Come 9th August and I’ll
complete 9 years in the IT industry. 9 is a lucky number for me; I was born on
9th, got married on the same 9th and stepped into the IT
Industry on another 9th.
The day was Monday- 9th
August 2004, when I got inducted into Cybage. The impression formed out of the
swanky structure in Kalyaninagar only grew deeper upon getting in. It was a
ripe time for computer graduates to get into the IT world; I was one of the herds
which got inducted that day. Among all Engineering graduates donning additional
CDAC credentials, I was probably the only under graduate who joined as a
“Technical Support Engineer”.
Projects began, so did the fun; working
within a super-cool infrastructure, having my own professional email id and
business card was all fascinating. But all in the fun, my business still read
“Technical Support Engineer” (TSE), while that of my colleagues read the
creamier “Software Engineer” (SE). Things were settling down, rosy beginnings
were turning to practical routine; the general whine for “good” work was
getting louder among my colleagues. Still combating with the .Net and Java
jargons, I started realizing the difference between “good” and “mediocre” work.
A resent of being a TSE only became sharper when I started realizing I was paid
for the “mediocre” work (in conventional / conservative IT industry terms, non-technical
support activities were then considered “mediocre” J). Back then, my professionally immature mind would
consider myself an ostracized kid in this Vanity Fair.
My mind grew bitter after the first
appraisal, when this “professional racism” became evident through the increment
figures. Working in shifts and earning peanuts doing “mediocre” work was enough
for me to explore other avenues. An urge to belong to the creamy layer was
budding in the background and the thirst for motivation grew each day. Pensive
situations can actually be motivators, they force you to hit the gas harder and
accelerate. This transmission infuses positivity that energizes you further. I
started considering myself lucky to have all the time during the day to attend
technical courses. Luckier I got with having the best of the Managers (mentors
rather) to encourage and provide me with opportunities of “good” work. I was
gradually inching towards the sunny side; it took all 3 years of efforts,
learning, motivation, fostering, mentoring and proving for me to get an SE on
my business card J. I was happy, and I’ve only got happier ever
since. It takes time for one to grow mature and realize that no work is “mediocre”,
everything is “good” as long it’s done smartly.
Few lessons that these 9 years have
drummed in me:
Keep absorbing the best from what the surrounding offers.
Ideas, just like opportunities are omnipresent, right tuning of the senses
catches the right wave.
Speak up
and speak up at the right time. If it is a daunting task with impossible
timelines, speak up; voice it if you feel you deserve better than what you’re
offered. Speaking, if employed correctly, also helps building a rapport with
your colleagues, seniors and clients. Rapport building elevates above buttering
with a broad margin, however can easily be mistaken for the latter. It really
shouldn’t matter if they call it buttering, it’s no harm to hold on your
rapport if it doesn’t harm anyone and benefits you positively.
Be lazy,
only if it inspires you to find easier ways of getting your mundane tasks done;
strive to get more, from less.
Do what you fear; I recall this over demanding Indian client (I
should not exclusively use the term “over demanding” for Indian clients, as
they are replaceable synonyms) at Persistent, every phone call from whom would
disturb me. Rather than living on the anxieties of getting his calls, I decided
to call him from my side to update the status. He being least prepared to
receive my call came to my advantage, as he would ask me less questions, and
this pro-activeness assured him his project was being taken care seriously.
Keep discovering things that keep you on high.
Be prepared when asking queries, as we ourselves are keener on helping those
who come prepared, rather than those who approach with a plain “How to?”
Deserve and obtain (earlier) than ask and get
(later); “Pay me what you get and I will start taking
up more responsibilities” was the reply from an employee when his Manager asked
him to proactively take additional responsibilities to earn better score. “The
only place success comes before work is in the dictionary”, the witty Manager replied
wryly.
Polish your English, as the very first impression is formed and
stays by the way you present yourself. Concentrating on vocal abilities is as
important as improving programming language skills, to me personally the
earlier matters more.
