green first interview experience... as I watched "Raju Rastogi" take his interview.. So I decided to share it with all my readers.. (yeah yeah, I know I aint got a crowd but still...) Here it goes...

      It was the month of March way back in 2003... I had come to Chennai to attend my first ever interview with an MNC, accompanied by my father.. I had been stuck to bed for the previous three months due to a severe leg problem and after a lot of pondering and debating, I had decided to give this interview a shot...

       It was the day of the interview and my friend Iyer (that's srikanth) had agreed to come along.. So I set off, clad in a black pant, a white shirt (which wierdly had a big flower design on it), no tuck in, with an elbow crutch... We arrived in Tidel Park, and as my friend was busy trying to figure out the formalities to get in, I was simply lost, gaping at this huge building, which I had only seen in television...! I was thrilled, not because I was getting to attend the interview at such a big place, but because of the fact, that I was entering into this building which among my friends back in hometown was an achievement by itself.

         We figured out which floor we were to go, and I for the first time in my life was seeing an escalator and an automatic lift! The child in me was running around all over the place, dumbstruck by the pomp and glory of this place...I was actually inside the premises of an IT park.. ! Yay!! I kept telling myself..

         We reached the floor and I was shocked...!! There were close to around 150+ folks.. I told my friend... "Iyer, dont expect me to make it through... I came here just for the sake of it..I dont stand a chance".. to which he replied... "No problem mate... Just go and have fun".. Round 1 was a written test, and the results told me I was through, which to me was a big surprise... Round 2 was a group discussion.. 150+ folks, were now reduced to a mere 15 people, from which I was told that 7 of 'em would be short listed.. I wasnt too worried about being selected or not selected, because my biggest aim in life had been fulfilled.. I always wished to just be in a software company atleast for a day.. and here I was, living that wish ! Round 2 was to be a group discussion and our group was asked to debate over "Should Indian cricketers be allowed to act in Ads".. well I had been in bed for 3 months and the only thing that I had done was watch cricket.. so I was happy..phew! atleast not a difficult topic... The group discussions were over, and I was told to wait in this big glass door room with the rest of the people.. while everyone was busy introducing and getting introduced, I was sitting there lost in my own world, swaying on those world class ergonomic chairs... someone sitting next to me asked me curiously.. "What are you doing mate?".. All I could do was smile and reply back.. "Living my greatest wish"... am sure he never understood what I meant... !

                Now it was time for the last round of interviews, wherein I learnt that we had to go through the Director... I sat and nervously waited for my turn... and finally I was called in... I saw a tall man with glasses sitting in the room and asked me to come in.. I politely apologised for coming into an interview in a typical Non professional manner, and explained him the "Flashback"... since I was a fresher he didnt ask me much on the technical side, but just asked me as to why was I carrying an elbow crutch and its story..After listening to it fully, he said.. Ok.. we will get back to you on this... I timidly asked him.. "Sir.. Can I ask you something..".. He said "Sure thing.. go ahead".. I said.. "Sir, I think I was pretty blatant in explaining my past, do you think it was correct to be honest or, do you think I should have subdued the facts..".. He just smiled and replied.. "Am glad you were honest.. Stick to it.. Its a lot more easier"..

              Three days later, when I was informed that I got the job and was asked to come to the same place again to collect my Offer letter.. my father decided to tag along with me... Karthik Sir... (I still call him that way...) called me in and handed me over the offer letter and was busy explaining to me the HR policies.. but he noticed I wasnt paying any attention... I was busy counting.. He stopped and asked.."What are you doing".. I replied.."Sir I am trying to find out, how much am I gonna get every month"... to which he replied.. "Oh that..atleast 15k"... I was shocked..."15k was what I used to earn in a computer center in a year".. I timidly asked him.. "Sir, really am gonna get that much"... he burst out in laughter and asked.. "Who is that elderly gentleman who has come with you..."..I replied, that's my dad.. He said.. "Go tell him, you got the job and this is what your salary is...".. I rushed out to tell my father I had finally got my job....All I could see was, his eyes in tears.. but he wouldnt show it... He had a shy smile on his face and said.. "Kanna, come let's go home..."...

              This entire scene was flashing in front of my eyes, as I watched Raju Rastogi, take his interview... I paused the movie for a second, for my eyes were moist... and sat to think... that's what some movie makers do to you, while you watch, what they claim is a figment of their imagination... !