12th September 2016 – BEST DATE OF MY LIFE

That day I woke up without an alarm. I looked outside my window and prayed to God to let luck be in my favor. My phone rang and my father said it will be fine. I reached the venue and looked at 26 known faces full of zeal to perform. I thought not to expect anything this time but to give my very best.

Two men aged about 28-30 reached and everybody around me tried to smile as wide as possible. They were wearing blue MU SIGMA t-shirts. I wondered if I will wear that some day. They showed us the PPT and explained the process.

They have a written test which is crucial which already happened a week back and we were shortlisted.

First round in the process was Video Synthesis where the CEO talked about their core values and how MU SIGMA always grows every day. We had to write a synthesis, not a summary of the video. I had already seen numerous such videos of their CEO, literally gulped in every word of  their website, so this was a cakewalk for me. It wasn’t an elimination round.

Second round in the process was Group Discussion. I was rejected in Deloitte’s GD before, so I looked up at God and asked him not to repeat History. I knew what went wrong last time and pinched myself to not let it happen again. It went amazing for me and I came out of the room and waited for the results. Half an hour later, somebody from the placement department came out with the results. I leaned on a table so as to digest if History decides to show its colors. He started announcing the shortlist and it almost reached the end and my name was nowhere. My heart began to sank and suddenly I heard my name. Moments like these make life worth living. I know it might sound irrelevant to few people reading this but for me, that was it.

12 people were shortlisted for the Interview round. This was my final battle. I was called in 6^th. Same people were there inside the room. Let’s call them P1 and P2. I wished them afternoon and sat on the chair.

P1: Tell me about yourself.

ME: I began with my 100 times rehearsed answer.

I was talking about my project when P2 cut me

P2: Details please.

ME: Details given.

P1: I want more details.

ME: More details given.

P1: More

ME: More given

P2: Okay.

Then they displayed 9 10 chocolates in front of me. Every chocolate was golden in color except two that were pink. They asked me to choose one. I picked up the pink chocolate.

P2: Does taste matter more or the color?

ME: Of course taste is more important but when something different than the rest is offered in front of me, why not pick it? (LOL, I couldn’t believe I said that.)

P1 smiled

P2: What is the weight of this chocolate?

ME: If I have another thing which had the same dimensions as this chocolate, and I know its weight then I will know.

P1: Give one more solution.

ME: If I have a bucket full of water and I throw the chocolate inside it, then the displaced water can give me my answer.

They gave me some density related problem after that.

P2: Relate your project and IOT.

ME: Related.

P2: If you are a sales manager in Levis, what will you do to reduce the operational costs?

ME: Gave around 7 8 ways.

P1: (Showed me his wrist watch) What more can we do with this dial in the future?

ME: I think the phone that you are holding should be embedded within the dial so you never have to hold it again. You will have it in your hand all the time quite literally.

P1 smiled

P2: That’s already out there in the world. Leave it.

P2: Why MU SIGMA?

ME: I talked about my love for Maths and how it will be more of a passion for me if I get the opportunity.

P2: Will you work with us for 5 years?

ME : Definitely. And I began to praise MU SIGMA.

P1: What negative things have you heard about us?

ME: Told them it’s about perception. Talked about Working hours and told them that how I will love it if I do maths all day.

P2: How will you motivate people in MU SIGMA for the same?

I began to speak.

P2: Think about it for an year. I want you to give a presentation in front of the CEO next year when you reach office.

I smiled widely.

P2: If we take you.

I stopped smiling.

P1: Tell us something different about yourself.

ME: I talked about my love for dramatics for 5 minutes.

P2: Good. You may go.

I waited outside. Everyone completed their interviews and I prayed. Recruiters came in the room where we all were sitting. They told us they have finalized 8 out of 12. I could hear my heartbeat.

They began announcing the names and gave everyone selected an offer letter. 6 names were over and I was nowhere. I thought it’s over. Again I am rejected. He called my name and I started crying with joy.

I wasn’t able to believe it. I called my father and told him that I MADE IT. I heard his voice and it was the happiness I was waiting for. All my hardwork paid off when I heard his voice.

That night I slept in peace. Without any headache. With the MU SIGMA chocolate they gave me. And with a smile pasted on my face. It’s still there. :)