co-existing at work and otherwise

At work few freshers have joined as trainees, who are allocated different mentors. As most of today's generation goes (of course I talk like a granny, but get my gist, I am talking about a whooping 8 year difference between basic schooling) youngsters are inquisitive, energetic, full of enthusiasm. To me its a great defense mechanism because, at a place when you are daunted by what may come ahead and the pressure of being inexperienced, these very qualities help you learn and progress. But us experienced lot who are burdened by the rut, find these very qualities annoying. The smart newbee with do-you-enjoy-your-work queries becomes an added burden, because you realize you have stopped asking that question. Some mentors who are harsh enough, immediately snub the spark and tell them to mind their business i.e. be a submissive junior who doesnt ask but does what he/she is told and talks when required. 

Of course at work one has to learn to restrict one's curiosity. One learns such things gradually, by knowing when and how. That's being corporate.

But is it ok to curb someone's natural enthusiasm ?

I don't get this. Are we humans so un(or dis?)compassionate to forget what it is like to be a novice at something ? or are we simply not ready to accept that its ok if someone is different from us ? Why do we want to force others to be as we want them to be ? Why does a delhi wala think mumbai wala can't be like him or vice versa ?

Of course we eventually learn to co-exist. But my common sense tells me to learn and respect the differences and then be what you are. Banter is all right but ridiculing or condescending someone for being themselves is kind of tacky.

~nightflier

P.S. After living with chinese room-mates for 6 months, I don't forget to tell anyone that sometimes the smells of food can be overpowering and totally unrelatable and how communication can be a problem. I am sure they must have felt the same way. That our spices are too strong, and Indians talk 
faster than a bullet! :D
P.P.S. When I become a mentor I hope I have some great materical to dazzle the newbee :D

So it happens..

I went blank in the middle of a telephonic interview! It was an ohmigod moment!


I was supposed to be answering a question related to my previous work ex and my mind suddenly went numb. Sentences were still forming inside my head, words were harmoniously joining, but nothing was coming out. It felt like a paralysis. The realization that I could not think of anything relevant, panicked me a bit. And to save the moment I blabbered. Something so absurd that I cannot even remember. It did not happen again in the remaining course of the interview. Neither has it happened with me before.


But it seems it happens with a lot of people at least once in their life!


After all we are just human! :)


~nightflier

Recession time stories

So I was talking to this friend after a long time. Almost 4 months, the span in which she got married, changed her city, started a new life and a new job.

Now we both belong to that category of humans, who loved their first jobs (companies more than that). The same category of humans, who take offence if they hear anything bad, critical being said about their corporate Alma mater (ok, I take it more seriously!!).  Yeah, you can brand them as stupid school kids, who are very loyal to their believes. So much that we still follow the news feeds on our respective companies, she after changing her job and me after changing my priorities. 

Inside story, I know which bus routes have changed, from which parking lot the buses leave now, how the new employee center is not as good as the one at Mysore, how many H1-B visas have been issued in a particular unit, what the current hiring trend and rate is, and numerous shitty details. You can call me psychotic, if you wish :P

So we were discussing all these things when she started asking me about my career map. It's a cankerous topic. I go into cribbing mode almost instantly. And the other person is just short of banging his own head onto the wall (long distance calls help!).  And our discussion moved to the more obvious culprit 'recession'.

And we started talking about the phenomenon called 'corporate cost cutting'!!

1. Number of vending machines suddenly start disappearing. A month ago if your floor had 4 different types of coffee machines, now the whole floor sips the same old drab and cheapest coffee of the local vendor.

2. I have heard that some companies had stopped the use of paper towels as a means to cut costs.

3. Some bus routes are often changed or shortened or altogether closed.

4. Employees are encouraged to take meagerly paid sabbatical (!!!!$$$!!!!)

5. Well we all are aware, how performances (in time and out times) start getting monitored, once bad times strike.

6. Hiring rate slows down.

7. No more onsites. For indefinite period at least.

8. Salary hike looks like an illusion.

9. The bench/bay phenomenon increases beyond imagination. You are considered of the highest order if you still have fruitful work. By which I don't mean playing sudoku/solitaire or solving puzzles or reading blogs whole day.

10. All messengers suddenly get banned. How people still find out proxies is a different issue.

11. Dry spell hits the project parties and outings. These are the very in things in corporate world, which suddenly become "out" and waste of time and resources.

12. Insecurity creeps in the lives of many. Back up plans become a necessity.

And thus goes on the corporate saga. I am happy for all of them who have jobs and work. And for those who are having a tough time, hang in there people. Patience normally gets paid with the greatest of rewards. :)

~nightflier!