My blog always holds a special place in me holding different flavors and experiences happened in my life!
So here is the post all about my professional career with my organization. Wanted this to occupy a space here which means a lot to me!
As a part of 25 years celebration at my organization, there was a "Story Club" event organized by the company to come up with their experiences they had with the organization. I was one among the employee who had posted my story to them which was well received by my team and panel of judges. I am eagerly waiting to get this published soon in our "Coffee table book". Fingers crossed :)
I am sure my readers will be able to get back to their own memories at their organization and think about what would be their contribution to their team and to their company!! I also hope that this will be an index to the readers who are looking out for a great future in IT. Good luck!
Happy Reading. Be & Bring the Change at your organization!!!
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19th July 2015, Sunday 7.30 AM
My clock’s alarm beeped for yet another time, after me snoozing it for the 5th time. (I am still wondering how did I count the snooze correctly with my half sleep, May be I was right at times :) )
I was precisely able to recollect what I was pondering in my thoughts over my night!
At 7.45 AM,
With a hot cup of filter coffee, with nature’s cool breeze matching the coffee’s aroma, at my ever beautiful veranda, with my diary beside me, I started to pen down my association with my organization. My day started beautifully!
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People are just like puzzle pieces in your life. You search and search for the right ones until you find the most suitable ones. You pick up a few that don’t fit, get frustrated and then place them back in the pile. A few of them fall on the floor, and you seemingly lose them forever at the point. But sometimes, a few PIECES just fit in. I was lucky to have seen those PIECES that fit in my life to groom me as a good IT PROFESSIONAL!
“Are you all excited? I could read your pulse”, was the phrase I heard from the Senior Manager - the head of our training department. It was on Dec 2009, where my career for IT started. Yes, I was put up into a domain, after my 15 days of basic training which every trainee would have undergone. It was indeed a happy moment, that I was able to put my step into my domain right after my graduation. It all happened from an email from HR representative for an off-campus drive. Siruseri was one such location, placed far away at the outskirts of Chennai city. With so much of thoughts about my career, fear in mind, ambition in heart, thirst and passion to learn and courage to take up responsibilities; I stepped into my organizatio. The campus looked huge with a promising hope. The tag line “XXXX” caught not only my camera lens, but also my dream to achieve.
It was a thoughtful and a memorable 15 days of basic training that laid the foundation of my career. The training presentations, Our own organization portals, external tutors, assessments, kept echoing into everyone’s ears. How could one forget the teachings from a tutor who was a ‘the jack of all trades’ person, it was indeed a great experience attending his sessions, for every minute Joy is assured along with some new learning. I was blessed to be a part of his teachings and it kept me busy grooming for the next step in the company. “Learning & teaching has no limit or limitations, it is endless & priceless”. My learning began in a very nice way by remembering these lines from my fav tutor.
My domain XXXX proudly laid the next best foundation in my profession. The 2 legends Mr.XXXX and Mr.XXXX headed the domain from Chennai. We (a set of 13 members) were fortunate to be a part of this boundless inspiring team. MOTIVATION was the word that I keep recalling when I think of horizontal every time. With such encouragement and inspiring talks around, everybody deserved “Pat on back” happiness, or a “good job done” phrase for the task accomplished from the team. Our horizontal competency took the responsibility of creating a talent pool where one can express their hidden talents too which was proved over in the day out – 2010. It was an outstanding & memorable event for all of us.
With diary in his hand, spectacles making him look very professional, neatly ironed formals, excellent communication, with a pleasing smile and attitude, a 55 year old man greeted all of us into a conference room. He was our resource pool head who handled us very smartly with so much of Hope and confidence. “Always carry a personal diary & pen” – was the first phrase he conveyed us. For me learning has never stopped and grasped that phrase. He started out briefing us about the domain and the prospective customers. He taught us even the simplest things that one should carry over in his/her profession. It was a great credit sharing our interests with him; he picked up the right person for the right job. I learnt to be more disciplined from him. One shares a good rapport with him for his humbleness. His writings as a blogger made me to start my OWN blog which I am thankful to him till date. His last day email and farewell party organized by our competency was the first thing I experienced after me joining Hex. Every person miss his presence, but proudly his learning’s have made an ink in my notebooks! Indeed little things make a big difference.
My voyage began from there on. I joined my XXXX team headed by an efficient person. I was taught about the insights of the XXXX concepts with a supportive team. We delivered all the projects on time with our proprietary tools and technologies. Interactions with competency from Mexico team gave us many ideas to innovative. Not to forget the delivery head of Mexico team, who was the pillar of strength to all of us. That was the time when our organization acquired another one which became subsidiary. We had to race against time and be workaholic at times. I had to face some tough hectic situations during my projects, however my colleagues made it easy with a positive note always. Their assistance was remarkable. They taught me how to handle the project with the smartest ways, how to tackle even the rudest customer, they taught the more you give, the more you will get in return (it is always with the teachings you become better), how to get delighted with your hectic schedules, how to be supportive with your peers, how to get self motivated, so on and so forth. Our team effort was simply amazing and we rocked in every project. Everyday learning made me to groom for my next level. An unforgettable experience was bringing up a Journal for our team with all our experiences foot-printed. I was given an opportunity to interact with several people across the competency, Delivery, Sales, HR and management. Everyone was unique in their own way. Their views about our team/projects made us to carry our voyage with a great confidence. This improved & proved my leadership skills with me handling a team for a healthcare customer. What I learnt from my senior colleagues made me to transfer to the people under my team. Learnt to experience the people management skill from there. Our team spirit blossomed and stood still. I was amazed with the rapport I had with my line managers and directors. This was the Greatest STRENGTH that one could see in our Organization. Where ever you are and whatever innovation you do, you will be always been motivated and encouraged to become a better professional. It is said – “Creativity is the ability to say things in an unusual way. Confidence is the ability to do things in an unusual way. Charismatic people can do both”. My close colleagues in the team had the genuine charisma in them. One of the great personal joys is having the opportunity to work with them and enjoy the electricity they generate in projects & demos. I learnt how to be charismatic. Participating in fun events, celebrating birthday parts, organizing certificate distribution event as a token of appreciation to the team etc. made our team stood strong. Our visit to OTA (officers’ training academy) for the “Passing out parade ceremony” showed us that practice makes a man not only perfect, but responsible too. The cadets stood to show a significant leadership skill that one could possess in any industry. It was indeed an unforgettable day for me. One of the memorable moments was on Aug 2013, where I received a $100 gift card from customer along with great lines on my work in a greeting. It was a pleasant surprise and honor to receive it from the client. The greeting card had the signatures of stake holders from customer’s end with whom I had worked with. It touched my day and made me proud of myself.
Carrying a pleasant smile on his face always, Mr.Z was one such gift to the entire competency whose simplicity and humbleness stands worthy. Armed with such knowledge, he had set as an example to every person who joins into the team. My association with him was immense as I learnt many appealing things from him. His prompt replies to even the simplest emails you send across, his heartfelt wishes and encouraging words to your achievements, his passion to grow the team more, his interest towards table-tennis, his intention to correct and mold people in a right manner, his leadership skills which draws the attention, his people management was an endless learning, his trust and respect to others, everything made him to develop a winning team of 2000 members within us till date. I am proud to be one among them. “Be a PEOPLE’s PERSON” – was the phrase I learnt from him!
Years passed on, My passions towards learning new concepts never stopped, my writings were recognized in the form of newsletters and magazines, My interest towards sports were kick started again after my college days, My passion to do something for women employees was satisfied from women forum in my organization, My leadership qualities were proved with the recognition from management, all put together made my work place beautiful and interesting.
Everyone will look out for an enlightening exposure in their career, I was no such different. One such big moment was my first Onsite trip at my customer’s location as a reward for my work at offshore. It was the fall season, with new faces around me, high expectation being set to our project and team, with my self-confidence; I landed in customer's place to a different country than India. It was a 6 month engagement that was a turning point in my career. I kept this as my second innings for which I had to keep the expectations right in place. I was welcomed warmly at the customer’s place by my client QA manager. He was a very nice person, a kind customer who gives you the space to explore and bring up new things. This was the thing he liked more about our company and the association with us speaks for it. It has been a long standing relationship with touching the 4 years. I was blessed to be at Customer’s location. Engagement started out to be in a nice manner, we delivered the scope of the project on time, received compliments from customer for the team effort we did. The way I carried myself on the customer’s end made me to think that I had received something big in my career. Those simple accolades from the client made a move in my career. Assisting peers of the customer & satisfying them was the biggest challenge. The assignment was completed on time and it was time for me to continue the role from Offshore. This was something that owe to my organization who had provided me with an opportunity to travel. My company does not have customers, it has admirers. To my surprise, I was given a touching farewell party. The cake had its phrases “You will be missed; Have a safe trip”. Words from my customer “You brought such a joy to this Office” left my eyes wet with happy tears. I still cherish these lovely moments in my life. Small things come in big packages. These waves of nostalgia keep me alive.
I often think that we all are conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments, but great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what we may consider as small ones. There may be a lot of failures in our path, lot of pain and embarrassment knocking at our doors often, ego and politics would be the first things which we hear on entering the team, we don’t think to apologize for your mistakes even if it doesn’t hurt to admit your mistakes, at peak situations we lose our temper among peers, so on and so forth. However with all these, we still make every effort to build a living in our career, we still serve to deliver quality outputs, and we still look our customers with a pleasing email. At the end of the day I understood that there is always a lot of beauty to find on the other side :)
It is now been close to 6 years, since my journey began. There had been a lot of changes I had seen till date with respect to the competency and organization. Changes are always good and it’s the only thing which stays permanent. With raising engineering block constructions, a certified green campus, striving to be on top 10 charts companies, a GREAT PLACE to work certified, changes to vertical and horizontal, new employee benefits, our new CEO, so on and so forth. I wish my organization continue to endeavor to improve and get betterment among employees.
Many reminiscing events are to be continued in my upcoming days. Wish to taste it with a sheer confidence & hope. I was right enough to choose, start my career with my organization and fortunate to share my space with such wonderful people around.
It is going to be an endless journey for me. I am going to rediscover the joy of life. Do you? :)
Let my tale be an index to yours!!!!!!!
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At 9.00 AM,
Sipping my last bit of my coffee, I closed my diary keeping my pen aside. I felt a great satisfaction penning down my thoughts. Three is so much of joy in sharing, that abundant happiness does not equal to what you receive. May be a pinch of it would definitely help someone to mold a career in this organization!
I went inside my room and booted my laptop. Drafted the thoughts from Diary to Laptop. With a positive hope, I kept my cursor to hit on the SEND button from my official email id to “StoryClub@XXXX.com” :)
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P.S - Any details related to my organization have been hidden and marked with xxxx. There is no mention of any names or teams in the post.
