... i need to be more disciplined about "The Four Quadrants" ... may the Lord give me strength... amen!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
..."Never fall in love with an idea. They’re whores. If the one you’re with isn’t doing the job, there’s always, always, always another."...
... i've been contemplating on so many 'topics' to 'write' lately that when it comes to actually 'writing' on my blog my head spins out of control... not literally of course!... so, my take on the Online Privacy or on Human Resources or on Mutinies Across the World or on Anna's Aandolan or on myself... all vent in vain... because it just got lost in the myriad of my zillions of neurons trying to interconnect with each other to keep up with my continuous flow of thoughts...
... but as i realized everything is not all lost... these thoughts and more importantly the thought process that goes behind the scenes makes you what you are... it helps in rebuilding your character and reshaping your personality... and thus affects your attitude towards fellow animals who inhabit this planet jostling for every resource available be it food, land, water, air or mating partner... (i wanted to write 'humans' but then humans are animals as well! right?) ... so IMHO when it comes to social interaction, this thought process is very important... but there is a catch! (there always is!)...
... we humans (i don't want to confuse PETA by equating Us with Animals!) interact with others in many a ways, which leads us in expressing how we feel... or in other words our emotions... this expression of emotions is far more complex process than it sounds... not only for the person expressing it but also for all those who are in the near vicinity and thus in a position of observing it... and since it is far more complex process than it sounds we end up making far more errors in judgement than we should or can afford to...
... i wish i could put my thoughts and thought process here more elaborately but then i have some numerical problems to practice for the oncoming Statistical Analysis Test... and have an HR assignment to prepare and understand Microeconomics as well... life is what we make of our living... and if u like what u read here don't be shy to drop a comment or two... and if u don't like what u read here don't be afraid to drop a comment or two... besides, ur credit card won't be charged for it! ;-)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
"We should judge a man much more surely from what he dreams than from what he thinks."
... as the cliche goes... better late than never! ... my aching body was (i guess) a direct result of the over-stretched grey matter and under-stretched body...
... every that person who was aware of my intentions to pursue higher education and cared enough for me indicated (or should i say warned?) that this is going to be tough... very tough!... and then they reminded me (in teasing way!) that handling job and studies after the change of my marital status will be the icing on the cake...
... as for now i am trying to keep the temptations in check (the cake and change of my marital status both!) ...
Saturday, August 27, 2011
... "If I'd asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." ~ Henry Ford
... No. i have not abandoned this blog. but read this while i am still contemplating my 'return'! :-)
Monday, August 8, 2011
..."How you present yourself is how others will value you."...
... the 'schedule' is taking its toll! ... late nights, hectic day and weekends in trance! ...
... Peace be upon all who read this! :-)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
..."We can forget the life we lived before, but it's very painful to forget the life we were dreaming to live"...
... my blog is becoming an 'open and shut case' ... i open the blog and shut it back! ... some posts are in drafts and some other are in my neurons... i guess the world is not yet ready for them... so meanwhile... read this email forward...
===============================================
Headhunters Reveal 11 Ways To Ruin Your Chances Of Getting A Job
===============================================
1) Holding back information can make you look sneaky.
It’s important to be as honest as possible with your recruiter about your career, preferences and anything else that could affect your job search.
“Job seekers sometimes fail to tell their recruiter when their company, position, or compensation preferences change. Second, job seekers hurt themselves by not telling recruiters about personal obligations and other things that might interfere with their job searches,” says Katy Keogh, of the staffing firm Winter, Wyman.
“Bring these things up at the last minute, and they can be a deal-breaker. Why? Changing the game at the last second with a hiring company makes you look sneaky or complicated for no reason at all.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Providing a vague description of your accomplishments makes it harder for a headhunter to place you.
“Leave out the jargon,” says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a career coach and co-founder of SixFigureStart. “Show specific and measurable results."
"Don't make me as the listener/recruiter/prospective employer have to translate what you're saying into how it will benefit me or fill my needs. Talk to me in terms of my needs and what you will do for me.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Don’t assume that a headhunter will do all the work for you.
Jennifer Lenkowsky, a managing partner of The Corporate Ladder, sees it all the time. “The biggest misconception a job seeker makes is that they assume because a headhunter agrees to meet them, that headhunter will find them a job," she says.
"And then, they (job seekers) tend to put all of their eggs in a headhunter’s basket. Unfortunately if the companies that we work with don’t pick up on your resume, it’s out of our hands.”
"A headhunter's job is to find the right candidate for the client (company) who hired the recruitment services - not to find a job to every single job seeker who contacts the recruiting firm," adds Laurent Guerrier, CEO of the staffing firm, Luxe Avenue.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Not tailoring your resume to a specific job tells a recruiter that you are either lazy or the wrong candidate for the position.
“Whether you’re using a headhunter or applying directly through a company’s website, gear your resume towards the position," says Lenkowsky.
"There is nothing wrong with having different versions of your resume as long as everything you list is truthful. If you are applying for a position that requires event planning experience, then be sure to include all information that’s relatable.”
"A job summary should consist of 4-5 sentences on what you can bring to the table,” adds Terri Lee Ryan, a career coach.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Don’t waste time by applying for jobs that you are not qualified for.
Be realistic about the jobs that you apply for, say recruiters.
"Don’t apply for jobs that you want or think you can get (when you know you can’t) … rather apply for jobs that you are qualified for," says Lenkowsky.
“For example, I was recently recruiting for a position as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. The salary was listed at $150-200K and asked for candidates will similar experience to apply. Many of the responses were from people who just graduated, had never been an assistant, or were overqualified but unemployed. This is just wasting the job seekers time as well as the headhunter/hiring manager’s time,” she says.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6) A poor online reputation will torpedo your chances of getting a phone call from a headhunter.
“Recruiters don’t work for you, we work for the employer. When we submit a candidate we are putting our reputations on the line. We are risk adverse, so make our lives as easy as possible so that we don’t consider you to be a risk in any way, shape or form,” says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing.
Remember to monitor your online presence on networking sites such as Facebook and by simply Googling your name. Another way to keep track of what shows up about you online is to create a Google Alert for your first and last name.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7) The best time to contact a headhunter is when you are employed.
"Headhunters don’t typically work with job candidates that are unemployed," says Terri Lee Ryan, a career coach and author.
"Companies don’t pay them big money to present workers that aren’t gainfully employed. In this market there are many good workers on the sidelines, yet companies still want to see candidates that are gainfully employed and on the 'top of their game.' This is why I tell workers to never quit their job until they have a new one."
"These days, you never know if your job could disappear tomorrow," says Erik M. Tomasi, Chief Operating Officer of DTG Consulting Solutions Inc. "Anticipate the problem before it happens by networking and responding to headhunters, even when you're happy with your current job."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8) It is not a headhunter's responsibility to tell you what you're good at.
"The biggest mistake most job hunters make when they approach a headhunter is not knowing what job they want," says David Perry, an executive recruiter and co-founder of Perry-Martel International.
"It's not a headhunter's responsibility to tell you what they think you might be good at -- that's the job of a career counselor. The headhunter's job is to find that opportunity. When the job hunter says that they are 'open to new opportunities' a headhunter hears, 'I'm clueless.'"
"They'll ask you to 'send us a résumé and you'll never hear back from them."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9) Not revealing your compensation requirements or being inflexible is a huge turn-off.
"I typically ask for this [a job seeker's required compensation] in the first or second phone call and it is usually to make sure that the candidate and the position in question are in the same ballpark," says Patricia H. Lenkov of Agility Executive Search LLC.
"If not, there is no sense in wasting anyone's time so it is best to make this as clear as possible early on. It is usually the least-experienced candidates who resist this."
“More companies now prefer to try an employee out as a contractor, with the possibility of hiring them full-time.” Job seekers should be open to various forms of compensation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10) Not personalizing your cover letter practically guarantees your letter will be recycled.
“I get hundreds of cover letters every day and I’m more likely to respond to a personalized cover letter addressed to me,” says Greg Ambrose, president of Catalyst Search Group.
Also, make sure you have the correct spelling and gender of the person to whom you are writing.
"If you can’t do some research to market yourself as a candidate, why would I think you would take the initiative for my client?" he says.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11) Don't harass the recruiter.
Following up with a thank you note or email to remind the recruiter of your skills is appreciated.
What is not appreciated are numerous phone calls or emails requesting an update on your status.
Being assertive is a good thing, but be careful of coming across as desperate, warns Ambrose. "Being desperate or overly insistent can make a candidate seem insecure about their abilities," he says.
"Even if you're unemployed, the secret to getting a job is acting as if you don't need one."
===============================================
read the original article here
... the title is courtesy of sharry (via sms) ...
===============================================
Headhunters Reveal 11 Ways To Ruin Your Chances Of Getting A Job
===============================================
1) Holding back information can make you look sneaky.
It’s important to be as honest as possible with your recruiter about your career, preferences and anything else that could affect your job search.
“Job seekers sometimes fail to tell their recruiter when their company, position, or compensation preferences change. Second, job seekers hurt themselves by not telling recruiters about personal obligations and other things that might interfere with their job searches,” says Katy Keogh, of the staffing firm Winter, Wyman.
“Bring these things up at the last minute, and they can be a deal-breaker. Why? Changing the game at the last second with a hiring company makes you look sneaky or complicated for no reason at all.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Providing a vague description of your accomplishments makes it harder for a headhunter to place you.
“Leave out the jargon,” says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a career coach and co-founder of SixFigureStart. “Show specific and measurable results."
"Don't make me as the listener/recruiter/prospective employer have to translate what you're saying into how it will benefit me or fill my needs. Talk to me in terms of my needs and what you will do for me.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Don’t assume that a headhunter will do all the work for you.
Jennifer Lenkowsky, a managing partner of The Corporate Ladder, sees it all the time. “The biggest misconception a job seeker makes is that they assume because a headhunter agrees to meet them, that headhunter will find them a job," she says.
"And then, they (job seekers) tend to put all of their eggs in a headhunter’s basket. Unfortunately if the companies that we work with don’t pick up on your resume, it’s out of our hands.”
"A headhunter's job is to find the right candidate for the client (company) who hired the recruitment services - not to find a job to every single job seeker who contacts the recruiting firm," adds Laurent Guerrier, CEO of the staffing firm, Luxe Avenue.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Not tailoring your resume to a specific job tells a recruiter that you are either lazy or the wrong candidate for the position.
“Whether you’re using a headhunter or applying directly through a company’s website, gear your resume towards the position," says Lenkowsky.
"There is nothing wrong with having different versions of your resume as long as everything you list is truthful. If you are applying for a position that requires event planning experience, then be sure to include all information that’s relatable.”
"A job summary should consist of 4-5 sentences on what you can bring to the table,” adds Terri Lee Ryan, a career coach.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Don’t waste time by applying for jobs that you are not qualified for.
Be realistic about the jobs that you apply for, say recruiters.
"Don’t apply for jobs that you want or think you can get (when you know you can’t) … rather apply for jobs that you are qualified for," says Lenkowsky.
“For example, I was recently recruiting for a position as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. The salary was listed at $150-200K and asked for candidates will similar experience to apply. Many of the responses were from people who just graduated, had never been an assistant, or were overqualified but unemployed. This is just wasting the job seekers time as well as the headhunter/hiring manager’s time,” she says.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6) A poor online reputation will torpedo your chances of getting a phone call from a headhunter.
“Recruiters don’t work for you, we work for the employer. When we submit a candidate we are putting our reputations on the line. We are risk adverse, so make our lives as easy as possible so that we don’t consider you to be a risk in any way, shape or form,” says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing.
Remember to monitor your online presence on networking sites such as Facebook and by simply Googling your name. Another way to keep track of what shows up about you online is to create a Google Alert for your first and last name.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7) The best time to contact a headhunter is when you are employed.
"Headhunters don’t typically work with job candidates that are unemployed," says Terri Lee Ryan, a career coach and author.
"Companies don’t pay them big money to present workers that aren’t gainfully employed. In this market there are many good workers on the sidelines, yet companies still want to see candidates that are gainfully employed and on the 'top of their game.' This is why I tell workers to never quit their job until they have a new one."
"These days, you never know if your job could disappear tomorrow," says Erik M. Tomasi, Chief Operating Officer of DTG Consulting Solutions Inc. "Anticipate the problem before it happens by networking and responding to headhunters, even when you're happy with your current job."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8) It is not a headhunter's responsibility to tell you what you're good at.
"The biggest mistake most job hunters make when they approach a headhunter is not knowing what job they want," says David Perry, an executive recruiter and co-founder of Perry-Martel International.
"It's not a headhunter's responsibility to tell you what they think you might be good at -- that's the job of a career counselor. The headhunter's job is to find that opportunity. When the job hunter says that they are 'open to new opportunities' a headhunter hears, 'I'm clueless.'"
"They'll ask you to 'send us a résumé and you'll never hear back from them."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9) Not revealing your compensation requirements or being inflexible is a huge turn-off.
"I typically ask for this [a job seeker's required compensation] in the first or second phone call and it is usually to make sure that the candidate and the position in question are in the same ballpark," says Patricia H. Lenkov of Agility Executive Search LLC.
"If not, there is no sense in wasting anyone's time so it is best to make this as clear as possible early on. It is usually the least-experienced candidates who resist this."
“More companies now prefer to try an employee out as a contractor, with the possibility of hiring them full-time.” Job seekers should be open to various forms of compensation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10) Not personalizing your cover letter practically guarantees your letter will be recycled.
“I get hundreds of cover letters every day and I’m more likely to respond to a personalized cover letter addressed to me,” says Greg Ambrose, president of Catalyst Search Group.
Also, make sure you have the correct spelling and gender of the person to whom you are writing.
"If you can’t do some research to market yourself as a candidate, why would I think you would take the initiative for my client?" he says.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11) Don't harass the recruiter.
Following up with a thank you note or email to remind the recruiter of your skills is appreciated.
What is not appreciated are numerous phone calls or emails requesting an update on your status.
Being assertive is a good thing, but be careful of coming across as desperate, warns Ambrose. "Being desperate or overly insistent can make a candidate seem insecure about their abilities," he says.
"Even if you're unemployed, the secret to getting a job is acting as if you don't need one."
===============================================
read the original article here
... the title is courtesy of sharry (via sms) ...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
"All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse." ~ John Quincy Adams
... i've been put into the regular 'G' shifts now... so no more 'A'-'B'-'G' rotation... apparently, my boss recommended for the permanent 'G' shifts! ... and eyes have started rolling again... but then... boys will be boys!... sharry is pretty upset about this and i am waiting for June the Thirteenth! ... until then... i am keeping my desk cleaned and fingers crossed...
... in another (unrelated) development, i will be submitting my 'documents' to this Uni for the Masters program i've been invited for... going back-to-college was not exactly i was looking forward to after i completed my engineering graduation, but as Chitz observed here you cannot ignore the worrying aspects of not making into the list declared by the competitive exam conducting authority! ... big words i am using today... my point is: there is a rat race... a mindless and numb follow-the-crowd movement... or the so called 'herd-mentality'...
... you can run away but you can't hide... nor ignore... you cannot remain insulated... and if you are on the run, you will be looked down upon... as someone who is not coming to terms with reality ... and i've heard this before and more importantly realised even earlier than when i was first told about my actual potential ... so now that my name is on the list... i must prepare myself for the mental gruelling and physical endurance... and while my 'partner-for-life' is 'out-of-coverage-area' i must 'keep-walking' ... amen
... in another (unrelated) development, i will be submitting my 'documents' to this Uni for the Masters program i've been invited for... going back-to-college was not exactly i was looking forward to after i completed my engineering graduation, but as Chitz observed here you cannot ignore the worrying aspects of not making into the list declared by the competitive exam conducting authority! ... big words i am using today... my point is: there is a rat race... a mindless and numb follow-the-crowd movement... or the so called 'herd-mentality'...
... you can run away but you can't hide... nor ignore... you cannot remain insulated... and if you are on the run, you will be looked down upon... as someone who is not coming to terms with reality ... and i've heard this before and more importantly realised even earlier than when i was first told about my actual potential ... so now that my name is on the list... i must prepare myself for the mental gruelling and physical endurance... and while my 'partner-for-life' is 'out-of-coverage-area' i must 'keep-walking' ... amen
Saturday, June 4, 2011
"It is a very rare thing for a man of talent to succeed by his talent." ~ Joseph Roux
... this is going to be one tight schedule!! ... wish me luck! :-)
aYeS-sEe-uM-aYeTch-AaAr-dEee
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
..."When the fight begins within himself, a man's worth something." ~ Robert Browning...
(Part 4)
... as they say 'the Universe conspires...' well... u know the rest of the thing, i guess the idea is that YOU take the decision and YOU owns it and the consequences and rest is merely the 'support' that you get from the forces unseen and unconquered... ... so there i was... a mere mortal... on the highway heading to Mumbai in my car with music blazing loud on a bright Sunday afternoon... the exam and the interview was over and after dropping off my probable future batchmate i decided that it was time for some relaxation... why not go for a lazy lunch and probably a movie with good ol' friend AMS... so i called him and asked for his opinion and he was game!
... so after F1 style slick driving on the highway towards the wrong side of my direction i took a laung U turn and head back to AMS's place... and just then i spotted this beautiful face sitting at the back of the Chevy Tavera... (self censoring the next 20 minutes) ... i picked up AMS and then headed to the nearest Big Cinema... we decided to go for the Hangover-II and there was sufficient time for the lunch at the nearest restaurant... after the tickets we went to this restaurant nearby and had a long lunch... long because we were not in any hurry and neither was the chef or any other staff... and since the crowd was nice we were not in the complaining mood...
... so we had our lunch and realized that we still had sufficient time for the kill... and then i was struck by the lightening ... not in the literal sense of course! ... my bunch of keys was missing... which meant possible unauthorized access to my car and home and office drawer... we headed back to the restaurant and hit dead end... so we went back to the ticket counter... and we were visiting there after about two hours of booking ticket... fingers crossed and sweating all along we asked if there was any key bunch found there... and the guy nodded yes! phew!... we were escorted to the 'lost'n'found' section and after preliminary investigations we got our key bunch...
... this was simply too much for my senses and i needed some tea badly... so we walked back to this tapri for some tasty roadside real tea! ... the dal fry and steam rice was all gone! ... so the only thing to look forward was the Movie!
... and what a movie it was! ... since i had seen the first (or shld i say the original one!) i was able to relate some of the gags... but then it was not a handicap for AMS... the director tried to recreate the magic and slightly pushing the envelop as well... and i guess from the larger perspective they are successful...
... in short it was a good Sunday ... and hoping for some better results!
(concludes)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
..."A wise man gets more from his enemies than a fool from his friends." ~ Baltasar Gracian...
(Part 3)
... i remembered none of the fabled tricks to shrug off the nervousness and keep your calm ... i heard my name called, twice and both were feminine voices... i wiped my face my palms and wished the air-conditioning was a lot more cooler then it was right now! as i entered the cabin i was stumped by the sight in front of me... my heartbeat was on top gear... 'Panel C' consisted of two women... they offered me the seat and i had to consciously contain my grin...
... i had played and replayed the entire interview in my mind close to dozen times earlier!... i pictured myself in the hot seat and the furry of the questions and the answers i will be dishing out... subtle jokes or funny lines... their grueling and my rehearsed answers and their facial expressions and my composure and their rolling eyes and my smug and ... well... u got the idea...
... but i was not prepared for two women interviewing me! who said that there is pro-male gender bias in the industry? ... maybe it's there maybe it's not... but i was sitting in front of two ladies who were still reading my application form... i could see their gaze piercing through the paper... i was trying to calm my nerves counting numbers... and i was trying to breathe... and then it began
... lady 'one' remarked about my company being at just round the corner... and i immediately corrected that i am on the client's location so i'll be travelling from fifteen kilometers on the far side... and then the usual stuff "what do u do in the current profile?"..."how do u see MBA fitting into this?"..."is it for the learning purpose or a career enhancing option?"..."you said blogging and reading. what do u read?"..."what do u blog?"...some more stuff about the family and all...and then "whoz gonna fund ur education?" ...
... in all, it was good... "do u have any questions?" one of them asked... of course i had questions!! ..."do u have any tie-ups with banks for education loans?"..."you mentioned that the weekend classes and weekday classes may be merged... how come?"..."what about the timings? fixed or flexible?"..."attendance mandatory?" ... honestly i had no serious questions to ask! :-) ... these were trivial ones but still it is better to ask than to mull over them... and then i was asked to meet the co-ordinate if i still had any queries... and now i only had one issue... they never cross verified my documents!... i mean with the fake pilots and all ... they should be more vigilant na? ... so when i told them my thought i was asked to report back to the 'hall' and get them verified... the lady over there opened the file and shut it close and said it's fine! :-| ... i wanted to return the IDs we were wearing... however the lady at the counter smiled and said "oh! it's okay and u can keep 'em!" ... as a souvenir or wat?...
... and then while leaving the 'hall' i picked up a casual chat with another candidate and as we were leaving he told me that one of his friend is interested in the marketing dept of my client... and that he had to leave for Mumbai ... i offered him a ride to the nearest shuttle point... and when i reached there i realised that i can drop him further on the way towards Mumbai... and then once i dropped him at the next bus-stop i realised that it was only noon ... Sunday abhi baaki tha mere dost! ... so first i called mom and told her about the morning interview and all... and then called another friend and we planned for spending the Sunday like we like spending the Sunday... with a movie and lunch...
... but even before that the gleaming tarmac was right there in front of me and the music was loud and air conditioning was chilling... so i smiled and opened the throttle...
... i remembered none of the fabled tricks to shrug off the nervousness and keep your calm ... i heard my name called, twice and both were feminine voices... i wiped my face my palms and wished the air-conditioning was a lot more cooler then it was right now! as i entered the cabin i was stumped by the sight in front of me... my heartbeat was on top gear... 'Panel C' consisted of two women... they offered me the seat and i had to consciously contain my grin...
... i had played and replayed the entire interview in my mind close to dozen times earlier!... i pictured myself in the hot seat and the furry of the questions and the answers i will be dishing out... subtle jokes or funny lines... their grueling and my rehearsed answers and their facial expressions and my composure and their rolling eyes and my smug and ... well... u got the idea...
... but i was not prepared for two women interviewing me! who said that there is pro-male gender bias in the industry? ... maybe it's there maybe it's not... but i was sitting in front of two ladies who were still reading my application form... i could see their gaze piercing through the paper... i was trying to calm my nerves counting numbers... and i was trying to breathe... and then it began
... lady 'one' remarked about my company being at just round the corner... and i immediately corrected that i am on the client's location so i'll be travelling from fifteen kilometers on the far side... and then the usual stuff "what do u do in the current profile?"..."how do u see MBA fitting into this?"..."is it for the learning purpose or a career enhancing option?"..."you said blogging and reading. what do u read?"..."what do u blog?"...some more stuff about the family and all...and then "whoz gonna fund ur education?" ...
... in all, it was good... "do u have any questions?" one of them asked... of course i had questions!! ..."do u have any tie-ups with banks for education loans?"..."you mentioned that the weekend classes and weekday classes may be merged... how come?"..."what about the timings? fixed or flexible?"..."attendance mandatory?" ... honestly i had no serious questions to ask! :-) ... these were trivial ones but still it is better to ask than to mull over them... and then i was asked to meet the co-ordinate if i still had any queries... and now i only had one issue... they never cross verified my documents!... i mean with the fake pilots and all ... they should be more vigilant na? ... so when i told them my thought i was asked to report back to the 'hall' and get them verified... the lady over there opened the file and shut it close and said it's fine! :-| ... i wanted to return the IDs we were wearing... however the lady at the counter smiled and said "oh! it's okay and u can keep 'em!" ... as a souvenir or wat?...
... and then while leaving the 'hall' i picked up a casual chat with another candidate and as we were leaving he told me that one of his friend is interested in the marketing dept of my client... and that he had to leave for Mumbai ... i offered him a ride to the nearest shuttle point... and when i reached there i realised that i can drop him further on the way towards Mumbai... and then once i dropped him at the next bus-stop i realised that it was only noon ... Sunday abhi baaki tha mere dost! ... so first i called mom and told her about the morning interview and all... and then called another friend and we planned for spending the Sunday like we like spending the Sunday... with a movie and lunch...
... but even before that the gleaming tarmac was right there in front of me and the music was loud and air conditioning was chilling... so i smiled and opened the throttle...
(to be continued)
Monday, May 30, 2011
... "Beware the fury of a patient man." ~ John Dryden...
(Part 2)
... the Sunday morning started early... 0600 hrs to be precise... it was the big day... the day that was marked on my calendar for quite some time and the day my family was constantly reminding me of...
...so there i was... in front of the mirror... gliding away my Gillette... the clothes were laid out the night before and the shoes were awl shining... everything was all set for the exam-cum-interview ... also, thanks to the 'meena aunty' my breakfast was in the refrigerator... all i needed to do was fire my oven... and i could feel the throbbing heart of my Vista waiting outside!...
... and while i was getting all dressed up, i couldn't stop thinking of this 'bad vibe' my mind was picking up... what if the tire blew during driving? what if it went flat?... i reminded myself that these are just the same Devil's thoughts that kept me from revising some important topics... and then i realised this consolation was not helping either!... so i reminded me to just shut up and move on...
... so i hit the road to the IT park i was supposed to report @ 0830 hrs... loud music... air-conditioning... and a little rash driving... it was adding to the confidence and so i continued... i reached the venue half-an-hour early... some of the candidates were already there and after a brief hi-there-how-ya-doing thing we decided to sit in the reporting hall... pretty soon i realised that the eight thirty reporting time was a myth and with fifteen minutes over there was still no sign of any official... and then it began... basically we were asked to cross check the form that we have filled online and sign the hard copy of same... we were given IDs that we were supposed to wear during the entire process...
... and then we the large tray with the sandwiches arrived and the automated tea and coffee machine was already in place... after the registration we were asked to take our breakfast and wait... it was about 0915... the exam was soon to follow and now a mild, albeit very mild, nervousness started to creep-in... we were told that we have to take an online exam however once seated in a conference halli was we were pretty sure that it will be the old fashioned way... and it was old fashioned way...
... the difficulty level was okay and i was feeling bad giving in to the temptation of skipping some of the sections that i cud have very well covered... i could hear the Devil laughing away... but as they say... the confidence abhi baaki tha mere dost! ... we gathered again... this time to face the interview panel... i was up for the Panel C and guess what? :-)
... the coordinator (he's a nice guy!) called my name and i was all game... he walked me up to the cabin and asked me to wait... while he gave my documents etc to the panel... i could hear their voices... i was expecting a panel of three... and could identify at least two distinct female voices... wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing...women make my heartbeat northwards... what if the third member is a 'baddie' guy?... the one who is meant to destroy the confidence of the candidates ... i could hear them discussing my academics... i knew it was not a very strong point to talk... and now the nervousness had taken complete control over me... the slow breathing was not calming me and the sweat was oozing out like fountain outside Bellagio! ... the coordinator told them that i was waiting outside and then he left... my name was called and i heard two female voices (again!)... one final deep breath and i entered the cabin... WTeF!!
(to be continued!)
... the Sunday morning started early... 0600 hrs to be precise... it was the big day... the day that was marked on my calendar for quite some time and the day my family was constantly reminding me of...
...so there i was... in front of the mirror... gliding away my Gillette... the clothes were laid out the night before and the shoes were awl shining... everything was all set for the exam-cum-interview ... also, thanks to the 'meena aunty' my breakfast was in the refrigerator... all i needed to do was fire my oven... and i could feel the throbbing heart of my Vista waiting outside!...
... and while i was getting all dressed up, i couldn't stop thinking of this 'bad vibe' my mind was picking up... what if the tire blew during driving? what if it went flat?... i reminded myself that these are just the same Devil's thoughts that kept me from revising some important topics... and then i realised this consolation was not helping either!... so i reminded me to just shut up and move on...
... so i hit the road to the IT park i was supposed to report @ 0830 hrs... loud music... air-conditioning... and a little rash driving... it was adding to the confidence and so i continued... i reached the venue half-an-hour early... some of the candidates were already there and after a brief hi-there-how-ya-doing thing we decided to sit in the reporting hall... pretty soon i realised that the eight thirty reporting time was a myth and with fifteen minutes over there was still no sign of any official... and then it began... basically we were asked to cross check the form that we have filled online and sign the hard copy of same... we were given IDs that we were supposed to wear during the entire process...
... and then we the large tray with the sandwiches arrived and the automated tea and coffee machine was already in place... after the registration we were asked to take our breakfast and wait... it was about 0915... the exam was soon to follow and now a mild, albeit very mild, nervousness started to creep-in... we were told that we have to take an online exam however once seated in a conference hall
... the difficulty level was okay and i was feeling bad giving in to the temptation of skipping some of the sections that i cud have very well covered... i could hear the Devil laughing away... but as they say... the confidence abhi baaki tha mere dost! ... we gathered again... this time to face the interview panel... i was up for the Panel C and guess what? :-)
... the coordinator (he's a nice guy!) called my name and i was all game... he walked me up to the cabin and asked me to wait... while he gave my documents etc to the panel... i could hear their voices... i was expecting a panel of three... and could identify at least two distinct female voices... wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing...
(to be continued!)
..."There is nothing so inspiring to man as a beautiful woman." ~ John Eldredge...
(Part 1)
... it was one of the most anticipated day on my personal calendar ... and i was being reminded AWL the way from the Lutyens' city to 'prepare' for this day... and as if the phone calls were not enough, i got a 'packet' from my li'l sister... and all this was adding to the 'performance anxiety' ... i am talking about the same performance anxiety that we suffer in the adolescent stage of our long life... nope! not THAT one... i am talking about the anxiety before the 'entrance exam' ... if u r born in this part of the world then u know what i am talking about...
... i almost made my mind that i'll be talking leave on saturday to 'prepare' for the exam... and i was aware that this will eat-up the precious leave quota... i am suppose to 'save for the rainy day'... but then my monsoon is not in sight or maybe not responding to my malhaar ... but then that is a different story... so the saturday was all for me... the day started early @ about 6 and most of the topics were easy to refresh... with occasional distractions, thanks to FB and emails i was pretty much on the right track...
... and then Devil's advocate visited me or i shld say whispered to me... ten questions from each section and thirty questions to be solved in sixty minutes... hmmm... why kill urself for that? ... and could feel a sly smile cracking... so with some more distractions and some more Bappi Da pumping the speakers i finished my day... with the ten nightly rituals AskMen suggested...
... but then... Sunday abhi baaki tha mere dost! ;-D
(to be continued)
... it was one of the most anticipated day on my personal calendar ... and i was being reminded AWL the way from the Lutyens' city to 'prepare' for this day... and as if the phone calls were not enough, i got a 'packet' from my li'l sister... and all this was adding to the 'performance anxiety' ... i am talking about the same performance anxiety that we suffer in the adolescent stage of our long life... nope! not THAT one... i am talking about the anxiety before the 'entrance exam' ... if u r born in this part of the world then u know what i am talking about...
... i almost made my mind that i'll be talking leave on saturday to 'prepare' for the exam... and i was aware that this will eat-up the precious leave quota... i am suppose to 'save for the rainy day'... but then my monsoon is not in sight or maybe not responding to my malhaar ... but then that is a different story... so the saturday was all for me... the day started early @ about 6 and most of the topics were easy to refresh... with occasional distractions, thanks to FB and emails i was pretty much on the right track...
... and then Devil's advocate visited me or i shld say whispered to me... ten questions from each section and thirty questions to be solved in sixty minutes... hmmm... why kill urself for that? ... and could feel a sly smile cracking... so with some more distractions and some more Bappi Da pumping the speakers i finished my day... with the ten nightly rituals AskMen suggested...
... but then... Sunday abhi baaki tha mere dost! ;-D
(to be continued)
Monday, May 23, 2011
"I don't understand you. You don't understand me. What else do we have in common?"
... there's a rumor spreading on the internet in the form of Status Messages and posts and notes and what not ... "The speed with which the female population is decreasing we would soon have marriage cards like these.... "Anjali weds Raj and Rahul"..." ... now, i was tempted to answer in my bone-dry sarcastic remark however what i have learned from the 'Outbound' trip is there is a limit to everything and the pure fun of breaking that limit is just an iota short of the brazen stares that follow thru... so... u got the point! ;-)
... in an unrelated story ... i got a call from this lady called Swats ... of course this is not her real name, anyway... she called and told me that i can collect my free passes for some place and blah blah blah... i was walking towards my canteen as it was my lunch time and whenever i am walking towards my canteen during my lunch time i conquer my senses and somehow manage to capture the sensory signals before they can distract my brain from anything other than foodand women...
... so i forgot the whole thing and then this Swats called me again in the evening and 'reminded' me that the passes are for a water park and valid for the entire Sunday and four people allowed... now THAT is good thing... a water park on a sunny, though not the good wala sunny, sunday... so i called A-MG and they readily agreed...
... only after we reached there we felt that strange "eew" feeling... there were more people in the pool than the water molecules! ... not literally of-course! ...
... i will cut down the story here... but it was a drab sunday... inshallah agla hafta roshini ki kiran laaayega! :-)
... in an unrelated story ... i got a call from this lady called Swats ... of course this is not her real name, anyway... she called and told me that i can collect my free passes for some place and blah blah blah... i was walking towards my canteen as it was my lunch time and whenever i am walking towards my canteen during my lunch time i conquer my senses and somehow manage to capture the sensory signals before they can distract my brain from anything other than food
... so i forgot the whole thing and then this Swats called me again in the evening and 'reminded' me that the passes are for a water park and valid for the entire Sunday and four people allowed... now THAT is good thing... a water park on a sunny, though not the good wala sunny, sunday... so i called A-MG and they readily agreed...
... only after we reached there we felt that strange "eew" feeling... there were more people in the pool than the water molecules! ... not literally of-course! ...
... i will cut down the story here... but it was a drab sunday... inshallah agla hafta roshini ki kiran laaayega! :-)
Saturday, May 21, 2011
..."Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names."...
... do u remember Julia Roberts in the movie "The Runaway Bride" confessing in the Church? ... and i feel like i need to confess as well ... and going to a church and confessing there wud be walking a little strange path... so i thought why not do it here? on the blog... it is personal and yet public enough... and maybe (just maybe) i can hail-marry my way out of this... the thing is that even though i spent two decades of my life on the road side of a windshield, i am losing my patience and respect for the humble pedestrians...
... okay, so i was raised in the capital territory and the civic senses there are on the sensible side of the insanity scale, so what? ... the traffic laws are the same and so is the man-machine combination... but boy-oh-boy! the maanooos (as they like to call themselves) are so boorish when it comes to human-machine-human interface that it will make even Aussies look gentlemen... and no, i am not being hurling racist sarcasm here...
... okay, so i was raised in the capital territory and the civic senses there are on the sensible side of the insanity scale, so what? ... the traffic laws are the same and so is the man-machine combination... but boy-oh-boy! the maanooos (as they like to call themselves) are so boorish when it comes to human-machine-human interface that it will make even Aussies look gentlemen... and no, i am not being hurling racist sarcasm here...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
... congratulations AC! ...
... A of A-MG called and told me he got promoted! ... now THAT is some news! :-D .. life is good and may it continue that way! ... amen!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
..."The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going"...
... it was almost a regular second shift today... got off from a lazy start though... had to dash for the fresh poha and medu-vada sambar ... it was a wholesome late brunch... and almost made me doze off again... but then therez a pile books that i am supposed to finish off... so i had to keep my tea mug within my arm's distance to help me stay away from the forty winks...
... sharry messaged me earlier today that he won't be coming to the office and then the regular off-beat meetings and stuff... the mortals in my vicinity have been lying in this pool of incompetent filthy mindset for so long that i feel pity for them!!... and then add the clichéd 'dumbBlondie' into the mayhem and u get a purrfect 'flop show' episode!
... but then... i finished-up what i was supposed to and decided to do some virtual soul stirring... stumbled across a video on youtube about posted by the Alex Jones of Infowars.com ... the video documents some historic news items about the CIA and the Osama binLaden and the purported 'relationship' between them, indicating that the US government needed Osama for fueling the 'fear factor' and blah blah blah...
... and then i ended up with a screen full of Princess Diana related stories... and then one thing led to another and i was hooked to the videos...allegations that her death was a conspiracy and then the counter allegations that it was not... and then i was on Google for some more 'trivia'...
... i got carried away in some fantasy-land afterwards... i have no idea how the time went by... the honorary titles and decorative robes and the artificial wigs and the oil paintings and and theseductive charming gaze and the battles and the mighty wars and deceit and love and conspiracy and i can go on and on and on... phew! and we think it's a crazy world NOW!!
... sharry messaged me earlier today that he won't be coming to the office and then the regular off-beat meetings and stuff... the mortals in my vicinity have been lying in this pool of incompetent filthy mindset for so long that i feel pity for them!!... and then add the clichéd 'dumbBlondie' into the mayhem and u get a purrfect 'flop show' episode!
... but then... i finished-up what i was supposed to and decided to do some virtual soul stirring... stumbled across a video on youtube about posted by the Alex Jones of Infowars.com ... the video documents some historic news items about the CIA and the Osama binLaden and the purported 'relationship' between them, indicating that the US government needed Osama for fueling the 'fear factor' and blah blah blah...
... and then i ended up with a screen full of Princess Diana related stories... and then one thing led to another and i was hooked to the videos...allegations that her death was a conspiracy and then the counter allegations that it was not... and then i was on Google for some more 'trivia'...
... i got carried away in some fantasy-land afterwards... i have no idea how the time went by... the honorary titles and decorative robes and the artificial wigs and the oil paintings and and the
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
“Work like you don’t need money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching.”
... how difficult it is to make a habit? or rather to break it? ... day after day after day i remind myself that there are certain things that need to be done... be it following a stricter diet regimen, going for that solo walk, restarting that book on the shelf and of course this blog... that started with a whim... or was it?
... a lot has happened over the past couple of months... the stay of my family here for close to one month and the subsequent trips to nearby holy towns are perhaps more noteworthy... and of course the latest being the official 'camping' in the woods near a popular 'hill station'...
... there are many aspects of my daily routine that i want to 'document' here... and i shall... not right now... but over the time... amen!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
"... It's all about having a reason to get up in the morning"...
... the title of the page is courtesy borrowed from Ms. GarryZ ...
... i wasn't sure Lady Gaga was good in meaningful songs! :-P
so here it is ... Born This Way ... i guess some of the ladies of 'younger' generation need to listen this!!...
and just in case u need to understand it better here are the lyrics:
It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'Cause you were born this way, baby
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be
Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice of truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah
I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way
Don't be drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're Lebanese, you're orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby, you were born this way
No matter gay, straight or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, yeah
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
... "if you havent lived my life, dont criticize my choices."...
" Religion has convinced ppl that there’s an invisible man…living in the sky. Who watches everything u do every min of every day. he has a list of 10 things he doesn’t want u to do. And if u do any of these, he will send u to a special place, of burning and fire and torture and anguish for u to live forever, and suffer, and burn, and scream, until the end of time. But he loves u.He loves u and he needs money!!!"...
... saw this on a friend's FB profile... i guess this is pretty much valid! :-D
Sunday, April 10, 2011
..."if you can't be there, do the next best thing - send flowers"...
... well... i was able to reach there AND brought flowers... it was 5th April and it was MG's birthday... after dropping-off dad and sis at the railway station i went off to office... and during the mildly relaxed hour of lunch time decided to checkout the FB... and was reminded about the birthday... called her... wished her... and the mind wandered off to work again...
... and then AC called me in the evening and 'invited' me to join-in for the... well... watever... so we landed in the same hotel NikkiZ stayed over however this time i got to visit the BBQ-nation at the terrace or watever it is called... the food was okay the cake was yummy and the service was admirable... (they had to make it 'a-table-for-three' from 'a-table-for-two'... apparently AC 'forgot' to inform them for the added guest ... (note to self: check the reservation before u jump!)...
... last month was a lot about travelling... some of them familiar places... others were first time experience and rest were were 'rejig' for memory... just for the record we traveled to Kopargaon, Shirdi, Shani-Shingnapur and Mumbai... max speed achieved was 140kmph... had three close encounters with accident including one very very close! ... had to stop afterwards to gather my breath... (note to self: if u r accompanied by family pay more attention to road AND drive slow!)...
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