TWO NIGHTS @ JEC
DAY #2
We were called at 9 the next day. They had rejected nearly half of the lot. I was feeling lucky to crack through because many good one have been rejected because of problem in the systems. I had slept as soon as I came back from the college a day before. And I thought to do the interview preparation in the morning. As usual I again woke up late that left me no time to brush up the basics and I hurried to college.
9:00 am
9:30 am
10:00 am - nothing happened. We were just sitting preparing for the technical interview.
Then we saw the first batch students coming out from the building and complaining that the questions being asked were pretty tough. There faces were doleful. There were some toppers of our class who were also complaining of the question being pretty tough. My heart sank. I thought that now let me now just concentrate on my strengths and nothing else. So I started brushing up the basics of C/C++. I thought if they ask me anything different I would just say sorry and tell that I am more comfortable in this subject.
One by one all the students started going for the interview and at same time many came back having their even HR round done. I was getting nervous (for the first time in the day). Many had their HR done and when will be my Technical interview???…
At last my turn came at round 4 pm. I had given up preparation at 12 and now was thinking to do hell with the studies if I am fit enough they will take me. The person before me was interviewed for at least 30 minutes. Then my turn came. I went inside, wished him and when he said sat on the chair.
He at the first sight of my resume asked that why has my scores gone so low in the college semester exams. I replied the already prepared answer and told that in school we were required to write short and precise answers and in the college it is not the case, here we have to write long, senseless and don’t-know-what sort of answers. So he concluded that I was not good at mugging. On which I nodded in agreement. OOPS! Did I give it away on this?
He then quizzed me on a few topics and I always answered confidently. After he heard that I love programming, he made me write a lot of programs. I managed to do nearly all effectively.
I was then told to wait outside for some time (which seems like another day) till the result is declared. After a long wait the results were declared, I was the only one selected from my group. And a few of my good friends were rejected. Now this is the toughest time. They wishing you good luck for the further interrogation and you don’t know what to say or prepare for the next round.
I was then taken outside the HR interview room. Me and Amit (my friend) sat next to each other and started discussing future@TCS. Amit’s TI had been over quite some time ago, but my turn for the interview came before him.
I went inside holding tightly my folder (as one of my friends had dropped it during the TI and I thought not to let mine do it.). There were two persons there in the panel.
On reading my hobby (surfing net) one of them asked what I surf.
The net obviously. I replied that I surf on the net anything (I didn’t know what to say)
He asked me what kind of sites (with a smug). I did not know what to say so I said that I go to the links that my friend sends me. He raised his eyebrows and asked what kind of links. Oh it’s getting messier. I tried to divert him by saying that most of the time I read mails. Now he wanted that kind of stuff in my mailbox. I somehow managed to get out of it. Phew...
Then they asked that why should they hire me as I know only C and C++ (who the hell in the college knew more than that). I replied with the usual blah-blah. With every sentence I said they looked at each other and made faces. Then in the end they asked if I had any questions. I thought to say no but don’t know what got into my head and I said yes.
Hey but what should I ask????
I had thought of a question before and thought to throw the dice. I asked how he got to this post of HR manager. (As usual he made a face) And he replied that an MBA or a senior employee is only qualified for the job. Oops again! I had been warned not to let the M-word pop in the interview. But it did. Hell !!
He asked me to leave and I came out perplexed, baffled, bewildered, terrified, fearful, unnerved after my very first experience. It was already 5 and I wanted to go home have some food and then take a long nap (I hadn’t eaten anything since morning).
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