The Day which made My Life;My Interview Experience

The day had finally arrived, although not a significant one but for me its importance cannot be defined in words. The date was 23^rd August, 2016. On this day Shapoorji Pallonji Group visited our college campus for interview selection. As I had already cleared Aptitude Test round on 12^th August the same year, I was eligible for the Group Discussion round, clearing which will give me an opportunity to face my first ever Job Interview.

On the previous night, I had many difficulties in sleeping, in fact, I just slept for an hour. A thought passed by my mind, “Dreams are those which doesn’t let you sleep!” Moreover owing to the inability to sleep, I was thinking of…What if I fail? What if I succeed?. At 6 o’clock, Baral, my roomie was still awake, not due to any tension or something like that, but he is habituated to sleep late. I rudely kicked him out of his bed although not literally and suggested him to accompany me to the nearby tea-shop, to have a cup of tea and biscuits. On our way we smoked, which was seen by a senior familiar figure, us being unware. Baral insisted, ”Today, You will go to the college as jobless but you will return with your first mentionable success i.e. with a job”. At the tea-shop Chinmoy, Shubham and Aparup were having tea,seeing us coming they started their well-known pranks and the so called ‘CHATACHATI’. Oh Sorry,I forgot to mention they are my juniors. After that we both returned to our Mess at half past six and I slept peacefully for two hours. I woke up at half past eight as our reporting time was 9:30 AM.

At 8:30 AM, I started getting ready, brushed my teeth, had a pleasant bath, wore formals including tie.It would not be exaggerating if I say that I was perfectly dressed, wore my wrist-watch, took my bag which consisted of the requisites like C.V, Portfolio, Project Report, Photos etc. At 9o’clock took an electronic rickshaw, to reach the college at 9:15 sharp, had my breakfast in Bishoo Da’s Shop and went to the college.

At the college, I and the rest of the qualified candidates were waiting in DR1 classroom. Everyone was enjoying the moment except me, I was focussing….with the periodical question- ”Eto Chaap e keno bhai?”(Why so worried,brother?)

At almost 10:30, we learned that the train in which the panel was due to arrive, was almost 5 hours late. Ashwini suggested me to return to the mess and wait but I was reluctant to do so. After that Pan suggested me to wait at the hostel, I grabbed the opportunity without any hesitation. Reaching 4^th year hostel, I went to Atanu’s room and slept partly on his bed and partly on Ali’s bed. At almost 2 o’clock Anik woke me up and said that the lunch was ready.After having lunch,I returned to Atanu’s room just to be informed that others were on their way back to the college as the interview panel had finally arrived and the time was 2:30 PM.

Returning to college, we were instructed to wait in our language lab, as a presentation would be given to us by Mr. Maloy Ghosh, HR, SPCL and two other high officials. The presentation comprised of SPCL’s foundation, history and its work culture but the best part of the presentation was that it was very much interactive.

At 3:30 PM, GD started after a delay of 6 hours from the scheduled time in the conference hall and Civil were first undergo that, after that we, Electricals went for it at 4 PM.As it was previously decided that Amit will initiate and Deo will conclude, I and the others waited for the opportunity to make out our point without intervening or being intervened. We were given 2 minutes time to prepare our points, and then the discussion began, I was second to propose my points, but I was sloppy a bit, made 6 points (which is very much large in number in this case), and my English was not just up to the mark due to nervousness. After the GD, I and Ashwini were consoling each other and smoking out our tension. I was feeling a little bit guilty, because of me many others could not speak but Amit said, “If you want to go ahead, you have to defeat others by hook or by crook!”, and those words ultimately eased my guilt and pressure.

At 5 PM, the GD result was announced and I came qualified. My mother called with queries about my GD, and I said that I was a bit nervous but she consoled me and said, “How can you be nervous? Aren’t you my most smart bachcha? Do a thing! Before you enter the interview hall imagine my face and everything will go well.”

Then after waiting for a while, Personal Interview began and Ashwini was first to face it. At 9 PM, came the moment of my life, I just did as my mother said and went for it. Oh ho again I forgot some of the juniors and Jitesh helped me relax during the harsh, long and troublesome wait.

“May I come in? Sir!” I said politely, one sir from the panel said, “Come on in Trideeb, have a seat and give me your CV.”I thanked them for the greeting and provided them with my CV, took the seat. Yes, you are right, I didn’t shake hands with them, but it was intentional from my side. The HR asked, “Where are you from? And who else are there in your family? “. Well I am not exaggerating but there I don’t know how but there was a certain surge in my confidence and my fluency in speaking English became as good as the time when I left my English Medium school. I replied, “Sir, My roots are from Siliguri. I belong to a nucleus family comprising of my father, mother, sister and myself.” Counter question, “What does your father do?”, “He is a PWD Contractor, and He owns a small civil construction firm” me smilingly. Another sir from the panel asked, “Then, Why don’t you join his business?” I was somewhat prepared for this question and making no further delay I said, “Sir, I want to create my own separate identity.” It was again the sir who greeted me, who is also the HR,”OK Trideeb, How are you different from other candidates?”, “Well Sir, I am passionate to learn new things in my field and I am aware of the excellent work culture and learning environment which SPCL provides. Sangshaptak Dada was placed last year and he briefed me about it.” One of them,”Hmmm…Money or Job-Satisfaction? ”,”Job-satisfaction!”,”OK then if I select you, provide with remuneration and learning environment without salary, would you join us?” Me confidently but somewhat aggressively, “Of course! But I will learn a lot is the Guarantee I want. Without satisfaction I won’t be happy. As the adage goes ’Money can’t buy you happiness.’ it won’t in my case.” The third sir asked, “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses?”, “My strengths are adaptability under any circumstances. I am willing to relocate anywhere. Open-Mindedness! And my weaknesses are directly telling the truth on the face even if it hurts anyone and I am short tempered but I am trying to overcome these, like I now say the truth definitely, but indirectly and now-a-days I am meditating to keep my anger in control.” The HR said, “So you are short tempered, then how can you manage labours?” me, “Every person has at least one weakness but the main thing is if he or she is willing to overcome the same. I am trying my bit. I would like to mention that I had an experience in managing my father’s site for a week as he was out of station, so I think I can manage that.”

Now comes the Technical part….

I am not going into the details but the questions were like-What do you think will be your job in a construction site as an electrical engineer? How a crane works? How many motor are there in a crane? Classify Circuit Breakers? Say about the four quadrant operation of a dc drive? Tell me something about electric traction, etc.

At almost 9:30 PM, the HR Sir said,”OK, Trideeb, your interview ends here.” I offered my hand for the most awaited hand-shake .While going outside I had a feeling that someone is looking at me from behind, I turned and saw that it was the HR, I gave him a smile and a slight nod and came out of the room.

Arpita was waiting for her turn outside the door of the interview room and she enquired, “How was it?” which I gave a loud reaction without saying a word. Everybody was asking me this and that of the interview, and I replied. I was too happy to even take my bag, bought a cigarette and headed back to the mess smoking in peace.

After reaching mess, made the requisite agenda to retrieve my bag, answered few questions related to interview to Sampad and Koushik, got freshened up and went to the mess where I eat, for having my dinner.

There were juniors with repetition of same questions which I answered again. My father called me, asking about the interview, I said smilingly, “Interview? Baba, send me some money positively tomorrow, I have to give the juniors a grand treat!”, “What about the result?” he insisted. I confidently, ”Baba, If they select at least one from electrical, I will be that one selected candidate!’’

At five past 11, Aranya called, “Bhai, Congratulations! You have cracked SPCL!!”. I overwhelmingly said, ”Thank you bhai!”,made a post on facebook. My first call was to my mother, but unfortunately she missed my call…then came father’s turn, my sister picked it up, she said that father was driving the scooter. I told her to tell him to park the scooter, and he did that finally the moment ” Baba,ami chakri peye gechi!”(Father,I am placed.).After that my mother returned the call and I said,”Maa,ami chakri peye gechi!”..she burst into tears so I couldn’t control myself. We cried together…

After that I had my meal, returned to my mess where Baral and Newton were waiting. They lifted me onto their shoulder and took me to my room…I called Didivai, it was her birthday too, wished her and presented her the news that I got placed. We, messmates smoked a packet of cigarette together….and being tired it was time for me to go to sleep…….The most memorable day of my life ends here…