The journey so far...

I was reflecting on my different phases of career, how I had moved from a wide eyed, full of awe, youngster in my first job as a trainee, to a mid management professional I am now

In the initial stages of my career, I was supposed to be on learning spree – however, I recollect, I was yearning more for gateways to shun away from responsibility and was basking in the newly found complete independence. I was enjoying myself immensely on the power, my position as an auditor gave me, and the respect I could command at the client’s place, in spite of me being a trainee. Evenings were filled with chitchat with friends, trips to various malls in the city, strolling in the beach with friends. The time after dinner time, used to be a long affair. There were times when we chitchatted through the night and till the wee hours of morning.

The most enjoyable part was during study leave. We used to study through the night, with thermo- flasks filled with hot tea and instant maggi to satiate the mid-night hunger pangs. The whiff in the air of maggi cooking in someone’s room used to pull us to that room for a group attack on maggi.

I was always happy then, with not a worry to bother me. My friends used to tease me that I always wake up with a smile on and my stride used to be hop, skip and run. And my roomies and friends would vouch for me, of what a great chatterbox I was. After completing articles-ship, the trouble started - for I had to get into serious employment. And the great hunt for job began.

My other two co-hunters for jobs at the same time, could recollect these moments. Our modus operandi was the same every day. We used to meet in one of their homes. Our weapons, if I could call it, which we carried everyday was the same. Each of us carried a file, which contained copies of our certificates and copies of resumes+ one bag with one umbrella (after a shiver to the bone drenching experience!), a water bottle, mobile phone and some snacks. In addition to these, I used to carry a city map, which I would unfold on the hood of any parked car, to check for directions. The smart phones were still a long way off then. We used to visit consultant offices, and any office where we heard there is a vacancy, go to any and all walk-ins which we could hear upon, and then come back exhausted in the evening. Next day, repeat. This is was on till I landed on my first real job.

The next phase is joining as an employee in an MNC as a fresher, with lots of hopes and aspirations. I am glad that I made some instant friends on my first day, during induction, which I am glad to say, continues till now. I enjoyed the respect which I was able to get from my peers and superiors on account of my professional qualification. But being a fresher, I did not have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, though, I was ready to take on more. I did not change my hostel, though my workplace was 20Km away and I had to travel for 2 hours every day. I enjoyed the din of bus/train travel and used to listen to music, read books, on the way. Some days, I napped and made up for my shortage of sleep. My working hours were long – used to work till 12 mid night every day and used to return by company provided cab. This job was the first serious step I took towards focusing on my career. I was very serious on the work I did and would be hell bent to finish all the tasks I had scheduled myself for the day. Hence, the long hours. I craved for recognition and kudos for my work, which I occasionally received. The result was, I was too exhausted by the time I reached hostel and did not have time for fun, which I noticed, my hostel gang was having. Sometimes, I used to feel left out.

My next jobs were my steps to improve professionally and when I look back at the journey so far, I don’t regret having taken these steps. Of course, I had a few stumbles on the way. But, as they say, it is the destination that matters; not the path, though it would not hurt, if the path was fun and enriching. I intend and try to choose the path which will be enriching me to groom myself further as a professional, which would be fun-filled and end-of-day, would leave me with a smile on the lips. I have encountered with some good, some not so good and a few irksome bosses and colleagues. I am thankful for all my bosses – the good ones inspired me as how to be; the bad ones, how not to be. Same goes with colleagues. Many of the colleagues have become lifetime friends. Am happy that I have not made any enemies out of any of my colleagues.

The changes in me from then to now, I talk less(some of my friends still carry my chatterbox image, which I guess I lost somewhere along the way), I listen more, read more and try to work less, have become more analytical,  have put on weight, wear spectacles, and am no more a youngster J.

And then life goes on…