A Consultancy, and their Client in a Country

A popular Consultancy name in country, and specifically in Dubai. They are into the business of staffing (supply staff to different clients) for more than 75 years, and to my surprise they own the title of best place to work for last 3 years. But I actually went to their office only after resigning. Staff has to work on client side. When enquired about the offer, friends suggested that it is good to start. As the person from the consultancy who was constantly in touch belongs from my home town, I believed him. I was given no time to think and flight tickets were booked by them the very day when they received the visa. I started the next day.

After landing here, I came to know that I trusted wrong person. They did not give me initial accommodation, and was left on my own. They brought me here on clerk visa and assured me that once I provide them my attested degree certificate, they will change the visa, which was never done. Even the medical insurance was not what they informed me over the call. No medical card. The medical insurance was treatment at their clinic located far from where I lived, next to their accommodation facility (which was again for non IT staff). Apart from all this, they also took my passport (which is usual with many companies here), and did not process the payroll when I went for approved vacation. They also deducted half of the flight ticket price which was huge, as they booked it on very short notice. All this I experienced in first few weeks. After first three months when I asked to change the client, they kept it pushing till I submitted the resignation last month. After my last working day, I had to wait for more than 20+ days without any allowance to get the final settlement and get my visa cancelled.

Only good point with consultancy was they paid me salary on time, which is again not usual with many consultancies here.

 

Now Client was again very popular in the country. They are known across the globe for building the tallest tower, because of which I did not think much for accepting the offer. After joining, I was excited for my project work as the team was very cooperative. All my excitement turned into pain in few days. Manager threatened to terminate the contract if the pace of delivery remain unchanged. I was shocked. I never heard anything like that before. It was not even few weeks (within a month) so that I could digest something like that. One has to understand the business, existing setup, their processes, tools and technologies are similar not the same, so it takes some time for one to get accustomed. After knowing that manager is not happy with the work, I stretched till late in evenings and worked on weekend to complete first assignment. And after that few more unrealistic deadlines, without any word of encouragement/ motivation. I noticed that managers threaten in public to contractors about their termination if they don't perform. This atmosphere was completely disgusting and I informed my consultancy that I would not like to work here. I was informed that no projects were available with other clients at that moment (they never found any other opportunity). They kept rotating the contracts of consultants by every 3 months, and usually the consultant would not know till the last moment whether the contract would be extended. Consultants who worked even for more than 2 years were kept on 3 or 6 months rolling contracts. They thought this is the way they could get the work done, by threatening and humiliating. I don't know to which management schools these guys went. There will be no planning. All the projects will be running parallel and eventually they end up with never ending scope and new deadlines every now and then. Ultimately no project is complete and successful in the defined timeframe.

I decided that it is not the place for me, and I can't waste my time here. When I was looking for the opportunity, I got the invitation to join one of the old mentor/ manager with whom I worked in my previous organization. That's time to call it an end!

 

In last few months, I got opportunity to work on mobile and back end ETL. Also developed applications integrating BI with Microsoft office. That's a learning and I take it back with me.

 

That's unfortunate for me to have such an experience, but I did not find the rules in the country very friendly for employee. Stuff such as holding the passports of employees so that one cannot escape from company or country, submitting the passport to employer for visa cancellation, etc. I find against ones freedom and liberty being from a democratic country. Thought we save decent margin of money by working here, but at the cost of ones freedom and liberty, I think I am better back home.

 

Good bye, dear consultancy, company and country. Thanks for this experience that made me know the value of freedom and liberty in my very democratic country.

In search of happiness

I was searching for happiness. Then I realized, it's in front of me. To catch that I have to move ahead, and to move ahead I have to leave from where I was standing.

What was that which was not letting me move ahead. Was it emotions, attachment, guilt, impressions, what was that? I have to find that out, because unless I find an answer to it, I will not be moving ahead. You know which is the biggest fight? It's the fight within.

I read once, unless we make the peace with our past, the future won't be peaceful, and I want to see a beautiful life ahead.

Change is law of nature. I always wanted to stand strong against the every storm on my way. But every HUDHUD will leave you destroyed. But you have to stand again, build yourself and move ahead. This journey from here to move ahead will be tough. The devastation around you will be highly demotivating.

In such tough time, listen to you. The you, which is unique, by the values or principles which guides your actions. It defines your personality. It is you who can allow any changes, additions, or deletions to your defined values or principles.

I always want to stand for what is right, irrespective of how strong the opponent is. But mostly one would be defeated by the strong opponent. Does this mean one who takes the stand for right against a strong opponent should always have defeat in his hand?

It depends what is defeat. Again, the You, tells me if I have to leave a war which I am sure that I cannot win, I win the war by leaving it. That's my perspective of seeing it. If I have declared a war, then any action towards making me feel better in the war is justified by myself. Everything in war is after me. I should not care what the enemy says about my retract or what the partners suggest about the move. Everyone has their own opinions.

I am right, I don't want to mess with strong opponent and destroy myself, and in the process if I have to leave the battle field mid-way without causing any harm to myself, the You, tells me I made a right move irrespective of consequences. I won the war.

I shall wake up to a new beautiful morning, full of hope, become more strong from where I left, and stay positive. From here it is the way to happiness.

Last few days in Dubai, The City of Gold

Moving to Dubai was a difficult decision which I took sometime early this year (in April). It was difficult, because I had to leave the newly wedded sister and brother in law, with whom I hardly spent any time. Still I did.

 

I was always lucky enough to go to school, junior college, my first job right from home. My parents always wanted to settle down in Hyderabad, which was difficult for me, but eventually I also moved. I was at home with parents, my sister was just few minutes from my house, I had job with India's number 1 company, developed great friends circle in very small time, everything was perfect. I thought this is it, now I am just going to live in the city of Nawabs forever.

Then an opportunity from City of Gold invited me. Because I will never compromise with my comfort or what I am entitled to, I decided to switch. The saving that I would be able to make by going to middle east also pushed me to take the hard decision. I thought I would live there for at least 2 years.

Plans always look good, because first they are plans and second we make them. With heavy heart, packed the stuff and started for the new journey. I have a rule for myself, which is, whatever the place, situation, people I would have, I will not judge them at least for 3 months. That's the minimum time I have always set for myself before arriving at a decision. 3 months passed, and I could not convince myself that it’s the place for me for next few months or years. It was then, every month was last month for me in this gold city.

 

Memories from the day when I started are still crystal clear. Even the day before I was not aware that I would be flying, such was the planning and management. I should have guessed from the situation, but we are not perfect, and I failed to  notice. I started and landed in a completely unknown place. I was having severe migraine when I landed, and wanted to just go to room and take a nap. But I waited for about 1 hour for roommate to come down. That was horrible start.

We went out in the evening, and he was so kind to make me aware of things around. The very next day I had to report at work, that too at 8. I started at 7.15 and took the cab as I was not having the NOL card (this is the card that is required for travelling in bus/ metro/ tram). I reached office at 7.30. That was the first and last time when I took coffee and cookies from the Starbucks downstairs. First day at work. I noticed mostly Indians around in office, and my team completely was from India, and 2 of them from my own place. Tammudu's. I told myself, it cannot be any better than this.

Work started, expectations kept rising. I used to start my day at 5.30 in morning, and would end with checking the facebook feed at 11 in night. It was more than a month, and I was feeling exhausted. Sometimes during weekend when I wanted to come to office I would not get public transport. So I decided I would move near to office, to save travel time and make some personal space for myself. It was then I met wonderful roommate with common interests. Now with the travel time I saved, I was making frequent phone calls back to home and sometime to friends. I started going to movies, and weekends were fun. This made me feel better and I was settling down. I would go to office after dinner sometimes to make my next day better. Things were moving with few untoward incidents. I was confused, whether I should let this continue. It was wonderful company of team mates, and many consultants in office who would just say hello, exchange smiles, share talks and make you feel like a small beautiful family; that kept me moving. One more friendship happened to me, and we started going for evening walks, movies, chats, breakfasts, and dinners in the lawns. Everything looked perfect and still everything was uncertain. Personally I hate uncertainty. I wasn't seeing it getting changed. One evening I got a call, it was another opportunity, back in my home country. It looked better in one aspect, it was certain/long term. For me that’s the only thing what mattered. I was confused between everything here which was uncertain versus promising new opportunity. Followed were few more disturbing stuff, and then I said I deserve better. This called an end to this journey.

 

We miss only good things, and there's a nice list, that I will be missing.

Ordering the breakfast early morning, and enjoying it with colleagues (the whatsapp group and Jumeriah view)

The morning and afternoon coffee breaks and chats around pantry

Vasant bhavan lunch, and walk followed under the shades of those trees and cool breeze

Dinners in the lawns under open sky, evening and morning walks in Greens

The Paragon dinner, and weekend movies/ chats with roommates

And all the wonderful friends..

 

Life has to move on. And these wonderful memories give you strength to face the next unknown!!!

Om Namah Shivay!!! Hum chale Swadesh…

An evening walk

An evening walk

A realization of being blessed!!! Thank you God.

My day started with an usual alarm, but it was unusual the way it started and the way I am going to end. I was feeling tired. With great effort I decided to get up and start for office, but still confused. Knowing that I am already away from weekend, I took a break to check if I would bunk office today. Then I weighed the thought of investing a day outside home country away from Family, and it seemed very silly. The joy that I will get sharing the same time back home is limitless compared to little bit of dust I was seeing the morning. I started for office.

Breakfast! That’s on the mind every morning when I start the day. Few months back it was usually on Mom’s mind  on previous night to check what I would like to have for breakfast. Finding the preferences for buddy’s I called to place the order. It got disconnected. Thinking I still can change my day, I gave another try. It got disconnected. I wondered do I have to really call them who had delivered lunch late by an hour the previous day. With no options at hand, I called and successfully was able to place the order. It was delivered on time. We all started for 5^th floor where we usually take breakfast. It’s special place, very close to heart. Tiru took me here first time, and from then I regularly go there for having breakfast. When Tiru was not there for some days, sitting there alone, watching the busy Sheikh Zayed Road, Tall Sky Scrappers, I used to think why I am not happy by being at one of the best places. Certainly because I was alone. Now it’s not me, it’s we. We went and found only one chair was available for 4. It took no time to decide we can stand together and take breakfast. I just loved it (I always love to have food with people but in childhood for some reasons mostly it was only the night where I was having company, and then too mostly father would be late and mother hence would wait). I am lucky again that somehow we just formed a group early this week, and just enjoying the company. Also I am having some extra calories. The laughs, the talks, the weekend plans, and most important, the smiles everyone was carrying just changed the entire mood. I by then forgot all the mountain load that I was feeling while talking to Mom on the way to office. The load was so high that I urged Mom that I will keep it short. Then how does everything changed in few minutes. It’s the beautiful people around me that changed the state of mind. You should always have such people around you so that when you feel low they take you for a ride, and you are recharged.

Back at work, I thought I will be finishing the stuff and at least weekend would be peaceful. Time was passing. Now what, Yes, it’s lunch. No, it’s not the time to have lunch but to find out whats our preferences, and from where are we going to order. We now have a whatsapp group to decide Lunch menu. The monotonous call to same restaurant over last four months each day or the Multigrain bread in the breakfast everyday has now changed. Also the diet plan that I was following for last one month went to bin, but no regrets. I have to live this moment, it is beautiful. We ordered lunch and the fun at the lunch is same in all these months. Only the items changed at Lunch but lunch is the place where we forget everything and just enjoy each other’s company. It was TCS lunch group and evening snacks group then, where I had such a pleasure to be with a group, which is isolated in midst of thunder storms, and it is now this group. I am just loving living it.

With afternoon heated discussions, and feedbacks that I don’t like, and knowing the tiredness from the hardwork that I accumulated over last few days is of now no use, I was feeling distressed. Such things happen to me after a gap, and whenever  they come, they remind me not to take things seriously. Nothing in your life matters more than your happiness. I wrapped up things and started back to room. I did not call Mom usually what I do on my way back to room, instead tuned to music. Waiting for the lift, I shared the garbage in mind and realized its really that now doesn't deserve attention. A lengthy video call with Mom, a call to help someone, and an evening walk which would help me realize how blessed I am to have surrounded by the people, who listen, who share, who advise, whom I can look up-to, and all this in another country, far from home, and very different culturally too.

So Big thank you to everyone as it is you who is making life beautiful. I am glad that I took time to realize how blessed I am to have met you all with whom we can share, sometime nothing but smiles.

Received the message that we are out tomorrow afternoon for lunch, have to find out what’s happening!!!

Goodnight friends!

Life is beautiful and I am loving living it..

TCS - A dream shortlived

There are two types of employees, I think, 

one who have enough patience to wait and convince to get what they want, or compromise on what they get

and another who have less thresholds and move towards what looks better, unless to find it otherwise, and again move

I am certainly now the second type...

It starts when I decided to quit my first company. I personally never thought that I would ever quit. I thought, I would follow my dad, who selflessly worked all his life for one single organization, The Ordnance, group in Ministry of Defense. Then I also have my Mama's (Mom's cousins, with whom I am very close), both younger and older working with TCS and Infosys still after 10+ and 17+ years. Even after having such inspirations at home, I took the difficult decision. 

My Ex-Company's director told me during the discussion to retain me "Hemant, with the learning curve that you get here, the client exposure, the opportunities you take up, hardly there would be any company's interview that you will not be able to clear". I did not believe those words completely 4 years back, but today I believe them. I have attended so many interviews and nailed everyone of them; those which were not converted were only because of the compensation that I would expect ;) 

Leaving InfoCepts and Nagpur was very difficult, but of the many reasons to leave, strongest was to focus on family front and get settle down in Hyderabad. So grabbed opportunity with Polaris Hyd, and resigned from InfoCepts. Due to some issues I could not get the expected release, and I lost the opportunity. Now I was unemployed and was looking desperately for job. Now I left the location constraint. 

I attended good number of interviews. I declined the offers where I was offered job because I was from XYZ company or I was having the visa. I was looking for a genuine opportunity where I am interviewed to the limits, and I am offered job to hone my skills further. Finally I found that one where I am interviewed. It was beautiful voice of lady on the other side. I still remember that call and the questions, and I attended it in the parking of my previous company. Till that call, I was like, I am the guy with almost The fives years of experience in MicroStrategy. But after answering the questions I wasn't sure if I was good. Bole toh ekdum faadoo. It was that moment when I decided that I will work with them. Finally I was cleared and was asked to come down to Mumbai. 

I have been to the city many times but always on business trips, and I hardly got any chance to spend time with friends. But this time I had enough time :) so had wonderful gathering with friends on Marine Drive, and other happening places in Mumbai. People say Mumbai meri jaan, and I say it so because all my best buddies are in Mumbai these days. Hence I just wanted to come down to this place. See my focus now is totally shifted :-p I am very bad at defining goals :) After having wonderful time with friends, finally the day came and I went at Mumbai office for face to face interview. It was wonderful experience. The energy that I can feel was stupendo-fantabulously-fantastical. I think it went good, and after saying bye to friends in evening I started back. I later got the call from HR for discussing compensation but it dropped from there. I was sad. But my good luck was too too good. I was going to work with same team :)

God probably listens me better. He makes sure I get all I wanted. Days passed, I got few opportunities in Hyderabad. TCS was one of them. I came for 2 subsequent days to get interviewed. First round was done from Chennai, so I was like am I going to work alone from Hyderabad? So many thoughts would come to mind sitting at the reception of ODC 2. Team sounded very energetic. The male voice on the other side was very vivid and commanding. I loved it, it was the ideal voice for communication. Later same person was going to be my lead and I am going to learn so much from him. After waiting for the second day too, when I had to leave because manager wasn't available to take the interview, I called HR and said I can't keep coming like this and I have to go back to Nagpur. I sounded as if I just don't care about getting this job, while deep inside I was worried too loosing opportunity with worlds biggest and top organization. But HR was kind enough to arrange the interview same day. After attending the managerial round at ODC 5, while coming back in evening, I looked at the people at ChaiNChai, few walking on foot path, sitting on lawn and happily chatting, I just loved this atmosphere at Synergy Park and thought how beautiful is life here. We can have so much fun along with the work. I was later going to discover that I was not going to be part of that enjoying crowd for longtime :) 

I decided to join TCS even though it wasn't the best compensation from those at hand. I said I wanted to be the part of this brand TATA, and it was very popular for work life balance. 

After 2 day training, I reported to Synergy Park to know that the project for which we were selected did not come. We were asked to report to Chennai. Again I called HR and said I am not going to Chennai, and finally I got one project after waiting for 2 weeks on bench. This was going to be one of the beautiful team I had ever worked with.

.. To be continued.. 

There's so much to share :)

Living in dream!

Life is beautiful, and I am loving living it!!!

Whenever I say these words to myself, I understand that I am too happy!!!!
Morning 3.40! and it's not weekend.. Still I am not getting sleep. ;) Too
happy, too excited to go to bed! The ultimate sense of accomplishment!

It feels like living in dream. I wish, the time just stops here and I keep
living this moment forever. But time is time, and it has to fly.

It is almost an year now from last year, when I came to Hyderabad to make
this city finally a hometown. Probably Mom and Dad were the most happy
people when I decided to come down here and join TCS. The brand that is too
popular in their circle ;) By this time my dear sister already shifted to
Hyderabad leaving her career in Bangalore. She chose a flat and made it home
by decorating very piece of it, and also managed to get job, and then we
were happily settled family in the midst of family friends and relatives
(definitely away from my friends in MH)

Living life is, facing challenges, overcoming them, and making it a
experience. Sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's sour. But, in all these
times when we are together as a family, when we have friends to support and
relatives to stand besides us, we cross every hurdle. And I too did. I feel
so blessed to have so many wonderful people around me. All of you are
Angels!

How last few weeks or months passed I did not even realize. It was in
January, when I realized that a complete year passed after I am back from
Singapore. I was back to stay with Family and had some ambitions to learn.
Professionally I did fine and kept learning, but it was not actually for
what I came back. I wanted to learn new things, boost my confidence and also
spend time with family. But I became lazy eating Mom's food accompanied by
Dad's pampering, and wasn't moving with the right pace. Hence I  joined
training institute to learn new technology, and I became busy. I just love
being busy (when somebody says I am busy, I remember one instance when my
previous company's Director introduced me as one of the busiest person).

My day would start early in morning at 6, and I would rush to attend the
class at Ameerpet, the training hub in Hyd. A morning bike ride, traveling
east and seeing sun rising in sky, was first fabulous scene every day. It
was more than 5 years, I had been to any classroom training. Back again in
training room, I loved attending the class, asked questions, converted
batch-mates to friends, exchanged notes and software, and took a glance of
what's happening around me in Hyderabad IT world, it was fascinating. Small
chats, some laughs, small intervals for morning breakfast were few moments
that made me feel light. After class, traveling back to home in day traffic
was painful. Looking at the L&T signboards throughout I would wonder how
long it would take to enjoy the first metro ride. Once at home I would
usually rush to get to office after completing the assignments. It's usually
after 9 in night when I would come back. Family talks and dinner follows,
followed by Maha Rana Pratap Singh.

It was one such late evening I happened to meet a wonderful person over
phone (who would become brother in law in coming days). I would remember the
conversation for rest of life. From the brief call to family meeting, and
then to gathering of two families took no time. I had planned leave to
celebrate Mom Dad's marriage anniversary on 21st Feb, but cancelled it to
accommodate new upcoming events. Grandmother was sick, so finalized the
dates of engagement and marriage which were too close. We did not had enough
time to make the arrangements, but relatives and friends made it possible
for successful organization of events. I did not invite close friends too as
I did not get time. Really! Too many tasks without leaves at office. I even
did not get time to do my own shopping for only sisters marriage. Hope you
now understand that I had too many things to manage on short notice :)

Finally the day 19th March 2014 came and went. All I remember is my sisters
smile throughout the marriage, and the happiness that I felt from it. Arun,
The Bava, new member in the family. Family is now more complete. I feel
again blessed.

It feels like living in dream. I wish, the time just stops here and I keep
living this moment forever. But time is time, and it has to fly.

I now have to take up new challenges, throw myself into another unknown
world, to push myself further and discover new limits. Yes, it is the time
to move on. Before that, let's enjoy this time.. and I wish this happiness
stays with us forever!!

Om Namah Shivay!!!