I still remember the day when I saw my name alongside other batch mates who were offered to work with unarguably India’s finest and most respectable software giants. I was paramountly bewildered and realizing the fact mired me to anxiety. To hurdle through a series of daunting exams followed by an intimidating interview embedded a sense of pride amongst me. The euphoria surrounding the fact that I would work alongside the best brains in the country was extremely exhilarating. But it’s been a long time and the feeling just gravitates with the passage of time.
The brand name created by a group of young entrepreneurs who augured success and achievement through sheer performance and building upon a value system unprecedented, is truly remarkable. The freedom granted to all employees without considering their background, culture, geographical location and religion stands above the rest. The hierarchy is confined merely to the nature of work undertaken and does not reflect by the individual’s gestures or remarks. Indeed, the best place to be amongst the top notch executives revered globally.
The turnovers and growth achieved every passing quarter is gargantuan. India’s one of the largest software exporters has indicated the changes that lay afoot. Conquering parts of the globe and inching towards globalization seems pretty much on their agenda. Signing off projects and contracts worth millions of USD’s has become a commonplace. The sprawling campuses built in almost all major software hubs throughout the country add another feather to their cap. The path chosen by the echelons promises unparalleled growth for the young achievers who aspire to be a part of it.
Alongside gigantic economic growth, the work strength of the organization is growing enormously. Financial year 2005 accounted for a pool of 10,000 fresh employees whereas the figure rose to almost 25,000 in 2006. I am sure there is much more to offer in 2007. They simply overlook the fact that its quality of workforce that matters rather than the quantity. But to some extent I find myself lost in the vicious cycle of the branding and hype attached to the organization. Wherever you look, whichever side you turn; you find thousands of co-workers vying amongst themselves. The quality and quantity of work has indeed degraded. With such huge numbers it becomes conflictive to judge an individual performance. Most of the times the easy going fellows are bestowed upon a good project whereas the shrewd worker is left over to replenish memories of his bench-hood days. The diligent mind would end up with a C grade in the appraisal cycle whereas the leisurely would take home a stupendous A. You never know when the random allocation policy would hoodwink you. People might describe it a matter of luck and console you to settle down with patience. But at a stage where cut-throat competition has become part and parcel of everyday’s work, it becomes difficult to sit with hands tied together and frustratingly wait for an opportunity to prove you. Does the brand serve any purpose when the innate conscious putrefies your mental ability and curbs down your passion and zeal to excel?
I had prior experience working with a small software company in the core of India’s software hub – Bangalore. I got a lot to learn from that experience. I still boast about myself to have worked for them and to instill an ocean of knowledge and confidence within me from that experience. The firm had not had a billion dollar turnover. Neither did they offer employment to hundred of thousands of fledgling software engineers. Nor did they have a concrete and organized work process. But still the amount of technical expertise that I gather was manifolds than that I have acquired in the last 18 months working with the giants. I feel that I have been entangled between branding and policies and that thwarts me to grow and progress in sync with the targets set to myself. Not to forget the fact that this organization once would have surpassed a similar stage wherein the sheer enthusiasm and passion to perform motivated and allured them to reach greater heights.
If knowledge is the ammunition that lets you have an edge over your subordinates, then I would prefer to work for a company not vying for global takeovers but providing the k-word in abundance to speak for myself. It’s better for us if we focus on our long and short term goals and follow our insights rather than running the rat-race and wanting to be tagged to a particular brand. Not to forget, the brand or industry is created by people who work for it and not the other way round. It's the nature and quality of work that would satiate your hunger for acquiring knowledge and not the brand providing you the experience. With self belief and courage you could nourish and imbue a healthy work environment and culture wherever you go and progress in the area of your expertise, irrespective of the brand.
The brand name created by a group of young entrepreneurs who augured success and achievement through sheer performance and building upon a value system unprecedented, is truly remarkable. The freedom granted to all employees without considering their background, culture, geographical location and religion stands above the rest. The hierarchy is confined merely to the nature of work undertaken and does not reflect by the individual’s gestures or remarks. Indeed, the best place to be amongst the top notch executives revered globally.
The turnovers and growth achieved every passing quarter is gargantuan. India’s one of the largest software exporters has indicated the changes that lay afoot. Conquering parts of the globe and inching towards globalization seems pretty much on their agenda. Signing off projects and contracts worth millions of USD’s has become a commonplace. The sprawling campuses built in almost all major software hubs throughout the country add another feather to their cap. The path chosen by the echelons promises unparalleled growth for the young achievers who aspire to be a part of it.
Alongside gigantic economic growth, the work strength of the organization is growing enormously. Financial year 2005 accounted for a pool of 10,000 fresh employees whereas the figure rose to almost 25,000 in 2006. I am sure there is much more to offer in 2007. They simply overlook the fact that its quality of workforce that matters rather than the quantity. But to some extent I find myself lost in the vicious cycle of the branding and hype attached to the organization. Wherever you look, whichever side you turn; you find thousands of co-workers vying amongst themselves. The quality and quantity of work has indeed degraded. With such huge numbers it becomes conflictive to judge an individual performance. Most of the times the easy going fellows are bestowed upon a good project whereas the shrewd worker is left over to replenish memories of his bench-hood days. The diligent mind would end up with a C grade in the appraisal cycle whereas the leisurely would take home a stupendous A. You never know when the random allocation policy would hoodwink you. People might describe it a matter of luck and console you to settle down with patience. But at a stage where cut-throat competition has become part and parcel of everyday’s work, it becomes difficult to sit with hands tied together and frustratingly wait for an opportunity to prove you. Does the brand serve any purpose when the innate conscious putrefies your mental ability and curbs down your passion and zeal to excel?
I had prior experience working with a small software company in the core of India’s software hub – Bangalore. I got a lot to learn from that experience. I still boast about myself to have worked for them and to instill an ocean of knowledge and confidence within me from that experience. The firm had not had a billion dollar turnover. Neither did they offer employment to hundred of thousands of fledgling software engineers. Nor did they have a concrete and organized work process. But still the amount of technical expertise that I gather was manifolds than that I have acquired in the last 18 months working with the giants. I feel that I have been entangled between branding and policies and that thwarts me to grow and progress in sync with the targets set to myself. Not to forget the fact that this organization once would have surpassed a similar stage wherein the sheer enthusiasm and passion to perform motivated and allured them to reach greater heights.
If knowledge is the ammunition that lets you have an edge over your subordinates, then I would prefer to work for a company not vying for global takeovers but providing the k-word in abundance to speak for myself. It’s better for us if we focus on our long and short term goals and follow our insights rather than running the rat-race and wanting to be tagged to a particular brand. Not to forget, the brand or industry is created by people who work for it and not the other way round. It's the nature and quality of work that would satiate your hunger for acquiring knowledge and not the brand providing you the experience. With self belief and courage you could nourish and imbue a healthy work environment and culture wherever you go and progress in the area of your expertise, irrespective of the brand.
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