- Be honest
- Think about your company’s profit
- Trust your Manager
- Relocate to another city to work at the client’s place
- Work there on contract
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
5 ways to screw up your career
Friday, June 8, 2007
Office Office
It’s been more than a month in Bangalore and I just thought I would write about some of my office experiences. So, here they are.
Training (May 7th-11th)
Day 1
So it all started with the distribution of a thick book (400+ pages, A4 size) which almost looked like an epic. Then everybody gave their introduction, not to be surprised I was an odd man out amongst all techies. So... As I opened the book, I found only jargons. To make me more terrified, some of them were in bold. In the first session, I was busy leching at the girl in front of me and the whole second session I was just trying not to sleep. The day ended with a question/answer session and my knowledge of XML was almost compared with Osama's knowledge of peace by the trainer.
Day 2
Day 2 was equally bad.
The trainer wanted us to write some codes....I copied it from the book. Things worked. I didn't know what/how/why things happened in back end. My codes were perfectly ok but (since copied from the book).
Only thing good about the training is the girl in front has started responding to my relentless leching.
In the afternoon session, I could see dark clouds are all over.....
No more copy paste from the book is possible. Trainer wanted me to write a code and I did all kinds of error. To make things even more embarrassing, the system gives a loud beep every time you enter a wrong code. In the silent room, my system was beeping all the time, inviting unwelcome attention of others (including the girl in front)
Day 3
Third day of training was equally bad. Didn't understand the head or tail of it. To make things funnier, I identified a java program as xml program (both of them look like twins) triggering a wave of laughter in the room.
There was a case study where we had to write a program for the solution. Somehow I managed to do that with some minor errors. HOW? I don't think even god knows how :-)
Day 4
Q: So Satya, how do you find the training?
A: Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat.
Q: How is the training material?
A: Superb.
Q: Any suggestions to improve the training?
A: It’s absolutely perfect, no improvement required.
Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: Why the hell am I here?????????????
Day 5
There was this case study where we had to create an application based on a given business problem. We were divided in teams. Each team divided the work amongst its members. My team gave me the job of supplying tea/coffee/snacks and of course providing moral support.
Case study finished. We got certificates.
The End.
Exercise Time (May 17th)
There was silence everywhere.
The only sound you could hear was of people typing hysterically on the keyboard.
And, suddenly this guy appeared with jeans, t-shirt and a pair of specs. Looked like any other guy in the company, but he was NOT.
He was the exercise instructor.
So the guy next to me calls me for exercise. Exercise?????? I thought I have to write some test but no, I was wrong; it meant serious exercise that we used to do every Saturday morning in school (remember those white canvas shoes :-)).
So this guy came to our bay and stood in front of us, giving us demonstrations. We followed him. Initially I felt really awkward as I thought everybody on the floor must be watching us. But no, no one was bothered. Then I was told that everybody's turn will come.
So we did some 1234 type exercises (read drills) and the session was dismissed.
The whole time, my attention was on a girl who was less bothered about the steps and more conscious as to not fall down. But, thanks to her; if she had fallen down the scroll of every other news channel would have changed from "Punjab on Fire" to "Earthquake in Bangalore".
Upside Down (May 18th)
I came in the morning and thought I'd go for tea. So, to lock the comp I pressed Ctrl+Alt+Del but may be I pressed some other button by mistake and the display became upside down. I knew its a minor problem as I keep doing it for fun at home. But, since I had forgotten the shortcut keys, I asked the guy next to me for help.
Heaven fell down......
Suddenly I see the entire office coming to see my system the same way people thronged Gansh temples when the God decided to drink milk some years back. People surrounded me to ask questions as if they have got Amar Singh after his defeat in UP. I was standing helpless.
Finally one smart guy corrected the system and it started working.
Training (May 7th-11th)
Day 1
So it all started with the distribution of a thick book (400+ pages, A4 size) which almost looked like an epic. Then everybody gave their introduction, not to be surprised I was an odd man out amongst all techies. So... As I opened the book, I found only jargons. To make me more terrified, some of them were in bold. In the first session, I was busy leching at the girl in front of me and the whole second session I was just trying not to sleep. The day ended with a question/answer session and my knowledge of XML was almost compared with Osama's knowledge of peace by the trainer.
Day 2
Day 2 was equally bad.
The trainer wanted us to write some codes....I copied it from the book. Things worked. I didn't know what/how/why things happened in back end. My codes were perfectly ok but (since copied from the book).
Only thing good about the training is the girl in front has started responding to my relentless leching.
In the afternoon session, I could see dark clouds are all over.....
No more copy paste from the book is possible. Trainer wanted me to write a code and I did all kinds of error. To make things even more embarrassing, the system gives a loud beep every time you enter a wrong code. In the silent room, my system was beeping all the time, inviting unwelcome attention of others (including the girl in front)
Day 3
Third day of training was equally bad. Didn't understand the head or tail of it. To make things funnier, I identified a java program as xml program (both of them look like twins) triggering a wave of laughter in the room.
There was a case study where we had to write a program for the solution. Somehow I managed to do that with some minor errors. HOW? I don't think even god knows how :-)
Day 4
Q: So Satya, how do you find the training?
A: Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat.
Q: How is the training material?
A: Superb.
Q: Any suggestions to improve the training?
A: It’s absolutely perfect, no improvement required.
Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: Why the hell am I here?????????????
Day 5
There was this case study where we had to create an application based on a given business problem. We were divided in teams. Each team divided the work amongst its members. My team gave me the job of supplying tea/coffee/snacks and of course providing moral support.
Case study finished. We got certificates.
The End.
Exercise Time (May 17th)
There was silence everywhere.
The only sound you could hear was of people typing hysterically on the keyboard.
And, suddenly this guy appeared with jeans, t-shirt and a pair of specs. Looked like any other guy in the company, but he was NOT.
He was the exercise instructor.
So the guy next to me calls me for exercise. Exercise?????? I thought I have to write some test but no, I was wrong; it meant serious exercise that we used to do every Saturday morning in school (remember those white canvas shoes :-)).
So this guy came to our bay and stood in front of us, giving us demonstrations. We followed him. Initially I felt really awkward as I thought everybody on the floor must be watching us. But no, no one was bothered. Then I was told that everybody's turn will come.
So we did some 1234 type exercises (read drills) and the session was dismissed.
The whole time, my attention was on a girl who was less bothered about the steps and more conscious as to not fall down. But, thanks to her; if she had fallen down the scroll of every other news channel would have changed from "Punjab on Fire" to "Earthquake in Bangalore".
Upside Down (May 18th)
I came in the morning and thought I'd go for tea. So, to lock the comp I pressed Ctrl+Alt+Del but may be I pressed some other button by mistake and the display became upside down. I knew its a minor problem as I keep doing it for fun at home. But, since I had forgotten the shortcut keys, I asked the guy next to me for help.
Heaven fell down......
Suddenly I see the entire office coming to see my system the same way people thronged Gansh temples when the God decided to drink milk some years back. People surrounded me to ask questions as if they have got Amar Singh after his defeat in UP. I was standing helpless.
Finally one smart guy corrected the system and it started working.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
What's in a Name?
Is name really so unimportant? If that is the case, why advertising firms and marketing gurus break their heads to come out innovative names for products. I feel name is very important. If your girlfriend’s name had been “Ramkali” or your boyfriend’s name “Banarsilal”, would it not make any difference? I guess it would.
My name is a little twisted for my colleagues in the office. All of them pronounce it in their own convenient way. Not to mention, none of them pronounce it correctly. Anyways, things were different in my first office. After having the same name for long 23 years, one fine day (or night would be appropriate), I had to change it for professional reasons. Why? I waz workin for a khall center, maeeeeeeeen (to be pronounced with a South American accent).
Radhika became Rachael, Sujata became Samantha, Imran became Ian, Murali became Martin and Satya was still confused. My trainer gave me a few names to choose from but all of them sounded cacophonic to my ears. I was given a day to think of a name.
First time in my life I was looking at the scrolling credits of movies in HBO, serials in Star World etc. that too with eyes popped out. I thought they were the right option and guess what, it worked; Nash was the name. From that day onwards till I disappeared from that company as I got into software, I was known as Nash, Nash Brooks (As in Bond, James Bond). In a moment of excitement, what I had forgotten was my real name, which placed together with my pseudo name made something that meant “disaster” in Hindi. Of course, I realized it later. But guys, I have got back my good old name long back, I am Satya now, as I was before.
I know a girl who we used to call “Bhens” (the short and thin buffalo I mean). After a certain point of time this name become so much hers that she’d call up and say “Hello Satya, Bhens here” and I’d reply “haan bhens , bol.” (I hope she isn’t reading this).
Some names are not names but misnames (As in mismatch. Oh sorry, it’s not there in English. Err… thodi der adjust karlo yaar.); the names of two bars near my house are Amrut and Vandana, for example. Names can sometimes be funny as well; the liquid soap in our office washroom is called “Dr No Washy Washy”, for example. I would go the former places even if they were called “Tharre ki Dukaan” but I wonder if I’d use the liquid soap with a smile as I do now had the name been “Germ Killer” or something in that line.
I guess Shakespeare needs to be given a second thought, what do ya say?
My name is a little twisted for my colleagues in the office. All of them pronounce it in their own convenient way. Not to mention, none of them pronounce it correctly. Anyways, things were different in my first office. After having the same name for long 23 years, one fine day (or night would be appropriate), I had to change it for professional reasons. Why? I waz workin for a khall center, maeeeeeeeen (to be pronounced with a South American accent).
Radhika became Rachael, Sujata became Samantha, Imran became Ian, Murali became Martin and Satya was still confused. My trainer gave me a few names to choose from but all of them sounded cacophonic to my ears. I was given a day to think of a name.
First time in my life I was looking at the scrolling credits of movies in HBO, serials in Star World etc. that too with eyes popped out. I thought they were the right option and guess what, it worked; Nash was the name. From that day onwards till I disappeared from that company as I got into software, I was known as Nash, Nash Brooks (As in Bond, James Bond). In a moment of excitement, what I had forgotten was my real name, which placed together with my pseudo name made something that meant “disaster” in Hindi. Of course, I realized it later. But guys, I have got back my good old name long back, I am Satya now, as I was before.
I know a girl who we used to call “Bhens” (the short and thin buffalo I mean). After a certain point of time this name become so much hers that she’d call up and say “Hello Satya, Bhens here” and I’d reply “haan bhens , bol.” (I hope she isn’t reading this).
Some names are not names but misnames (As in mismatch. Oh sorry, it’s not there in English. Err… thodi der adjust karlo yaar.); the names of two bars near my house are Amrut and Vandana, for example. Names can sometimes be funny as well; the liquid soap in our office washroom is called “Dr No Washy Washy”, for example. I would go the former places even if they were called “Tharre ki Dukaan” but I wonder if I’d use the liquid soap with a smile as I do now had the name been “Germ Killer” or something in that line.
I guess Shakespeare needs to be given a second thought, what do ya say?
For the Sake of Inspiration
The other day, I was going through a book on Buddha. It said, one day Buddha saw an old man which inspired him to abandon the world and become a sanyasi. This started my long time back itch of looking around to see what people are doing. It didn’t take much time to get back to normal again, though.
Next day, when I was coming back from my office, I took a bus which was not very crowded. Not finding any victim of my behavioral study, my eye finally zeroed in on the guy next to me, digging his nose. Pretty awkward though, that guy was pretty cool. When he saw me staring at him, he gave me a “Who cares” kind of look and kept on his search operation. Moral of the story: “Duniya jaaye tel lene, aish tu kar.”
The next day, the bell started ringing a bit early; at the bus stop. I saw a nice looking girl with a shy kind of look. A glimpse of her ID card made it clear that she was working for a certain software company. I started comparing this girl with one in my university who was so proud of her built in BC cell phone, as she happened to one of those “I have a cell phone” type, with this girl. I felt how different these two girls are. One is proud for nothing and the other so simple in spite of so many reasons to be proud. Suddenly another bell rung, but in a melodic way; it was her cell phone. Saving the first few sentences, she started using “f***” for almost twice every sentence; some times more than that as well. As she hung up the call, she could realize that I had been watching her all along. I still remember the “ghar mein maa behen nahin hai kya?” look she gave me. Luckily, an auto appeared from nowhere at the right time.
Probably Buddha was lucky, the view of one oldman changed his life. He’s even luckier as he wasn’t there in my place. For sure, the way that girl gave me a look, he would have died of heart attack ON THE SPOT.
Next day, when I was coming back from my office, I took a bus which was not very crowded. Not finding any victim of my behavioral study, my eye finally zeroed in on the guy next to me, digging his nose. Pretty awkward though, that guy was pretty cool. When he saw me staring at him, he gave me a “Who cares” kind of look and kept on his search operation. Moral of the story: “Duniya jaaye tel lene, aish tu kar.”
The next day, the bell started ringing a bit early; at the bus stop. I saw a nice looking girl with a shy kind of look. A glimpse of her ID card made it clear that she was working for a certain software company. I started comparing this girl with one in my university who was so proud of her built in BC cell phone, as she happened to one of those “I have a cell phone” type, with this girl. I felt how different these two girls are. One is proud for nothing and the other so simple in spite of so many reasons to be proud. Suddenly another bell rung, but in a melodic way; it was her cell phone. Saving the first few sentences, she started using “f***” for almost twice every sentence; some times more than that as well. As she hung up the call, she could realize that I had been watching her all along. I still remember the “ghar mein maa behen nahin hai kya?” look she gave me. Luckily, an auto appeared from nowhere at the right time.
Probably Buddha was lucky, the view of one oldman changed his life. He’s even luckier as he wasn’t there in my place. For sure, the way that girl gave me a look, he would have died of heart attack ON THE SPOT.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Act II, Scene I
Soon after I finished my Masters, I went to Hyderabad to look-out for a job. It was the 21st of November ‘04 when I landed there. Almost a month later I got a job in Acuserv, a US bound call center. My shift timings were odd, really odd; from 1.30 AM to 9.15 AM. Initially it was fun getting up in the middle of the night, catching a cab to the office and talking to Americans. But then, my dreams were big and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to fulfill them in a call center.
In June ’05, I joined Globarena Technologies, an e-learning company, as an Instructional Designer. My actual career started from there. Suddenly my profile changed from talking to Americans at the top of the voice all night long to writing storyboards in silence. I loved my job and was doing good but couldn’t see myself growing there. After working there for almost eight months, I decided to quit.
In February ’06, I joined SQL Star, a software firm with an e-learning division. This time I got better opportunities. Within a year, I got promoted to a Sr. Instructional Designer. But, at the same time, the company decided to send me to Bangalore to work for a client, Sterling Commerce, as a Product Training Specialist.
So, here I am in Bangalore since 2nd May. After a pretty much satisfactory Act I in Hyderabad, here I begin Act II. Let’s see what Bangalore has to offer.
In June ’05, I joined Globarena Technologies, an e-learning company, as an Instructional Designer. My actual career started from there. Suddenly my profile changed from talking to Americans at the top of the voice all night long to writing storyboards in silence. I loved my job and was doing good but couldn’t see myself growing there. After working there for almost eight months, I decided to quit.
In February ’06, I joined SQL Star, a software firm with an e-learning division. This time I got better opportunities. Within a year, I got promoted to a Sr. Instructional Designer. But, at the same time, the company decided to send me to Bangalore to work for a client, Sterling Commerce, as a Product Training Specialist.
So, here I am in Bangalore since 2nd May. After a pretty much satisfactory Act I in Hyderabad, here I begin Act II. Let’s see what Bangalore has to offer.
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