The deserving candidate...

For the last few days, i had been attending a coaching class for appearing in SSB interview. Guided by a well experienced Brigadier and  Colonel, i was exploring my potentials, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, and trying to overcome those weakness. The day i joined the institute, i made a friend. Basically he hails from Kannur, but his father is a high rank official in Indian Army. He stayed in the insti's hostel, a small room inside it. We greeted each other, and started talking to each other. I always like to make friends, so was he. His friends completed the coaching few days before and was alone there. He was dying to have a company and it was then, that i made my appearance. To my greatest surprise, it was on his birthday that i made an acquaintance with him, and i was the first one to wish him a "Happy b'day" along with a shake hand - the best day to have a new friend. The very first day we came to know about each other very much, as we were involved in interactive sessions from morning to evening. So i promised him to take him around the city on my bike. He was fond of vehicles, and really wanted to see my bike. I still remember his reaction when he heard my bike's sound- he closed his eyes as if he was meditating. We set out to MG road. Our first destination was a CHAAT centre. I was sure that he would enjoy chaat. None of my friends in Kerala other than jfreak liked chaat, and i hated to have ot alone, as one need someone to chat over a chaat. He haven't had it for a long time. We ordered "alu papdi chhat and Delhi chaat"...mmmm..both had the same flavour-" Dahi wala" in hindi. Afterwards, we went to favourite mall, eventhough he had been there once. So i took a different route, and gave him few new views of my city.

Once we reached the mall, we went to some shops, and later, entered a book shop. It was a week day, so i got more time to spent with books ( or else...guess what..). I didn't want buy any book as i was sure that my wallet was too small to fit the prices. But as a part of Indian festival, they had a 40% reduction sale for few books....I got a book named "The old man and his God" by Sudha Murthy for Rs. 90. We spent few more minutes, and dropped him at his hostel. As soon as i reached home, i began with the book, even without having tea, not even changing my clothes. I was surprised about the book. I always dreamed about such a book. It contained chronicles few journeys, people she met and few experiences and thoughts she wanted to share with the world....In fact, that was my dream about "my first book". I went through the pages. It was very similar to my blog. Few were craps, but i was struck with one chapter - The deserving candidate. It was the story of two candidates who appeared for an interview and how one of them got the job by his honesty. I was recollecting the story of one of my interview......

You might be remembering my "Job hunt", don't you?...And as i mentioned in that post, Hunt is a "hostile pursuit". Only target matters. Deceive, role play, do whatever do you want to get the job. Even i don't agree to it, but that was my situation. The company was a road construction contractors, and they were conducting the interview in a hotel. Initially supply did matter, but thanks to my dear Andrew who pleaded in the placement cell for admitting students with supply. In fact it was for me. There were 14 candidates to attend the interview. Most of them were academically mediocre students. The first round comprised of a written test; even a first year student could have done it. We were asked to wait until the results were out, but as the number of candidates were dew, they decided to interview everyone. After a few candidates, my turn came up. I walked in after asking their permission. They asked me to take my seat. I did. The round began. It was in Malayalam. That made every candidate comfortable. They began with few questions about the place i came from, my family, parents' occupation, so and so... It gave me some cool off time. With each questions passing by, i was being more relieved, not because i answered well and correctly, but because i was quite successful in shielding my ignorance by juggling words. Even while sitting infront of the panel, i was quite confident that i would get this job for sure. They described about the challenging nature of the job. I quoted Kalam's words- "Every challenge is an opportunity.Sir, speaking about......blah blah..blah...." I had never spoken so very well. The panel was  getting impressed with each line. I could read it from their body language. I was working hard to analyse their body language and speak accordingly.

Now they asked me a different question, "Deepak, after being a part of our firm, what will be the challenging project you will like to have?.."

Joining a construction company is not my dream. I want to be a Navy officer. But right now i need a job in hand.So i said;

"With all due respect, sir, we cant expect to have a challenge we like. If you were asking me about a dream project,...well...We will build the first F1 race track in India". (I didn't know whether there are any race tracks presently existed in India, if not, didn't know whether there was a scope for the race being held here. Still i made that statement very confidently.)

All of them were surprised. Brilliant answer. I got it from their face. Yes! I got the job- i yelled in my mind...

"Are you ready to work anywhere in India?.".......Oh! got f*cked up....I got the same question in another company's interview few months before. I said yes, but was kicked out.
"Yes sir. Definitely." I answered with no hesitation. "We will see u later. You may leave now"...."Thank you sir"...


They promised to inform us within two days of the interview. Days passed by....No mail, no phone calls, nothing.....Finally, one day a mail showed up. It was my offer letter. 5 of us got selected. The LUNATIC who deceived, role played, and spoke with insincere words got the job. In contrast to the candidate mentioned in the beginning i represented a ruthless hunter...Situations can make us ruthless hunters....But, time can help to change ourselves....I was thinking to deny the offer. 2 years' bond is a problem, but the way i procured the job makes me feel more guilty and shameful....Most probably i will deny the offer....what do you say?....