The journey of an Infoscion - Part 1 : The Interview

2008 ,JAN 29

 I woke up from my bed, checking the clock. It showed 6 am. I think it was first time in last 2.5 years of college life that I woke up before 7 a.m. That too without alarm!!!  What might be the reason? No, it was not because Infosys was coming to college for recruitment, but was because I had a nightmare. (Please note that Infosys is not a synonym for nightmare and vice versa.)Fortunately or unfortunately I had that dream on the same day that Infosys Technologies Limited came to my college for campus recruitment.

 I woke up from the bed, got ready , read a few common questions that interviewer might ask in case it I clear aptitude test, and read answers also for the same. Of course, the interviewer knows that these would be the answers when they ask the questions. Thousands of candidates might have given the same answers for those questions.  They why shouldn’t I try some different answers? But then another question came to my mind. Why are they asking the same questions to all, even though they knew everyone had an answer with them for those questions. Interview is an act of asking some expected questions and expecting same answers which may suit to the situation. How you present the answer would make the difference. The better, you are (in acting), the higher the chance of clearing the interview.

           I went to college to attend the presentation made by Infosys recruiters. All my friends, who usually woke up at 7.30 or 8 when they were at hostel had already reported there by 8 am!! I guess they too had the same dream last night.  Presentation started. They played a video , which I had seen a hundred times after that day and before joining Infosys, as that video had always inspired thousands of Engineers who wanted to get into some job in IT. The video is – THIS IS MY INFYYYYYYYYYY…  (Those who has never seen the video can watch it in YouTube) . It was followed by a speech, which made us feel like we were really lucky to at least sit for Infosys recruitment. Presentation lasted for 30 minutes.

     At exact 10.30 a.m, first round for recruitment, commonly known as aptitude test, started. I forgot the number of questions in it, but I do remember one thing. There was no negative marking! So I just decided to do my ‘best’ in the test. I attempted all the questions well before time (except verbal section, which always looks like  vampire for me. So I attempted very few questions only.).   After the test, we were given break and were told to report at the hall by 1.30 p.m. We all went to our rooms, had lunch from our hostel mess and came back.

Some of us went to library to read a book called ‘Electronics For You’. I had never read it before.But I just wanted to read it , as I didn’t want to tell any lies. In case if I clear the test, and if the interviewer ask me whether I keep updating my electronics knowledge, I could reply as “I do update by reading Electronics for you.”  And I was not telling a lie!! (Please note that it was my first interview in life  I wanted to be honest at that time)  We all read a paragraph each and closed it as everyone started to feel sleepy after reading it. We reported at 1.30 but those recruiters came by 2 only. They had a list of names who were selected for interview.

They started to read the names. I was patiently waiting to hear my name, though I was not sure whether I would clear the test.  Suddenly they called a name, which made me laugh. It was not my name, but the name of one of my friends, who said he learned Electronics to work in Electronics field and not to work in IT. Last day we had a fight, in which I said like I don’t mind working in IT field if the company is a great one like TCS, Infosys or CTS. And he replied he would never compromise on job. He would go only to Electronics field. (Today , I got bored of hectic work schedules and quit Infosys, and sitting at home and he is working as Senior Systems Engineer at Infosys. What an Irony!! Or rather destiny!! )

They called almost 30 names. The list would get over soon. The pessimist in me started to laugh and he said to me like I would not get the job. It was then the recruiter announced a name ‘SHUMANTH’.. Everyone looked eachother , but no one stood up. There was no Shumanth in my batch. He looked to list and read it again. This time he read it correctly. ‘Sumodh’. Finally I heard my name!!! I kicked out the pessimist in me and walked to the other room from where people would be called for interview.

They shortlisted 52 candidates for the interview and the process started by 2.30. My slot was between 3 and 3.30.Around 3, they called my name and took me to the front door of the interview room and interview started in 5 minutes. They asked all the questions which I expected , including Electronics Update!! I told about some topics which I saw in the book two hours back and explained them in one or two sentences as if I am a master in Electronics. Fortunately the lady, who interviewed me had no idea about any of them and so I escaped. Readymade questions!! Readymade answers!! Interview Over!!! Infact it was the easiest interview that I had attempted in my life so far.

After interview, I went back to room where everyone was patiently waiting for the final list. We had to sit till 8 p.m to get the final list. To our surprise, all the 52 candidates were selected!!! We all were going to become INFOSCIONS!!! I really don’t know how to express that moment in my life. It was one of the happiest moments in my life. Everyone started to call their parents , normal friends and ‘special’ friends to tell the happy news that they would become Infoscions soon.  That night was a special one for us in hostel. We were treated like warriors who had won a battle against enemies. Juniors looked at us in envy!!! Yes , that was the beginning of Sumodh, the Infoscion….