The so called Corporate World!!!!

The outside world thinks that IT professionals get paid well. They roam around in the weekends, have lots of western culture influencing them, are ready to pay lot don’t bargain for anything etc.. They have no idea of what is happening in the corporate world!!!!

The same kind of feeling I had during my college days College days are real fun. Everybody would’ve enjoyed in their own way. It was my pre-final year. We had the campus interview fever growing in us. We were preparing vigorously. The companies started coming. By god’s grace I got selected in the company which I had wished.

We finished our project submission on the last week of April. Within two days we were asked to join the company. We were both excited and feeling sad. We were excited as we had at last finished our studies and will start earning very soon. We were sad as all our friends will be enjoying another 2 months of holidays before joining. We eagerly awaited for the great day to arrive.

The first day was very thrilling. Around 250 people were called for that intake. Apart from our college 3 other colleges students had also joined with us. We had our induction program for the first 3 days. We were splited into our technology for training. Around 40 of us were there in my technology.

Training was as usual hectic but my batch was wonderful. Though 40 were splitted into 2 batches we were very close to each other. We still had the college youngster blood flowing in us. We used to bunk training session and go out. We played franks with our trainers. Training was successfully completed and were eagerly waiting to join the practice group. All of us had various kinds of dreams like we would be immediately put in various projects, with lots of coding and reporting to PM,PL etc. Wanted to have all these new and great experience.

The great day arrived. All of us went to meet our PM to find out which projects we were allocated. He told that he has allocated systems, asked us to do some case studies till we get projects. We were given a separate wing. All 40 of us were together. The amount of fun we had is incomparable. It was like a second college life.

Initial we never found it hard. After a slogging training session being free was blessed. All of us were happy enjoying. Nobody used to come and monitor us. Sitting in groups pulling each others legs, talking about their own college stories, watching youtube videos, orkutting etc. It was mere fun. After 2 weeks we were slightly getting bored of it. We started feeling sick of coming to office.

A month later our PM came with a list of names whom they will be allocating into the projects. Only 10 of them were allocated and were asked to report the other branch the following day. All of the others felt bad . Most of them felt sad as their name was not there on the project allocation list . There was sudden split coming between us.

We started missing them very much. Each one of us used to call them and bug them. They would also in turn used to come to our branch when ever they found time. Used to comfort us saying that new projects are coming up, we are all on pipeline(note this corporate words used). Days were rolling by it became nearly 4 months after training with no project. By that time we had almost finished 2 to 3 case studies. Some of my friends went and spoke to the PM regarding our allocation. Everytime after mailing the PM, somebody will keep a meeting telling that projects are coming up and we will soon get busy. It will be so irritating when they ask “what do you guys do the whole day?”. A monotones reply from our side stating that we are enhancing old projects and case studies.

Slowly some people got into the project. Some of them were still behind. The number of training batches given to our technology in a year were only 4. We were the first 2 training batches in our technology. One fine day we were shocked to hear that 2 more new training batches are going to join the training batch. We were wondering what will they do with these many people with no projects. We had a talk with our PM. He splitted us into various domains asked us to attend domain specific training session. Hope slightly started peeking in our hearts. We thought we will be into the project after this domain specific training we will be inside the project. Again luck was not on our side. We later came to know training was just to keep us busy.

The worse things which we have to come cross is that when you go and meet your friend or college junior the first question from their mouth will be “how is your work”. The one standard answer from me is “its pretty much fine now a days. We have a long time for deadline”. The next question will be still more worse. “Hey if you don’t mind please explain me about your technology and the client you are working for?”. I will never know how to tackle. I never knew that I can cook up stories this quickly and will make them believe it. Some of my friends bunk office to go to their home town. They face still more worse problems. The neighborhood will ask them “How come you are here? No work? Does your company pays you for taking leave on weekdays? Are you sacked?”. Its critically hard to face these kinds of situation. Instead of going out and having troubles its better to come to office and chit-chat.

All of my other friends were also settled with work in their own respective companies. Everytime they used to call and tell me about their work. I used to wonder whether they are also in the same situation which I’m going through and simply creating a scene that they are busy with work.

Getting frustrated of things happening around me I applied for another job with change in technology (as my company had various procedures and formalities for changing from one technology to another). The interview was horrible. The panel member was not satisfied as they thought that I didn’t even work for one year in a company. They felt that I’m a fickle minded person. I was not able to do anything. One more option left was going for higher studies. I had doubts whether will I get project work after higher studies or get paid for having no work. Had a discussion with my close friends and relatives. Decided to prepare for higher studies.

Its been nearly 10 solid months in office with no work(bench the corporate world word for no work). After the patience testing is over I’m finally into a project. This 10 months have made me read lots of stuffs. Helped me to learn new things. One of the bigger lessons which I learnt was to make a quick and a proper decision.