How I bagged the best job!

Oh yes! I am sure I have the best job among all of us. NO! It’s not Google or Facebook or SpaceX or anything. Not even a job in America or UK or anything. It’s a job in Bangalore and inside the heart of Bangalore- in Vidhan Soudha!

Probably most of you are aware about me getting a contract from the Govt., of India. A little background to those who aren’t aware-

Almost since an year or so I was looking for a job in NISG(National Institute of Smart Governance) I was very close once. I missed it by a whisk. They were looking for a particular skillset and I didn’t have it. They realized 2 days before my travel to Delhi where the final round was to be held. I am based in Bangalore by the way. The location for that job was either Nagaland/Sikkim/Manipur/WB/ Arunachal.

Those who have visited the North East and even experienced the Bangalore Silk Board traffic would know what a breeze it would be!! 

Anyway after losing that an year ago, in the month of June/July I got a fresh call and they were looking for individuals/agencies/firms who could implement eGovernance. This was a central Govt., project –Digital India. 

Obviously I was very interested. I always had an inclination towards National/Social projects.

I read the contract. The moment I started reading I realized it wasn’t easy. Here are few points to give you an idea.

BE/Btech- x points

 ME/Mtech/MBA- 2x points

IIT/IIM- 5x points.

So, me being a BE and a non IIT would gain only x points.

ITIL/Prince2/PMP/-  x points.

I had ITIL , Prince2 , CAPM, Six Sigma Green Belt. So pretty decent.

Experience in Govt., projects and knowledge on Tenders/SOP/ blah blah- 10x points.

Now tell me someone who hasn’t worked for the Govt how would anyone have knowledge on tenders and etc? Mind you I have only 7-8 years of experience. So I am sure I lost all points here.

Work experience- 10x

Now this is interesting. They were giving x points to every 5 years of experience. So more the experience more the weightage.

Interview, Soft Skills, Technical skills, etc etc had points which were well articulated in a neat table.

I was not expecting anything but however, thought it would be better to give it a shot.

The next couple of months I was interviewed 5-6 times. Technical, Psychometric tests etc- somehow manageable.

 I was able to move ahead.

In August I was told that they had shortlisted 4 candidates and all 4 would be called at once for a final round.

There was only 1 position as they were looking only for Karnataka.

I got an opportunity to meet the other 3 that day in the waiting room.

One guy was from IBM with 17+ years of experience.

One with 13 years of experience and 4 years of Govt projects experience.

One more with 6 years of experience in a company which provides consultancy services for bagging Govt., tenders.

I didn’t even know companies existed which provide these services also.

All the 3 were pretty confident and very well experienced also.

I was confident about rejection and going home! I was only happy that I got an opportunity to be around VIdhan Soudha which is an iconic building. A chance to meet someone who reports to PMO(Prime Minister’s Office)

2 rounds were quite good. I was interviewed by a senior person, mostly about my current experience and challenges faced.

Next round was with a very smart IIMC guy with experience in Mc.Kinsey and currently with PwC as an external advisor to the Govt., he wanted to ensure if I have clarity about what I was doing. My goals, future plans, passions, hobbies.

I told him about how I was once closely associated with a guy called Ajit Phadnis when I was volunteering for Janaagraha. That guy was from IIT/IIM.he too was with PwC, he went to Parliament as an Intern, then to Duke. We were discussing about him and what I learnt from him. He was impressed with my knowledge on the Big 4, Financial Markets, Strategy Consulting, life at Mc.Kinsey etc. he did tell me he didn’t expect I would know so much. Greatest shock to him was when I told him why he would have quit Mc.Kinsey.

Overall I would rate a 10/10 in this round. I gave him no room to reject me.

At around 2 pm , after lunch I was informed there would be a final round with a panel.

Now, this is interesting..

I entered a huge conference room. 13 people opposite me. Yes 13 people! The PwC guy was there too.

(Article has been pretty long. This is a 2.5 hour interview. I will share with you the highlights)

Person 3- You said you read. What have you read?

I have been reading Upanishads, Gita and currently reading Leo Tolstoy.

What made you choose these books?

I read more than 50 articles to select the author for Upanishads. I wanted to read after I learnt about Smoky Mountains in USA. I was amazed by the knowledge of a German I met during my travel to North East.

Gita I knew by heart during my childhood and now knowing the meaning of it.

A person was inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s writing and became the great Mahatma Gandhi. I am hoping if not as great as Gandhi atleast I should become a better person than what I am!

//Panel smiled//

Person 4/5- On a scale of 10 what’s your patience level?

8

Person 5- Why not 10?

It was 4 before marriage. Now it’s 8….

// Panel burst out laughing//

NO!! NO!! NO!! Not like that. I meant I was introduced to meditation by my inlaws. They are senior members of the Pyramid Valley and I am getting access to the knowledge and advantages of meditation.

Person 7- So you are married. Why would you leave a comfortable job in Ericsson and take up this? It’s not going to be easy. You will have to convince people, travel to some district headquarters, convince IAS officers, getting appointment would be difficult, Govt staff wouldn’t want to have any changes, they would hate you.. blah blah blah..

I know about Ericsson. Swedish company with excellent work culture, it’s a pleasure to be there.

Yes sir I agree. Things are very bad. The bureaucracy, the roads, services, everything is pathetic. It cannot get any more worse. The only possible thing now is getting better. 20 years later, I could be telling people it was so pathetic those days. Things are so better now. It was so pathetic those days, I was part of the team which brought the change.

You see sir, it’s an easy guess which one sounds better.

Person- Ofcourse it is good but I don’t think you would be able to work here considering the comforts in your current org.

Sir, if I have to choose between pleasure and good, I would choose good. I’d perish if I choose pleasure. That’s what the Upanishads say and I believe it can’t be wrong. So I am right too in my choice.

// someone says very good in a low voice, others give an appreciative acknowledgement//

Person 8/9- how will you convince a Govt official for eGovernance? They have hell lot of work and you are a burden to them..

Sir, I would first match my frequency with them and emphasize about the benefits THEY would have rather than making them feel I am disturbing them for my benefitJ

Person 4- Excellent. This is what I was looking for.

At this moment I felt I have cleared the interview. There were many questions asked including my day to day activities, clients I have handled etc.

They asked me about Govt projects experience and I gave a point blank NO as a reply. I justified saying I have worked for a Dubai client- Du which is UAE Govt entity and if I have handled them I don’t see our own Country as a challenge. Come on, I feel offended if you say it’s difficult to work in Govt!

I felt low on questions about Govt tenders and that I would be the only person and would have to handle a 65 member technical teams and the different Govt departments!

2.5 hour interview! Phew! I just wanted to go home. Previous night I was travelling. I was in Wayanad on a holiday. Too tired and stressed faking enthusiasm and energetic.

2 weeks later I get a call saying I am the guy they have selected and I have to sign the contract.

Seriously? Man! This was the best news I could hear.

I re-read the contract and signed. I start on October 1^st. I will let you know how it goes!

Thanks for reading so far :-)