Testing Times

Life is challenging; I completely agree!! But, life hasn’t been as challenging for me as it has been in the last few months. I guess to my misfortune, the economic crisis timed itself to perfection and had an important implication in the placement process. The companies started freezing recruitment and those who managed to come to the campus, just did so maintain the so called corporate relationship by picking a handful of the guys.

Being in the Placement committee, I knew of the situation and had anticipated that a large number of students would have to head back home without getting placed. In such circumstances, I had two options to choose from; one to apply to any company coming to campus and pick up a job irrespective of my interests levels in the same and be content with the fact of getting placed before leaving the campus or on other hand wait, try for something that is of my interest; something that keeps me charged and motivated, even if it calls for the risk of going back home without a job. The ask was tough especially, when you have a loan to pay back to the bank as well as dad!!

As always, it was my heart that ruled the mind while deciding. I decided to wait and wait for a profile that gives me a sense of satisfaction as well a challenge. I didn’t apply randomly to all companies, especially the marketing companies that came in during the last few weeks, especially the retail companies. I also refrained from applying to these companies, especially the retails companies as I wasn’t sure if I would have taken up the job upon getting selected and so didn’t want to cannibalize the chances of my peers just by being selfish. There were people who were more keen about these companies and for some it was their dream company!!With such a thought process, I have come back to India to try and search for a decent job here!

I am a very ambitious person!! I always wanted to be occupied with work. I feel that one should run the initial laps of his/her career fast so that he/she can relish each moment of the final lap!!So I like to be completely pre-occupied with work, even if it calls for skipping the meals or being glued to my laptop for hours. Owing to these reasons, I liked my job at L&T. I was being constantly pushed by VGV (My ex-boss, GM & SBU head). He kept me on toes and I tried responding accordingly. I enjoyed the responsibility and so the long hours at office seemed a pleasure (On an average I used to record more than 11.5 hours each day at office as against the stipulated 8.5 Hours). So when I was looking out for a job post mba, I wanted it to be demanding and challenging. Owing to this my choices were already narrowed and moreover the economic conditions haven’t been favorable either. So my search for a job still continues.

Being a human being, I sometimes do get overpowered by emotions. I feel sad at still being dependent on my parents for financial help; though they have never ever complained and have always helped me proactively. I have been touchwood, lucky on that front. However, I sometimes feel, have I chosen a right path for myself? This is when I start doubting my credentials; all the gold medals, deans list, achievements so far, certificates seem worthless. I remember saying all this to RO (Rolly – One of my good friend in SPJCM) and she countered all that saying that it is not a right way to perceive things. She said,” If you wanted to get into a job, a retail job or some other job, you could have. But, you wanted something of your interest and have been very focused and clear in your objective and hence the delay in the process!!

I have been lucky to have friends like her, who kept me going!! Infact, I am reminded of the feedback that Gaurav (my worst critique and a good friend at SPJCM) had given me during one of the night out sessions just before I left. He mentioned that sometimes (More than often), I undermine my potential and give up easily. According to him, I deserve to achieve far more than that I actually do; but just because I give up there is a gap that exists between what I could have achieved to what I actually did! He as usual keeps motivating and is almost like an elder brother (I enjoyed fighting with him and pulling his leg, whenever possible).

Offlate, whenever I am down and clutched by the emotions, I just recollect all these conversations with my friends. This is also best summarized by these few lines from the song of “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” :
“Tu sabr toh kar mere yaar,
Zara saans toh leh dildaar!!
Chal fikr nu goli maar,
Yaar din jindi te chaar!!
Haule Haule ho jayega paar
Haule Haule ho jayega paar!!!”

(Written in the train (in solitude) during my travel from Veraval to Ahmedabad)