Little things, Big things

It's always funny how what we refer to as the little joys of life are generally what may be considered to be milestones in one's life.

One of these is how one spends his/her first salary.

The day I reported for my first job, I knew that with the first paycheck, I would simply use it all to do something for my parents. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided upon buying wrist watches for both my parents. This lead to a lot looking around at Titan Watches showrooms and a lot of research on the internet and with peers; and a lot more looking around at more resellers.

The funny thing is that once the money was actually credited into my account, I was already thinking just as my dad would think.

"Is the watch really necessary at this point of time?"

"Would this really make them proud of me without thinking about why I spent it all at one shot?"

So, finally this lead to a conversation between me and Richi( my sister) where we decided on what would be the best course of action; and thus, we executed the same just a few brief moments ago.

I just withdrew the whole amount and handed it over to my parents. I realize now that not only was this the most responsible thing to do, it was the only thing I could have done to bring about the glimmer and shine that I saw in their eyes. Yes, a picture perfect moment which can come only once in everyone's life; a milestone; a little joy.

Stop-gap job

I like the jargon. 'Stop-gap' has a distinct tinge to it; like we're trying to make something look better or cooler than it actually is. Here I am, having rejected what most fresh engineering grads consider as 'an amazing break' at Mphasis ( one of the leading IT firms in India) only because I do not want to be tied down by a two year bond ( I intend to start my post grad studies this fall). Now I'm thinking, was that really a smart move?

I can't really say; because last time around, I was dead sure that I will start my post grad studies at Nottingham last , only to find out that a delayed security clearance from the UK-FCO (ATAS) would spoil my chances. Whatever the reasons, just because their website claims to process your application within 10 working days, it isn't safe to assume that applying two months in advance is a safe deal.

I am now faced with one of the only feasible 'stop-gap job' options - the BPO, or more commonly known to most Indians as a call center.

Pros :

> Easy to find one

> Decent pay (can save up for a Mac RAM upgrade)

> Transport provided

> They don't really care if people quit after half a year. They have an entire new generation of youth coming out of college desperate for jobs at about the time that I plan to quit.

Cons:

> Odd working hours

> The "Oh, you work at a call center!!!" syndrome

> Future prospects if worst case, I can't make it for a masters this time around

Bottomline, having looked at other options for the last couple of months, other than direct sales, I don't see another feasible option for now.

Just hoping some of the applications for higher studies that I have made come back with positive results soon. That should make decisions a lot easier.

What is this bullshit?

Why is it that we men always believe that there is that someone special?

Why do we expect things?

Why is it that we want to look into her eyes?

Why is it that we want to handle her like the most delicate, most expensive ornament?

Why is it that we want?

Why is it that we hurt so bad when it can never happen again?

Why is the want?

Why is the need?

Come to think of it. Is there a need?

Short story

I was born.

Tough decisions

There are many moments in life that we all are afraid to finally face.

Tough decisions that have to be made.

I had to unfortunately make one such decision today.

A flash shower from the skies on a perfectly sunny day.

It poured cats and dogs for just two minutes; like the heavens were marking a point in history that is the unfortunate end of an era, leaving us gaping at the probable future.

I wonder what lies ahead.

Life is the determinant of a complex matrix that is filled up by the decisions that we make, they say.

I hope this decision tilts the scales towards the positive.

More importantly, I hope i can live with this.

The Job Market

Why do they call it a job market when there isn't actually one?

There's a hundred 'HR agencies' as they call themselves in India who are filled with mind f***ed employees who's job is to call freshers day and night and offer them call centre jobs.

I wonder if they ever realized that if they were to do the same thing themselves at a real call centre, they'd make a better living. But no, they don't want to be working in a call centre. They are 'HR executives' .

That brings me back to the point. The hub of technology as they call it, Bangalore. Also plays host to one of the biggest industrial estates in Asia; but there are no decent job openings for mechanical engineers; except for marketing jobs in the same field. There's another pointer to you'HR executives'. Marketing jobs are not core mechanical jobs. Just because the target company is named XYZ tools, it doesn't make a tool sales job anything more than a marketing job. If things don't go all that well, I may find myself in one of these tool sales jobs in the end, so, no offense to cutting tool companies, but this situation is frustrating.

Hoping to find a solution soon. I believe this is what every new mechanical engineer, or at least the vast majority are facing. I will keep you folks posted about the same through the same blog should I find a solution.

For now, it's a frustrated Rakesh signing off........

Little things

Its always the little things that come back to haunt you isn't it?

It's that moment that you know you gotta make a choice. What sounds favorable now may not be favorable enough for the future; so, you make your decision.

Either you suffer in the future or the consequences change the probable future and you got to face the music anyway.

The worst is yet to come. It's the realization that you probably never had t make a choice anyway. All you had to do was act accordingly.

Its always easy to recognize what was the right thing to have done; while it's difficult to make the next choice thats coming at you.

So, we're back at square one.

The cycle of life.

Abstract thoughts

The weather in Bangalore is getting unpredictable. It's almost like the Gods are playing a practical joke by creating weather patterns that coincide with my thoughts, feelings and moods. Today was a pleasant morning followed by a disgustingly hot day; and now it's been pouring cats and dogs for the last hour. And just when you thought it was over, it stops to rain. The little hope that you had seen is now vanishing away from your sight. Like a silver lining fading away. I should have known better than to think that there was a silver lining, right? Three years. What an ending. Is this an ending? Was it an ending? Will it ever end? Will it ever start again? Should I hope not? Do I hope not?

What is life?

The sandman enters. . . . . . . . . . . .

The Crucial Juncture

From the very beginning of out time that all of us can recall, we have always ben at what the elders call as junctures. Come to think of it, it's quite a daunting issue.

The first 'juncture', common to most Indians is the completion of higher secondary (std.10). When you get a lot of advice " You are at a crucial juncture in your life beta, you have to decide and draft your life from here on"; but come to think of it, there is only one major choice that one is given. Chose between science, commerce and arts. Considering my interest in engineering, it's not like I would have chosen any different, but most young men and women are generally pushed into what is termed as the "Science stream".

Then comes the second 'juncture' at the completion of the pre-university course (10+2). Again, we are given the same age old dialogue "You are at a crucial juncture now beta. It is from now that you will draft your career". Although there are a hundred different options for the youth at this 'juncture' most are commonly found choosing between engineering and medical education. Some people find themselves taking consolation in joining a pure science stream or any other degree course as it is termed here. There are a very few young men and women who pursue 'non-professional courses' (anything other than engineering or medicine) purely for their interest in it.

That debate of streams is entirely another topic of popular debate in India. Coming back to the matter at hand, the third such 'juncture' that the average Indian faces is the juncture that I am at now. Having completed the degree, now we are told again "you are at a crucial juncture beta. The starting of your career. What you do now will draft your future".

At this point, what I'm thinking is "Is this really it? Or is there any other juncture which is 'crucial' and will 'draft my future' ?" ? ? ?

Flyin High... or at least helping in doing the same

The aviation sector boom in India has created quite a number of openings for us youth in the much sought after industry. Jobs could vary from handling or physically being involved in the many movements in an airport to flying an airplane or even in training people to do the same. Of the few people i talked to about the industry, there is but one thing.. as glamorous as it all might be, airline industry is but a completely dedicated service industry. The perks are traditionally said to be great comparing to other industries but i think owing to the huge technology boom and a few other factors, the pay seems to be pretty much moderate.
I guess for a person like me who loves airplanes and three dimensional travel, being able to fly an aircraft or at the least, facilitating the same in one way or the other is incentive enough to work in the airline industry.
These are a few options other than piloting that i have found in the airlines...
1.air traffic control
2.ramp handling
3.tarmac handling
5.flight dispatch
6.ticketing
8. IT services
9.operations management

these would be the regular airline jobs... and of course there is also all the jobs such as accounting and hr and pr and all that jazz like in any industry..

well this is a first insight into airlines.. i will write more as i learn and am able to channel the information..

Job Market?

Come to think of it... how difficult is it to find a job as a fresh graduate in the Indian job market today?.... the replies are varied " software industry, you can find a job easily da"; " dude... I've been applying all over ... bagging the job isn't all that easy"... and that's when i began to think... The funny part is ... i got these answers from mechanical engineering graduates.. now are there no pure mechanical jobs... or to be more elaborate... non- IT related jobs at all in this market?
I will focus my attention in July on finding more about other avenues in concrete and also post what i learn...
,
Rocky out.

PPP!!!

I got PPP.... you?

found this very interesting quote....

at this moment ... makes a lot of sense to me:

• It's no use saying we are doing our best. You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.
  • Winston Churchill

I just can't make it now can I

Well i do sort of feel stupid that i write this online. Come to think of it would anyone ever visit a blog with two entries only?... i guess not. It does make me wonder what it is, that makes the bloggers blog?!! .. i hope to understand the same... as of last time, i hope to write posts more often from now.. Everyone who has read my first post already knows how often it comes out, but what the heck, i will try to post... and lets see what it leads to...

First post

It seems like eternity since i created this account... and this blog. Yet i never made a single post.
Finally i find a voice inside me asking me to start blogging. Not because everyone else is blogging, as if that were the case i would have started blogging a long time ago; but i now feel a need to express myself in a way accessible to all my friends, family and in the process make a lot more friends. So, here I am embarking on a new adventure....................................