Half a decade: Part four the stable era of working with Novatium

You read different stories part one, two, three and this final story under the title half a decade in gurgaon because this is the last company and the current place where I am working from last three years and longest era so far.

    First up all I must tell I don’t deserve to be here, its definitely God’s plan for me to bring here. Indeed if I have worked for so long here its because of many reasons and one of the most important one is that it was God’s plan to bring me here and sure He have a purpose behind it. So this job is definitely a gift from Daddy and I really thank Him for this job.

Mussorie trip with team Novatium

    I was doing great while working with Wipro in fact you know, I didn’t want to leave that job. I had a great team and great fun working with them. But then there were few things like job growth, and no one to appreciate the job and no fixed weekly offs and rotational shifts and monotonous job but yet great to learn. But then one fine day I get a call from a Chennai based consultancy’s phone asking me for my experience and job profile and if I am looking for job, till day I have no idea from where they found my number. Then I said yes to it, just to give interview. I was not really prepared, I took a very old Resume, read about the company bits and pieces and went to give interview next morning.

    From HR, to technical and till operation round same question was asked that why my resume looks so untidy and so many markings on it. I just told them the truth. This was one of the most enthusiastic interviews. I remember I was so confident and boost up on that day, rather being nervous I was encouraging a friend Tarun it was his first day as GET in that company and as people came and went away, I was thinking indeed a good job it is, will id get it?

  

Jacson and me

  I waited and waited and finally my turn came and I gave first round with HR, managed to pass it, then technical one was bit tougher as Manish now my team mate and immediate boss and then came my boss Prathish sir, who says he hired me just because of my confidence and nothing else and he thought me fitting in his team. One thing he asked me was will you leave in few months or so, are you flexible and many such questions. I just answered them patiently and got this job. This is the first organization where final round was to speak with CEO of company. So I did spoke to Alok sir and he just told that he will inform HR. And HR did call me up and I was selected.

    Now just shifting the car to back gear, I just want to take you back to the previous employer wipro. I don’t want to name the person and people who were working with me will know this. My boss was very fond of Paras and me and we were famous guys. And she never thought we would leave the company without informing her or giving proper resignation. But we did that and she was very angry with us. Because I left the company without any prior notice. On top of that look at my foolishness, I am updating my facebook status one day before joining Novatium and leaving previous company that “Next day I am joining a new company please pray for me” and all my colleagues are liking it and cheering up and with all kind of comments I see one of my boss commenting on it “Tomorrow????” it was so funny. On top of that just to add more spices to it, I wrote an adieu mail to all my teammates and telling them where I am joining and letting my boss know the company where I am joining. You might think whats wrong in that. What wrong was my manager next day asked my teammates where he have joined, call that HR and tell them not to hire him, and black list me and stuff like that.

Right to left:Jacson,Manish and me

    But in spite of all this I joined this new company, coolest thing about here fixed Saturday and Sunday off and you know what a boy coming from a rotational shift, and no fixed off and six days working for him this things matter a lot. I really cherish this offs and want to use them wisely .Here it was completely a different set, this a small place compare to where I have worked before. But it has a lot off benefits because of it. There is a lot of flexibility in policies and work environment. And you get a chance to learn a lot and take responsibilities of various different things. Also you become multi-tasking because here they want to make most of you. Initially it was difficult to work with someone who took your interview someone senior to you working in same team as yours. But then I had new buddy who joined in, so I tagged myself with him and learned the ways just to go through motions. Initial phase with this organization was a difficult one, because it was transit time in my life where I was a very young Christian and going through those tough times where you are growing and falling, failing and learning from it.

    Many a times I felt like burdened and thought I will not be able to stay here longer and this profile is not for me. I am a team worker and like to work with more dynamic climate but this place was small for me to fly. But then as time passed, I became matured as a Christian. And also my relationships with my teammates and my boss improved drastically and more than colleagues they became part of my life and then I started enjoying my work, celebrating with them. And a lot of stories revolved and I see a lot of stability here and enjoyed working on every project.

    It is my first company which sent me somewhere outstation to work on a project and it was really nice initiative and how I handled it and how once I missed opportunity to visit Chennai. But then all things worked together for me and I remained here and working from almost three years with lot of ups and downs of company.

Half a decade: Part three new dawn by working for Wipro and Uninor

{I hope you read the previous two parts if not please read first and second.}

So from Aegis call center and then to sleeping zombie era in Sahara was the most difficult period to switch from night shift to other. And this time it was an IT company my dream job or career at least at that time. In previous two posts you saw Paras' photo and must be wondering why I chose to put his photos and why does I keep mentioning about him, its because I believe he played a very vital role in my career and perhaps I can say he is one of the reason for which I am here in Gurgaon today and therefore no matter what happens he remains my best friend and I shall not forgot him and his help.

Left to right:Sudhir,Sushant,Gautam(hiding behind me),Nakib,
Sunaina,Sumit,Roopal

And its also important to mention about him because he found out about this company and also pushed me to switch to this job because whenever I am working in a company, I think to myself “Jab tak dhake marke nikal nahi dete, ya company ke pas koi kam nahi ho tab tak job nahi chodenge” (Meaning: We will not leave the job unless they throw us out or they don't have any work) So with that attitude and plus when you are in a zombie mode your brain don't seem to work. Imagine the life without sunlight and without plants and you see is the dark night only in night while going to office. Oh! I tell you, you don't see anything else.

But he pushed me to go beyond my boundaries and no matter how scared I was, we decided to visit Wipro(Uninor as client, pilot project again) So here I went to give interview for a position Technical support executive, expecting a lot to learn about IT. But then I did learn a lot of thing after all my first IT company. I never thought or felt that I will get this job but you know what after coming to Gurgaon in 2008 I have appeared for interview four times and you know what by God's grace I was selected in all four and asked to joined immediately and therefore unfortunately and unwillingly I have to leave the company without serving the notice period but I learned my lessons. In telling you all this I must remind myself I have been a handicapped education wise as I am not yet a graduate( those who are thinking to give me advice, I should mention I am pursuing it by correspondence).

fake engineer

And being said that funny thing that I remember about giving interview here was, when I came here to give interview I though I dont think I would be selected and I was the first in the group that day to give interview and PJ was last person, so I was there from the beginning till end and I saw how highly educated and professional people were giving interview with us. I thought this is the last time I am coming here. I must do something, I must get something out if it. So there was a Cafe coffee day machine(Please dont think I am villager but actually I saw that machine for first time) and I thought to myself “Coffee!! it is” and when forward to grab a cup of coffee. Now been a first time user of that machine I didnt knew how coffee is named and what are they actually. So I had options listed “Espresso”, “Latte”, “Cappuccino”,”Milk” so here I go and thinking what could be the best. So lets try the “E” one. And here I am coming back with a big smile with a cup of espresso though I see it looks like black tea and I am wondering maybe this is the way big people in city drink coffee(kyunki hum to brown wali nescafe hi peete hai). And I was quite happy and it smelled good I was perhaps having a pure roasted coffee for the first time, the aroma was so good but as soon as I tasted it my tongue burned and it tasted so bitter and my face become very pale. And I am feeling so bad neither can I throw it nor can I drink it because its very bitter but then I waited for long let it cool down and had in one sip. Trust me it was really embarrassing.

RamaShankar Dora and me

But coming back to the point I joined this company and it has been one of the memorable place to work for. The exposure with this company was really great. Working with two giants with IT giant Wipro and the new telecom entry Uninor was really something I was experiencing. The workflow the process and SOPs and everything we did from scratch was really great. Chasing teams, learning new things everyday, making SOPs and you name it and we did it. Whether it was answering calls or replying mails I did everything in a fun way. Now when I look back I understand that I should have learned more than I did. But to be honest here the people who were managing us were not good and didn't take good care of us and thus we were all frustrated. Salary increment and growth was not visible. We were working really very hard and there was no one to appreciate it.

Left to right: Taskeen,PJ,me & Gautam

Here I made lot of good friends like Sudhir Kukreti, Gautam, Rama Shankar Dora, Taskeen, Nakib, Bhagwant, Abhishek, Virendera, Nupur, Pankaj, Amit, Sudhir, Vishal, Paras of course how can I not mention him this is the second time we are working here. And by now I have matured in work and with our friendship that now people don't understand Paras and they complained to me that he is not doing this or that and I have to sit and explain Paras and same with him. He is my mentor and so am I for him. I think I can write books on our friendship as I can see over the time how we have learnt a lot from each other. Here it was fun to work in rotational shifts and with such a great and variety of people. You get so much to play with and learn and work. It was a fun and frolic environment we made it. It was lively and jolly environment to work with. I have many memories attached to it. Some good and some bad. Most wonderful memory of working in this organisation is that it was here in this organisation when I gave my life to Christ. Which changed all things in my life which brought new life. You can read the story here.

Half a decade part two jumping to Sahara and going through a zombie mode

{If you are wondering where is part one please read it here.}

I stayed in Aegis not longer than Eight months and it was time to go and grow. First Rajat boss left the organisation and went to work with Sahara, that was big blow for us. Because we were use to work with him and his ways. But then after few months he left the process was shut down and we were going here and there looking jobs in other process but then I called up Rajat sir and told him about the situation and he asked me to join Sahara.

Ugly me and PJ

That was it, I went there to give interview again Rajat sir and his boss Dhiraj took my interview and I was selected. But I tell you of all the years I have worked in gurgaon this was the worst of all(No hard feelings people from sahara). At first the process was kind of sick and I felt cheating people, though technically nothing seemed wrong. But then we were kept on retainership, more like having an unsecured job and directly not on the payroll of Sahara but it was as good as working for sahara. Anyways, I was the youngest member here as usual but it was hard to adjust here. Not only the youngest age wise but other member had big body and ego to carry themselves. Not even one person was same minded, except I mingled with Shree who was from Maharashtra who often spoke Marathi with me. Which would remind me of my school days.

What I learned here is nothing about the process or work but definately internet. No,one to blame because I was in night shifts mostly and what do you expect in night shift. No calls, no works just you and internet. I was trying all the websites in my known idea, I spent hours on facebook, gmail and orkut. Found all weird websites which you might have never heard and as result of that. Once upon a time I had presence over all then known networking and social sites. And don't ask where else I went because internet is huge and as good as bad it can be.Life was utterly boring here because I spend lonely nights here without work and without any company. And it was literally a zombie mode for me because in day I slept and in night I just sat with machines and try to chat with robots all over. And it was time I hardly use to see someone's face and to talk with any human because it was only one person early morning who came to relieve me thats all, I just use to say hi! To him and leave the office and go home and before I reached home my room mate use to leave for office and before he came home I use to leave the home and go to MCSE classes and from there office. And all those people who work in night shifts will agree with me, that you are so cut off with world that you don't even know what is your roommate doing. My roommate use to leave a letter for me and I use to do the same and for months altogether we never met and spoke and sometimes even life went without offs.

But good thing that happened in this era was I met one of my old schoolmate online by accident and that was it, it was a turning stone for me. I got numbers of my old friends and I called them and spoke to them and it was a turning point for me. To catch up with my old friends long after so many years.

Nothing special happened except I joined IGNOU here and started studying for BCA, unfortunately which I never completed. But IGNOU remains special for me because I met Ryan there and ultimately Ryan shared Christ with me and you know the Journey began.....

Half a decade in Gurgaon: Part one my arrival and working with Aegis

26th August 2008, Day when I came to give interview at Aegis, Sector 18 Gurgaon and that time Gurgaon was not as we see it today. But for me not very different. A strange land(perhaps I was even afraid because of new place and it was really lonely and far away land) but a place which was very far from Delhi but only place where I thought I can start my life again.(Because I was grounded then because I was jobless and doing nothing for a long time). I tried giving interview at a place where I was selected before at Intelenet but that went wrong and I was send back. So coming to Aegis having few borrowed money from Maternal Uncle and coming from another end of Delhi Mother Dairy. It wasn't easy to reach and find this place but somehow appeared here. Ya! I must tell you someone helped me by giving some known person's name and number who was working here. And that guy helped me, though doing nothing just putting his name and number on resume, but never the less I never know whether it helped or not but I am happy because I got this job and really had a kick start from there.

My friend Akhil and PJ

A small Eighteen year boy came to gurgaon from delhi everyday travelling in buses and sweating all the way but worth the effort. But it was so tiring that nothing absolutely nothing else was possible those dose except going to work and working like an ant. They often say people in their early days of working are most effective ones.

So second BPO job though first one was a namesake BPO with international client and here it was a domestic process. Learned a lot though. I must remember my boss Rajat Barua sir one of my greatest mentor and guide who have shaped me. By God's grace I got very good bosses every where I went. And also I want to thank God for the friends He gave me here. So I must tell you about one of my best friend whom I met here in this job. So this team was selected for Fullerton process and it was new process so we were the first batch. There is a different joy in being the First batch. But before we were selected and trained already a batch was trained for a week or so for outbound and we were mainly selected for inbound process and therefore while our training almost finished and started at the same time because Rajat Sir always believed in On the Job Training and he said start learning as soon as you hit the floor. So I was given a chance to buddy up with a strange, strict, silent, well dressed person to whom I thought in my mind “this guy looks very strict and being my first job I must respect him alot and I should make most of it by learning great new things from him”. And I was silent sitting and observing him and he never even tried to look back or explain but then I thought I am not learning anything and then I said “Sir” and thus we started learning. The more I interacted with him all my perceptions were driven away.

A Telle-caller

And that strange, strict person in real life is a very jolly person, a very very cool and calm guy and infact he became my best friend. And I can say God have specially placed in my life to show me way and to guide me. And because of him I learned a lot many things. And how from “sir” I started calling him “PJ” oh! Did I tell you his name, “no?” His name is Paras Jain. And we did everything together whether it was taking inbound calls, or shouting or conspiring against other teammates or bosses, helping them, having food, troubleshooting or it was playing TT.

There I started playing TT with PJ and learned a many other things. That company gave me a lot of hope, joy, strength to know the MNC world. Though it was fueling my ignorance toward others and making me more selfish, in detail you can read here where I wrote about this under the title “selfmade man”. You might have also read what I though about love in this post. So I had my few immature infatuation, where I like few girls but never told anyone.Also I met another good friend of mine here who is Akhilesh. I always call him “the de-motivator” I dont know if I am exaggerating I have never seen this guy well settled the problem is everyone and more often he himself expects a lot from himself and if slight thing goes bad he goes in depression and thinks “I am the only person with whom everything goes wrong.” The first meeting with him is unforgettable they way he discouraged me was amazing. I just asked him “ So what is your ambition what you wanna do in your life?” And that was it I got answers from left, right and center all my wings that grew over the time thinking I am doing a great job and I can help anyone and everyone. All those wings were trimmed well, I would say not just trimmed but separated from my body. I felt like a bird who thinks it can never fly after losing wings.

But he reminded me its good to be grounded and not to be overconfident. And whenever I think some proud is coming in me, I immediately give him a call. But he have been a great friend all the time. We both like to have debates on anything and everything. We can spend ours fighting over disputable matters. But we both think positive to build the nation or to be bring change. But we have never succeeded to take it forward those ideas have all the more buried under some lost stones. I don't know when we'll get together and turn those stones again.