Marwari Dinesh to Manager Dinesh !!

As soon as I reached office today, I saw a resume in my Inbox from a known contact.

I was happy to see that email. Felt proud when I saw the name, it required few changes, I made those changes and sent it back.

I took a  deep breathe, memories flashed in those few moments…….

Venue - Cyber Tower Entrance, Security Gate

Attendees – Sahil and Dinesh

Objective – Buy tickets and get inside the building to attend an interview in MNC company, DELL for a call center.

Both of us were pooling money to ensure we have enough funds to buy tickets from Security. But we were not sure of the ticket price. We put in courage and asked security for two tickets. The guard glared at us and said something in heavy hindi accent that we didn’t understood. But later realized that he was galifying us and was asking us to *$#@ off in Bihari language. Upon requesting, he explained the procedure to get inside the campus by speaking to HR lady ( Don’t know why but I used to feel that Kingfisher airlines and HR were the most attractive jobs those days).

There were 3+1 rounds in the interview.

First       –             Group Discussion in batches. Sahil was eliminated and I was selected for second round. Of 70, only 10 were selected for second round.

Second -              Elocution Round. I spoke really good for 3 mins. ( I perform really good when I have mike in my hands, bahut yaarana hain mike se mera )

We were waiting for the results.

HR lady called everyone in the room and was giving feedback in a American accent. She called me and spoke something, what I could only hear was she telling me, “Dinesh you have a strong MTI”. I heard the word “Strong” which is an adjective, which means she is appreciating me, which means I performed good in the second round too. I left the room and was waiting for another round.

We were waiting

We kept waiting

We were feeling hungry

We were feeling thirsty, we got water but only realized later that we should not have drank water, as the campus was completely air conditioned. We sat by controlling all emotions of which one was very difficult so we positioned ourselves on the chair that the exertion pressure was less.

Around 05:30, HR came outside and was surprised to see us sitting there. I was more surprised to see her on her surprise emotion. She asked us why were we waiting, I replied “For offer letter”. She glared at me, went back to her room to check her records as I was very sure about the word “Strong MTI”.

( from background, my friend murmured, offer letter chod, bath room pooch le, bhook bardash ho jayegi dost ke liye bauchad nahi ).

She came out and explained that, Strong MTI mean, Strong mother tongue influence, which is not acceptable for a call center.

I broke into tears, my friend consoled me, we came outside and peed in the opposite line of Cyber towers as it didn’t offer us job.

I told my friend that we should speak in English (that too in English) and improve our communication skills so that we get a job, and I said this when I saw HR lady driving herself in car and we were walking towards Bus Stop. He stopped and told, “Bhai Bhook lag rahi hain, Ab English nahi niklegi. ( Those were the days when people used to put effort in speaking English).

Interim I worked as an Sales executive for Hutch Postpaid connections, as a school teacher, economics lecturer for a Jr. College and also as a professor for MBA college for few months. ( Multi things at a time but I was not happy )

I used to buy Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday which had “Job Chronicle” edition. It listed jobs more in GULF, UAE for Plumber, Fitter and I used to feel bad doing MBA, my confidence was shattering. I remember applying for a sales executive job for Eureka Forbes.

I remember a very important in my life day when my brother introduced me to his friend who used to work for a MNC company in Hyd in a conference call. He was extremely sweet in the introductory call and spoke very nicely. He asked me to send my CV to him which I did immediately by walking to a nearby Internet Café, who used to charge 15rs for an hour.

My brother asked me to follow up with his friend. I was excited to call him as he was very nice to me. I called him, he told me that he was busy and asked me to call him back. I understood his situation as he was working in a MNC company.

I called him second time, no response. I understood his situation.

Third time, no response, I understood his situation.

Fourth time and this went on. ( I can understand his situation, he works for a MNC )

Nth time, he picked up, I was in excitement, introduced myself as his friends brother, he started yelling at me that I was disturbing him continuously. I apologized.

Next day, Sent him a SMS, if I can call him. He replied stating that my resume was not correct and I need to resend him.

I went to a Job Works guy, asked him to format my resume and got it sent. I felt ashamed of myself.

I called him, no response. (I can understand his situation)

I sent him a SMS, this time no reply.

I called him , he disconnected.

I called him again, he disconnected my call. ( I started understanding him better now).

I messaged him, if he has few mins. I got an instant reply.

His reply was “No”.

I understood him.

I told to myself that I don’t deserve this.  I deserve better. I spoke to myself. I prayed GOD that I need an opportunity where I don’t behave like this.

I continued working as a professor in a MBA college.  It helped me in increasing my subject knowledge.

I upgraded myself to “The Times of India” from “Deccan Chronicle” .

On one fine Wednesday, there was a publication about “Job Fair” for the first time in Hyderabad.

I was successful this time, cleared all the rounds, I still had MTI but understood that accent is required for Call Centers but not for all the Jobs.

I was asked to come down to Jubilee Hills HCL office after 2 days.

And those were the days when I never used to visit Hyderabad alone, coz I was kidnapped from Hyderabad. ( Well, we can cover this in some other blog)

I was accompanied by my elder brother to HCL office. 

HR was walking through my Job position, location ( In Bangalore) and Profile. She asked me if I had any questions. I had one and asked her, “How much monthly salary” in typical Marwari accent.

She laughed at me.

I was enjoying that.

And before she started the compensation part, I interrupted her.

She asked me, what happened ?

I said, Madam ( read the next line in typical Marwari accent and mood )  - Since this is finance related, can I bring in my brother and you discuss with him on the money part, as I don’t much about it and he is elder to me. ( Guys, God promise, I told this to the HR, and her name was Pallavi, and she teased me for a long time for this).

My brother heard everything what she said, and I again asked, “How much monthly salary” ?

Time flew, my Marwari accent didn’t helped me but my Marwari skills helped me to climb the ladder in the organization.

I travelled twice to London, Scotland, Singapore for Projects.

Take pride in saying that I took my parents to an international trip.

I am working as a manager and still with the same MTI and I love it.

What worked was the self-belief and confidence, which I got in my upbringing and the confidence my family has always shown on me.

I feel lovely when I pass by Cyber towers, see youngsters waiting at bus stop. They are there to march towards the road of success.

I don’t say am content with what I achieved nor am fully successful in life. Am a beginner still, but I still respect the beginners.

Treat your younger ones with respect, spend some time with them. Encourage and pamper them.

Every one doesn’t  get a supportive family as I have one, I was not in dire need of the job, but many of the youngsters do need a job for their family.

Write one resume for someone, don’t know it might become a preface in someone’s successful career.

Regards

Dinesh Leeladhar Dodiya