Things were neatly Arranged for My First Grand Failure

From the day my final year classes began to commence, only one thing was running in my mind was about the first job I was to get. I was ambitious not only to get a placement, but to get a great one, and the first one. But how can things happen accordingly, when the life’s mine? As said once by someone about my life, it challenges me every moment. Things never happen properly for my concern. They always get into a maze, I have to solve with all my might and finally that moment I dreamed comes after I lose all my hopes on it. Fortunately, my placement wasn't an exception from my destiny.

I don’t know how a guy with an attitude like me can deal with the situations I faced for the first job in my life. Not just the first employer, but I had to let six companies reject me for my first employer to come in rescue. But the great thing is, each of these six nightmares taught me simple things that proved worthy for my first and best job to come. The happiness at the ending was double, because I was selected in not just one, but in two companies! I should call myself selfish, if I don’t share what I've learnt and so my success story gets narrated hereby.

Like all the placement experiences begin, my placement story begins with a placement training course for the written and further rounds to be cleared. But I was too much ambitious that I wanted everything to be perfect for the first employer to get convinced with my records. As soon as I completed my third year examinations, I was all set to get myself trained and prepared in all the ways. I made many small to medium application projects, made many certifications, learnt many technologies, taught myself everything that can help me get what I want. The result of all these efforts was a two page professional resume of mine stuffed tightly with all the projects, technologies, certifications and everything technical I wanted to show off to him. I was greatly satisfied and so were my trainers and teachers who started to believe that “I can make it”, in place of “I may make it”.

But what to come for me was too much different from what I was dreaming to happen. The placements to happen got delayed and dragged all the days from August to the end of November. The time would have been utilized very well by anyone else, but my mind was too much changing that I have shifted my plans from job to masters; that too in an IIT; too much for a weird guy like me. But I had too much confidence in me that I thought I can make it too simultaneously. I don’t know too much of velocity can kill a human, but too much confidence can sure. That’s what proved true for me.

Somehow I managed to make both the plans getting executed simultaneously, but couldn't sense what was to happen. After too much excitement exhausted and time wasted, the first placement notice was announced finally and the first battle for me was to get a job in TCS. I attended the placement training classes in my college and gave the best I could give in practicing what was taught. In addition, I tried learning from the internet, gathered too much of stuff for the written test and thought I was ready for it. I was almost too much expressive about the excitement I was in for the placement, I was almost daydreaming that one place was already reserved for me and the rest had to fight for the total offered except mine. I was even helping my friends and teachers organizing and registering for the written test, forgetting that I was also one among the ones to take the test.

On the day the written test was to be conducted, my mood was too much weird for me to feel. I was feeling excited and the very next moment getting horrified about what was to happen. The test was announced to be conducted in batches and I couldn't dare myself taking the test in the first batch. I waited with my friends to take the test in the last batch after having a detailed feedback from the people who have given the test before us. After waiting for all the batches to complete till the evening, I had no other option but to get into the last batch, at least. We all went into the lab. The one which felt too much comfortable for me before that moment, was feeling like hallows. With my senses smarting that something was not happening properly, I dared to sit after my classmate, but to all our surprise, we both got the same paper! Same questions soothed me, and I was feeling like heaven now. But still, doubting that something worse could happen, I left no opportunity unused and gave all my might for the exam with a feeling of pride that I’m going to cross this hurdle easily. I boasted to my parents that my friend and I would easily crack the test, but somewhere was a small suspicion and fear that the inverse may happen.

A Week after the test was given, on a fateful evening, I was actively surfing the internet when I noticed a post on my wall; The Results were out! There was an excel workbook, with just three spreadsheets. I was terrified to open the document, as I was already doubtful in my position. Somehow I managed to open the file, and checked all the names that have cracked the test, looking at my classmates name in the list cooled me as I was sure that we both would make it together like every time. But I already knew, things don’t really happen like I imagined being, they never happen. And like the same, my name wasn't there in the list. And so my ambition of getting the first the placement of my college, succumbed to a well deserved death.

Still I didn’t break into tears, or felt frustrated. I used to take even small failures too much to my heart, such was my attitude, but this was really a great defeat for me to cry. Still to everyone’s surprise, I didn't. I still remember how my teacher who was confident than me spoke to me; she was much terrified about how I would react to the results. I was still smiling, because I was still proud and confident of myself, that I can get the best ones if still put a little effort and was having an alternative ready for me. I told myself, now that I have an interview experience; I’m going to make it next time. But it was written something that I would suffer and learn too much and much worse experiences that I had to learn before I won. One thing I learnt from the failure was clear to me: Never be too much confident on your Luck, and never treat the toughness of all the tests alike, because some failures may make you suffer a lot later. But I feel that I have learnt a lot.

The Second One Was Tough and Frustruating

Things became too much hard for me, and every second of my life used to feel like hell. Still my confidence on me wasn't down. Next announced was a screening test conducted by some job consultancy company in our college. The thing much frightening was, a company called NTT Data was interested in the scores. The exam was too much tedious than I ever imagined, it was almost about 4 hours with numerous sections and questions on various quant and logical topics. Much struggling was the programming section, where I had to write three programs of different toughness levels in C or Java. But still I wasn't to give up, I attempted all the sections, coded all the programs to my best and somehow completed the test while most of friends gave up in the middle. The results at first felt better for me than TCS because I was in a dilemma that I can make it even easier as I have an experience already. There results were displayed after a week in my college and I was much horrified to see my name lost again. This time was much harder for me to digest than before, because I never had a successive failure twice on the same thing. I felt it even harder to inform it to my home, because my mom was already weeping while I was just remaining silent. There were people in my class who were later informed to attend to further rounds at some other place, and I heard that wasn't much fruitful. But I was not even that successful as I was always failing at the first step itself.

Now the real frustration in me started to come out and I was almost freaking out in madness. I wasn't able to understand one thing, why I was failing when I feel I'm well prepared for everything. There’s something more I need to have: Luck?! It was like destiny, that my friend and I visited a famous Balaji temple near my city. We started almost at 4 in the morning and were there in the temple by 9. My friend was in an vow that he'd make 108 pradakshinas round the temple. I wasn't feeling puzzled, because my conscience was telling me that I needed luck, the divine has made me to come before him and was ordering me to do the same. The first time in my life, I performed the same with my friend, who was already habituated to it. I don’t know whether the ritual really hurts everyone or I made some mistake, but there were boils everywhere my feet were feeling like on fire while I tried to step on the ground. As I returned home, was there a mail for me from the TPO that another placement notice has come, and this time it was a pool campus in a college in the outskirts of my city. And the Company this time was Virtusa. I wasn't even able to walk properly, but the rules are that I need to come in full formal with shoe mandatory. I ignored the shoe matter, and started for the session, in a rather ambitious mood. Even though I was confident that I can make it this time, but what was to come was really unexpected.

I sprang Out and Fell Down Like I do Everytime

The day I was about to start for the interview in the other college wasn't like any ordinary day. It tested my mettle, tempted me that it could be my day and the end, is what you must know. I started directly for the place of interview as the college was a little near from my house. Three of my friends told me that they'll be coming and asked me to join and I agreed. I came out of my home and walked all the way to the bus stop with a lot of pain from my feet, but my determination was much stronger than the pain I felt. I waited almost an hour at the bus stop for my friends who have spoke to me that they have taken the bus. After about 70 minutes that fateful bus came with my buddies waving hands for me to get in. I managed to get a seat for me as I badly needed it, and paid for the ticket. The journey was for about 50 minutes and interestingly the college was that we never knew that it ever existed. We got down the bus at the stop and were surprised to see no clue of where the college was actually. Everything was green around us, with mostly mango orchards. We somehow managed to cite a half constructed road into those woods and as we moved into it, we had our first sight of the college. The Buildings were tall and not so beautiful, but sure were attractive. Were moved to one of the corners of the buildings, where the registrations were being made. We managed to have it done in time and went in for the written test. We were made to wait for few minutes in a classroom to take the exam.

The TPO of that college was too much excited for us, and he felt like as if he was the HR for that company. He was checking everyone’s dress, shoe and even their ID Cards. I still remember he was speaking to us when a guy from another college entered the classroom wearing casuals. He was already fuming, and when he asked that guy for his ID card, he took out his purse and gave it to his hand as if he was to pay some bill with this credit card. I felt like the TPO would sure kill him, but instead he called one the volunteer and asked him to stick his ID card to his pocket with a gum tape. Many more funny things happened like this, and later we moved into the lab for the first test my battle. This time to my surprise, the test was being conducted by the same company which I had written before in my college. The questions looked somewhat little familiar and so I found it easy to mark them all. After the exam was over we were all directed to wait in a classroom. I was feeling too much frightened, confused, tensed, whatnot! Everything. And then came the same TPO with a louder and exciting tone to announce the results and I was shocked! I have cleared the written test. And then I was made to wait in another hall at the next floor. I was happy, proud and was confident that I can make it whatever next it is. I asked one of my friends about the next rounds. He detailed me that there’s a Group Discussion round and Two Technical rounds followed by a Final HR round. My excitement doubled with my over confidence that I can make it again. After few minutes, a batch of five members including me was asked to get seated in a hall. It included two of my friends too, and there was no sort of nervousness in me. But only thing I was worrying about is my bleeding toe with all the boils I have on it. My situation was pathetic; I was struggling to get a job with a very little energy left in me. One of the HR team entered the hall and we greeted him. I was wondering and thinking about what topic he was going to give for us to speak. He instead passed each of us a paper with a situation and an empty space insisting to write something. I didn’t understand what was he actually trying to observe from us, but the procedure was different from what we expected.

Generally my voice would be loud enough to be audible and it gets louder when I am confident about what I was about to speak. But this time, things reversed with my suffering. I was hardly speaking and that too scarcely louder. Added to my woes is that, the guy after me was overly active, that we was acting as if he was the leader of the crew. He was ordering everyone, stopping me from speaking and his actions reminded me of a traffic police. Whatever, he was the man who has put my fate back on track. After five minutes of shouting, debating, traffic controlling and parliament mocking, the results were announced and I, as usual was a failure. I still didn’t understand whether I was responsible for my failure or He was. But whatever the reason may be, I was happy on one thing, that I can be passing the written test like my friends and all I need was a little effort. As days passed by, the boils were healed and my feet got to normal. Now I had enough suffering and learning for my next placement and was confident but worried about what would happen next.

Confidence was my Only Weapon which was No more from Now

I was already in deep thoughts by now, as I never expected that I'd lose not just one but in three placements in a row. I used to spend myself hours alone, trying to assess my failures so far. I was having no clue of where and why I was failing in the tests. I was furious about getting no company of me to work. One thing soothing me a little was my performance in the last campus. Had not there the GD round, I'd have been placed. This was the confidence I used to have before this company, which proved that I am nothing. And that was Intergraph.

The day the company was to come to our college was very special for all of us, because it was one of the MNCs that come for an in-campus placement. Or I should say that this is the second in-campus placement that was coming for us. I should have felt comfortable if it had come first of all companies, because I had the experience of volunteering as a pre-final year student for the same. I observed the hiring people, listened to their pre placement talk, and felt like this was a heaven that one can get placed. One interesting thing happened when were volunteering the company in our third year. We all decided to look at the questions they ask in the written exam so that they may get to our help when we face them. We were asked to help the HR team during the exam being conducted in three seminar halls, one over the other in three floors of our college. We decided to spy the people who were giving the papers or ask them to show the question papers, but they refused. We then managed to observe the papers at every moment so that we can get at least one question for ourselves. But surprisingly we understood that, we all found the same question and that too half complete.

I reached the college by 9 a.m. To my surprise and laughter, my friends reached the college in full formals, for the first time ever. We all were asked to sit in our auditorium, but everyone was rather interested in making fun of each other, so we went into the auditorium last. The session started late after 10 a.m., as the people reached late. Somehow the session started and after giving a brief presentation and wonderful slideshow about the company with lots of animations and videos, we were asked to get ourselves prepare for the test in ten minutes and reach the same old seminar halls which were numbered by them in the same old way. One thing unique about the test was, the test was rather theoretical than online. There were about 60 questions with one minute for each. And the division was 30 quant and 30 on c programming. I was furious to get a job, as I said before and so I left no question unattempted and worked out the problems as fast I could. The results were informed to be announced afternoon.

I still remember how my emotions were when I was waiting for the results. I felt like most of my friends were confident that I won’t crack this either. But I was sensing something different; I may make it this time. I don’t know why, but a sometimes your mind tells you predictions faster and accurate than Google. I was praying, crying, and hoping; everything I could do within me. About two hours later, we were asked to assemble in the same seminar hall where we took that test. My friends weren't interested to come in there, but I was. So I went in there and took my place. Our TPO went on to the stage with a sheet and took his mike. My heart was already beating furiously, and he started with a sentence that shocked me, that only 9-10 people have cleared the test. I was already in tears by now, as I’m not that lucky to be among them from a total of 110 people.  He started to read and one name shocked everyone than me. It was me! I stood 6th among the 10 who cleared the test. My daydreams came back to life and I was so stupid that I even started to imagine myself working in that fabulous heaven. He asked everyone to reach the Placement Cell in 30 minutes. I took a very little food in the happiness that I am to get placed now. There were no other rounds which I suffered before, just a single Tr and HR. And the package was too much delightful, that even filled my tummy full that afternoon. I rushed to the office; it was on the fourth floor. I stood there revising all the subjects at a time. I wanted to surprise the interviewer with all the stuff I know. I was sure that the interviewer would love me after looking at the certificates and resume I produce. Many dreams, most of them daydreams that were ready to be shattered in a few hours.

I was called first into the room for the First Round that I never knew how to handle. I went into the room and the greeted the interviewer with all the confidence I could develop in that nervousness. The interviewer was old and looked tough to handle. But still I couldn't let my confidence down. He was asking in a rigorous tone that I never expected an interviewer could use. But I was answering in a doubtful tone, because I didn't know at that time how a TR round goes like. My brain works like an interpreter every time: it carefully senses everything and once it runs out of the answer, it remains there although how many questions you may pose later. One such question that blocked my brain was this

“What is the difference between a Class and a Structure; explain me from the access specifier’s point of view”.

That question nearly hanged my brain to death, because I wasn't able to decode what he was trying to ask. Classes don't exist in C. And Structures don’t exist in Java. Then what language is he trying to figure out. I was staring at him like a dumb guy, while he has already come to an opinion that I knew nothing. He then looked at my resume and asked me

“What the hell is all the useless things you mentioned in your resume”.

I was already feeling like I have lost this job, but I wanted to bring back the lost game to my side. Now I started to defend myself.

“Sir, they are my certifications I have done in various technologies.”

“What’s your favorite subject or dream platform?”

“Java sir. I feel myself better in java”

“But we don't use Java. We only use C. If you can answer stay here. Or else we can stop here.”

“No sir. I can answer C also”

“Why? But there are many companies that use Java. Why not go and try for them”

At this point, I was confused regarding his voice; he was speaking in a softer tone. I didn’t understand whether he was thinking me dumb enough to reject for the company or wants me to try for another company since I have much skill.

“What else do you know?”

I misunderstood he was asking me about programming and thought myself to present whatever I knew. I started from the basics of programming.

“Programming paradigms are of two types, structured and object oriented…”

“What are you saying? I asked what other technologies you know. Like DBMS, OS…”

“I know OS sir. You can ask me in that”

He tried asking me some questions on semaphores, CSP and some other and I answered with ease. I thought I am to win, when he asked me to write a program on C, with a problem given to me.

I was well known for my programming skills in my branch. But I stared at him trying to figure out how a human can solve that problem.

“Write a program that sorts all the alphabets in your name, and counts how many times each letter has got repeated”

I was already trying to defend myself; he understood that and asked me to leave. I’m such a stupid that I asked him what to do next.

“Wait Outside.” He said firmly.

After reading this, anyone can understand that I'm not going to get this job. But I waited like a fool for about 2 hours praying and still dreaming that I may get this job by miracle. But Miracles are called so because they never actually happen. Same result: Rejected.

After the interview was done, I went into the office and explained what has happened to the TPO. He listened everything, and replied me “I thought you knew programming very well, because some of the lecturers in your branch complemented and recommended you. And so I asked you to go first.” His words made me feel ashamed a lot, because I broke all his hopes. The greatest weapon of mine, confidence burned into ashes in the way the interviewer looked at me and my resume. I went home and explained my mom with a pretending to be hopeful tone that I left the job because I didn't like C. But the actual things happened taught me one thing, that sometimes being confident too much and blindly believing in a single path can ruin your opportunities and other’s hopes on you entirely.

When Everything Happens As I Expect, Something Sickly Strange Results

Four Placements by now, two in-campus and two off placed. But still I couldn't a job by now. It was already January second week and there were hardly three more months free for me to get placed through my college. If I couldn't make by then, I have to pick a tough file with all the documents of mine and look for vacancies in job portals, stay in cities like Hyderabad or Chennai, invade job melas, contact consultancies and many more. But everything consume the same; time and money, which I never wanted to waste. There was still a month for the next in-campus to come to our college. Meanwhile invitations from other colleges used to come to our college and we used get updates about it. One such came was Cegedim, through a job consultancy in support for our college. But the event was being held in Gudivada, another nearby city. I had to travel to a new city for the first time by myself and attend there. For a reserved natured guy like me, it was almost like going abroad, because I never dared to go somewhere alone. No one from my college was either attending, and so I had to make it all by myself.

I had to reach the college by 10 am. And the event starts by then, the journey was about One and Half hour, if you catch a proper bus that doesn't walk or crawl. I had to start even by 7 am. But lazy me, started at 8 am. The bus was really crawling as I expected, and dropped me there after 9:40 am. There was only 10 minutes left for me to reach that college but there was no other source but to pick up a share auto to go there. Fortunately I found one and took it, but I’m too much lucky. The auto driver noticed an accident on the way we were going and found that it was one of his acquaintances. He abruptly dropped us in the middle of the road and went away in his rescue. I thanked god for the kindness he shows on me every time, and waited to catch another. There was only one auto going towards the way I wanted to go, that stopped before us. It was a goods carrier transporting ripe tomatoes and meat. Ripe tomatoes smelled too much worse than meat for me, and I being a vegetarian had to sacrifice all my principles to get to there. Finally somehow I managed to reach there half an hour late. I was already wet in the sweat, hardly breathing as I entered the college. Thank god, my elder sister works there. She was there to help me for that day. I gave the test, and again it was the same test I attempted in my placement before. But the questions were more from Dot Net, than in Java and I being a good dot net student attempted all the questions correctly and was sure that I could crack it easily. I had my lunch with my sister, and was sad to find out that the results will again b given a week later. I bid her good bye and returned home. All I felt was hopeful, because I may get into this job for sure as I performed well in the test. Here the twist occurs, I was selected for further rounds, but I was unable to go because I was struck with viral fever! Then I understood how hard it can be when all the planets are against you. The sickness was not a simple one, it costed me two weeks and three placements. One of them was ADP, another company that came to our college. I tried my best to answer the questions, but my feverish nature won over my dedication. And my position came back to the first again: failure at the first round. I was to weep really by this time, much because of the fever that costed me a great damage! I returned home, and days seemed all alike that I can never make it again. I felt like divine should have been pleased by my sufferings, and so were the next days fortunately like what I dreamed of.

A Miraculous March

It was already the beginning of February, and my alternative was fast approaching: GATE 2014. Also I understood that companies weren't coming then. So I shifted all my focus on that important exam. I made schedules, prepared notes and did whatever I could with all my pain transformed into dedication for the exam. At least I had to pass the exam so that I can show my existence. It was the last week of February, and my exam was scheduled on March 2nd. And fortunately, the first mid examinations of my final year final semester were scheduled the last week of February. But I wasn't willing to get my mind diverted again from masters as I knew it can cost me heavily. I could have avoided the exams, but I felt that these exams may be tiny before my goal, but they prove mandatory for my bachelor degree. So I decided to give priority to these exams and then started to prepare for the exams rapidly. Somehow I managed to write all the four exams nicely, and secured respectable scores. Next in the table was my gate exam, which can conclude one of my plans. The day I was to write exam, was again interesting. My Classmate and I got the same exam center an was in another small town near my city. We both managed to reach there on time together and took the bus, which flew in place of running on road. We reached there before time, gave a little preparation and hoped that we may clear the test.

That day should mark an important day for me, because all my fears and tensions cleared off. My brain became free from all the challenges and was in a good mood for the next placement to come. I understood one thing, when you put two to three targets that simultaneously happen, your mental abilities get sliced off like that happens when you run programs simultaneously on a RAM and you can’t win any of these unless you plan them properly. And for a guy like me, it was nearly impossible since my mood changes here and now. And so as one of the two goals complete, I felt like I’m back into action again and was waiting for the next placement to come. I felt like I misunderstood myself, I was much confident on my presence of mind, than my mind itself. Much more fortunate was my destiny to win now. And March witnessed one of the greatest and memorable victories I ever had in my life; A Miraculous March.

Satisfaction Comes With Hard Work and Victory Comes From Your Satisfaction

I was eagerly waiting for the next placement to be announced as if I’m thirst of a victory. I suffered enough blows, learnt enough experiences and became mentally strong that I can take anything easily. I learnt how to tackle an interview, how to confuse the interviewer by experiencing the worst interview I ever imagined. Everything I felt was for my goodness, because I don’t have anything to learn, except experience. And experience teaches you better than yourself. All that I needed was a medium to show what I learnt, a placement. And that day came when a new placement notice was mailed to us. It was Infotech Enterprises. I thanked god for teaching me everything, and prayed to give a scope for me to excel now. If I can’t make it now, I can’t make it ever again. It was the day of placement; I woke up casually without much excitement or stress. All that I managed to learn was a few fundamental formulae on the internet. I reached the college in the same attire; I wore on the day of one of my failure placement before. The HR team demonstrated the job, salaries and all, but I was still thinking, but this time the plan I had to follow to win this time. After that we were asked to sit before in the same lab, where I wrote my first written test. The test was again being conducted by the same consulting company, but this time all the questions on ratios and proportions, mixtures which were the dumbest topics I ever understand. But still nothing was in my mind rather than cracking it. I used all the cleverness I ever had, and marked the answers by solving in the reverse patterns. The results were informed to be announced again in the afternoon. The same path, the same friend and the same walk we did before. But this time, I was smiling within me. I knew that it was sure my day. I returned the same seminar hall were the results were announced in the last placement. The first name was; Me. I was smiling still, within me. I didn’t panic or excite this time. I reacted to everyone calmly and casually, but everyone wasn’t the same. They were feeling surprised, but I left them without any tension, reached the office on time after a good lunch and waited for my turn. 

After an hour, I was asked to enter another room for the TR. The interviewer was cool and smiling, unlike the previous experience I had. And I was much more confident before, I knew everything this time, what to do, what not to do, where to and how to. I wasn’t prepared to face another failure this time. This conversation is worth remembering for my life, as I answered everything in the toughest interview I guess anyone had.

“May I come in Sir?”

“Come in.”

“Good Afternoon Sir”

“Good Afternoon. Take your Seat.”

“Thank You Sir.”

“So. You’re Mannava Sriram Kumar.”

“Yes Sir.”

“What should I call You Sriram? or Sriram Kumar? ”

“You can call me Ram Sir.”

“Who calls you Ram?”

“My mom Calls me Sir.”

“Your Dad calls you?”

“Your friends call you?”

“Sriram Sir.”

“Okay Ram. What’s your favorite Subject?”

“Java Sir.”

By the time we were talking, an attendant came in and placed a plate of snacks on his table. He offered me a handful of snacks. I rejected it. He was forcing me. So I took them. I was holding in my hand. He continued,

“So Mr. Ram, Can You Write a Servlet program for me?”

“Yes sir.”

“Okay then. Here’s pen and paper. Write a program that displays the top 5 marks of students in the class to the user. Write it in a servlet code.”

“Okay sir. I can.”

By this time, I was confused, because I was holding the snacks he offered in my right hand. So I asked him whether I can eat them. He sighed to eat, as I put them into my mouth. He continued,

“Let’s start the interview while you start writing Mr. Ram. The condition is you should not stop writing or answering my questions, while I’m asking you. Shall we?”

My mouth was already full with snacks, so all that I could was to quickly swallow them and sigh my wiliness.

“Tell about yourself.”

I wanted myself to present it differently, so I started “I believe in the quote that being a jack of multiple platforms is much preferred now days than being a master of single platform” and continued to tell about my achievements in brief to him for a few minutes. I felt from his expression that he was surprised, which I wanted to happen.

Then he continued to ask me simple and short questions so fast that anyone could have stopped writing at one moment, but my presence of mind was too determined to win this, that I kept on writing the code. 

“What are your hobbies?”

“I don’t have any in particular sir.”

“What do you do in your leisure then?”

“I’m a blogger sir. And I have a facebook page for it too. I post for them.”

“What do you write?”

“Stuff regarding science, placements, tips and everything current sir.”

“Do you watch movies?”

“No sir.”

“Do you watch TV?”

“No sir.”

“Then what do you do all the day?”

“I surf, I blog and I code Sir.”

“How many hours you sit before your PC?”

“About 5-6 hours every day sir. I sleep after 12”

“What’re your interests?”

“Computer Operating Systems, Mobile Devices, Gadgets Sir.”

“What’s the latest Nokia phone you know?”

“Nokia X sir.”

“What’s it?”

By this question, I felt like he’d die listening to all the stuff I knew about it.

Later He asked About Android, I made them one of my landmark answers for him in the session.

Suspecting what I don’t know. He asked “you use a Smartphone?”

“I use a normal Phone sir.”

“Then How do you know all about the features?”

“Virtual Devices Sir. Emulators and AVDs”

I showed him the servlet code I’ve written, but wanted me to write something more. I had to write the xml and front end html code for it. I then explained all the parts and libraries in that code. He was impressed I felt. And finally he asked me to draw the output. I drew, and then he said “Why didn’t you display the names of the top 5?”

My answer almost made him die laughing.

“My mother doesn’t the names of the toppers sir. She just needs some marks greater than mine, to scold me every day.”

He then asked me to wait outside for the next rounds. As soon as I came out, everyone was greatly surprised because my interview went for almost 2 hours. After 30 minutes, HR round started. Mine was the first name in the list again. As soon as I went in, the HR was a woman. This conversation was much more commanding from my side.

“May I come in Ma’am?”

“Come in Mr. Ram. Have your seat.”

“Thank You ma’am”

“Can you tell me about yourself?”

I sang the same song with much pleasure, because for the first time it worked out very well.

“Can you give an example of your cleverness?”

I explained her how I managed to clear the aptitude test even though I wasn’t aware of how the solutions were to be solved. She felt surprised, and so confident I felt.

“What are your hobbies?”

“I don’t have any hobbies in particular ma’am but I blog in my leisure times.”

“Can I see Your Blog?”

“engineeringaspirations.blogspot.in ma’am”

“Okay I’ll check it out later.”

“I have a facebook page for it too ma’am. You can hit like for it.” and I smiled.

“Can you tell me about your project?”

I explained it with all the interest and information I gathered tailored to it, she listened to it and asked

“Can You Show It to me?”

“Sure ma’am. I hosted it in my website, you can look from it. Sriramkumar563.net84.net”

She was already stunned by my answers. And this made much more impressive mark.

She then continued

“What do you know about Infotech?”

I spoke to her frankly and explained her that I surfed the day before and found about the company. I felt that being frank and true sometimes can put you in impression zone. She thanked me for my interest and asked me to look in the mail for the results. I thanked her and left the room confidently that I had found my day finally. And a week after the fantastic day, results were declared, and Me, Sriram Kumar was in the List. I should tell you something now, although I suffered a lot during my defeats, they really helped me that day, because you remember your failures much more accurately than your victories. But I'm too much satisfied for my first job because I didn't get it, I earned it. 

And then I won my best offer

ill the time I was selected in my first placement , I was not sure about what the receipe of a success actually was. I was just experimenting the correct way with the wrong things. And when you try it in the wrong direction, no matter how sincere you are you have to loose. Now that I've learnt this, the correct experiment with correct ingredients I made was a great success and it was CTS,my second and best placement.

I can't really say that CTS was my second placement, if you say that a placement process starts from the placement test because I gave the written test for CTS first and after that the first successful placement happened. it was like all other placements that I received another mail from the placements cell in the first week of march that CTS was organizing a placement session and the venue was a nearby college in gudivada, another small city in my city's neighbourhood. I was well familiar with that college because I had already tried my luck before there This time we were trying in group: me and my friends. We all started from our places as usual early I'm the morning to be there on time. We all travelled together and me in particular with some fresh feeling that I may make it this time. We all reached there on time and were puzzled by looking at the people who have come for the exam. There were thousands of people from colleges of different regions. My sister was there to help me if I wanted. But I refused her offer and went in to give whatever I knew. The test was a simple one based on english and reasoning. I attempted all the questions with most probable answers I felt. We all met after an hour and decided to reach our place by train, just for a change. The journey proved to be memorable forever. it would take no more that an hour for me to reach my home by bus. But train was too tedious and we reached our homes after four hours! The results were announced a week after and fortunately I was among the 900 odd people who cleared the test among those 5000 people. We were asked to come prepared with our documents and certificates for the interview and were mailed the addresses.this time a new college and a new experience.

I was informed through mail that we should be there by nine sharp. I started as usual early and was expecting some of my friends who were also selected. I waited for them at the venue but couldn't resist as they were too late already. So I resolved and went inside. There were numerous help desks for directing the thousand students who were selected for the interview. We were asked to wait in another hall; a spacious room with not so many chairs for the interviewees. We had to make ourselves adjusting with the chairs we found unoccupied for couple of minutes. The volunteers were announcing the list of students from each college in alphabetical order. We were sure that it may take few hours for us to be called because our college was at P. But after a few minutes one of my classmate messaged me that her interview was over. I was shocked because I was waiting in that boring hall. I asked her how she made it. Then she replied that one of the volunteers directed them to attend there and they have been interviewed in a span of thirty minutes. Nothing could be done I thought and resumed my wait in the hall. At 4:00 in the afternoon, we were called for the first round and I was already half exhausted. I was directed from a queue into another one, this time was a smaller one outside the hall where a group of panels were arranged. I was trying to figure out how tough the interviews were. I asked some of the people who came out after the interview. Their replies even horrified me as they were asked a lot. I was nervous although I knew I was already placed. I don't know why, but I was a lot more ambitious. I was called in. I now know what to do and what not to do. I greeted the interviewer with confidence. I was asked just three questions: one about myself, which I was already masterinllllg. The second was about my favorite subject. I answered the same I did before, but I was asked for a second one. I answered trickily. The the third one was a tricky question and I answered it cleverly. The interviewer asked me about the application of my project. After I'm done I was asked to wait outside and to the volunteer's surprise I just took 10 mins. And his result was shocking: I was selected for the final round. I was made to wait in another hall. The final round was simple with a single question. "why should I hire you? ". I cam up with a simple and tricky answer; my frankness. I answered that I was adaptable to the domains I was to work. Then that I was a strong person by attitude. He was waiting for my third reason as I paused for a moment. I finished it off saying that I work for my satisfaction and nothing else. I came out after 5 mins. We returned back to our place and after a few days one afternoon I heard one my classmates talking that the results have come. I checked the people and was shocked that out of the two hundred odd people who were selected among the thousand who attended,I was there! I WaS happy because after four months of strains and pains. I won two in place of a single job. About three weeks after my struggles ended I gave my final semester exams and it was two weeks that I passed them all. I received my call letter after a week and was asked to report on July 1 at chennai. when I visited my college for the last time, I was asked by a junior that what I prepared for the interview. I smiled and answered "who knows, I tried all the ways I could, and learnt everything I could." Sometimes you make mistakes only to learn. And if you learn, you can win even more than what you ever dreamed. And that's how I dreamed,failed, tried, learnt and finally won big.