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.
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