aN aPpOintmEnT (II)..

Holding the breath underneath, I dialed the last phone number, my last hope! And.. Guess what?? I explored the sweetest voice of Bangalore for the very first time. LOL!

“Hello. Mr. Mentor from Solutions Infini here.”

P.S.: Mr. Mentor is my external guide in ‘Solutions Infini Technologies’, under whose guidance I have accomplished my SIP (Summer Internship Program) 2013.

“Hello. This is Debolina, from IBA Bangalore here.”

“Bangalore.. What??”

“Indus Business Academy, Bangalore. Sir!”

“Ohh… Okay.. Okay.. Yes..”

“Yes Sir. I saw your Company’s post yesterday in ‘Internshala’ (an online internship portal) regarding the Internship Program 2013. This call is regarding that. Is this the best time to talk to you regarding this?”

“Yeah.. Sure.. Tell me..”

“Thanks sir! I’m a PGDM 1^st year student and presently looking for an internship program, as per my course curriculum. I found your value proposition to be extremely mouth-watering with 360 (degree) corporate exposures. And I’ll be glad if I can get an appointment with you in this regard?”

“Okay.. See Debolina.. You need to first send your CV to us at our HR email_id. If your CV satisfy and impress our requirements, we’ll give you a call for an interview.”

“Great! Where can I get the HR email_id? As it is not being mentioned in ‘Internshala'. Can I get your direct HR email_id please?’”

“Okay.. Sure.. Go to our website, ‘dialstreet.com’. And there you’ll get the id details in our ‘Interns’ column.”

“Okay. And one more thing, sir. Can I specify your name in the email and about this pre-talk too?”

“Mmm.. Okay.. You can.”

“Thank you so much sir for your time.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

And finally I got over with my cold calling part! And now, it was time to prepare a classy CV (Curriculum Vitae) as per the buyer’s requirements. Now at this point, please don’t mistake me. You might think how manipulative this approach could be. Really? If you think it’s manipulation, what is motivation to you then? And you, being a seller, tell me the facets which can drive your potential buyer(s) to buy you (as a product)/ your services? Confused??

 Well.. There lies a big underlying controversy in between these two terms: Manipulation vs. Motivation. Let me share with you some relevant insights in this context.

Motivation or Manipulation?

This brings us to an ethical question, and ethics is the foundation upon which we must build a career. What is the difference between motivation and manipulation? Unfortunately these terms are often confused, but comparing motivation to manipulation is like comparing kindness to deceit. The difference lies in the intent of the person. Motivation will cause people to act out of free choice and desire while manipulation often results in forced compliance. One is ethical and long lasting, and the other is unethical and temporary. 

The value you place on people determines whether you are a motivator or a manipulator of men. Motivation is moving together for a mutual advantage. Manipulation is moving together for an individual's advantage. That is a substantial difference. With the motivator, everybody wins. With the manipulator, only the manipulator wins. 

So, please be sure enough of this fact deep in your mind, while making your CV for any particular job profile. It should add value to both the sides. In other words, your CV must reflect a win-win value proposition for both the ends, i.e., you, being the seller and the recruiter, being the buyer.

Try to identify and understand the needs of the recruiter properly. Go through the JD (Job Description) & JS (Job Specification) thoroughly. And try to align their needs with your relevant aspects/ offerings, in your CV. Your CV is no more than a print advertisement to your recruiter! Make it eye-catching.  

Many times a CV gets rejected due to the candidate's inability to understand the job role for a particular designation. I strongly feel, this has nothing to do with our luck factor. Rather, it is our inefficiency as a salesperson to identify our buyer's needs properly and place values in CV with a win-win proposition. 

Preparing a CV is an art. And one must learn how to craft this art well to fetch a job. Rest depends on the buyer's perception and his ability to assess the talent as per his own organizational requirements!

(to be continued...) 

    

aN aPpOintmEnT..

Do you think, getting an appointment is that easy? I guess not. People are not really free and excited to meet you just like that.. You're not any celebrity. You're a salesperson! Consider it and move forward to make your first 'sales cold call' for earning an appointment.

And trust me, it's a very challenging job to get an appointment. Let me share my experience with you, in this context~

It was our SIP (Summer Internship Program) Phase, people were busy to get their SIP in well-reputed companies.  All day we were busy doing several activities, viz., building contacts, cold-callings, scheduling our interviews, preparing ourselves for the interviews, appearing in the On-Campus as well as Off-Campus interviews, etc. 

Meanwhile, many of them had already made their luck and started working in Big MNCs, some were still trying their level best to get into a decent company. However, many had thought that it will be of great learning experience if they would join the start-ups. While for some, it was just an another good idea for earning some extra pocket money. Each one of us had our unique objectives and expectations from this SIP. So, by looking at this scenario, the management and our respective mentors had decided to take our one-to-one counselling sessions.

It was a hot summer afternoon, and I was taking my afternoon nap. I don't remember, exactly who made that hustling sound just after my door and  made me awake! You know, at IBA you may forget to check your sms/ FB messages, but you'll never miss an email, dropped in your outlook! And if you miss, God should save you.. As because, you sure-shot gonna be screwed by some or the other concerned person. And.. And.. You can't even give an explanatory excuse to that, because they won't listen! Even if, the person is your BFF or only BF! LOL :D        

After waking up, I thought to check my outlook.. And I found my mentor's email, dropped an hour ago. I banged my head! As because, in the email she had mentioned me to meet her right after. But unfortunately, I was dreaming that time. Now, what valid excuse I could make??! Sleep in IBA sucks!!  

Within 10 minutes.. I reached at her cabin.. And yes! I got a very nice treatment for being late by 1 hour and 10 mins only! But no issues, as because emotions (related to my SIP) were high..!

So, the counselling session began. She asked me, 'what exactly you're looking from this SIP'? And I started bullshitting traditionally.. "I want to learn a lot from this SIP.. blah.. blah..!" She stopped me in mid-way, and asked again, "Please, be specific. And tell me what exactly you're looking at. I don't want copycat answers.." 

"Mmmm.. well.. First, Money; second, a marketing profile, preferably internet marketing; and third.... money again!" And smiled back at her very weirdly. 

"Hhhmm.. Money? But just now I heard some 'gyans' on learning experience.. blah.. blahh!" And she continued laughing gently.

After 40 mins, she concluded the session. And, now I was in a state to define my goals and expectations from the SIP. Well, the purpose of the counselling session was to let the students self-realize their own set of goals and expectations, to identify and understand their passion towards the specific job role and to clearly define an expected outcome out of the SIP.        

(After a week..)

"I'm getting restless..." sitting in my mentor's cabin, I commented.

"Relax.. You just need to get an appointment, with that person. That's all!" ~ She replied with her charming voice, but still sounds tensed.

"Damn! Those numbers were not valid.." 

"Keep trying.. Don't give up! Try these numbers as well.." 

"But.. Ma'am!!!"

"Shut up and just do it!" now she's turning a bit violent, I sensed and said "Cool.. See ya.." And left that place before she would turn completely violent and kick me out of her cabin this time!

I returned to my room and sat all alone for a while. Mind was full blank! There were no noises outside-in as well as inside-out. I was suppose to be kinda happy for that.. But I was not! The only sound which was annoying me was of my room's fan, pretty disgusting.. After complaining 2-3 times, those people couldn't fix it up!

I don't know why, instead of putting off the fan.. I increased the speed to the full. And then started thinking of the issue. As soon as the fan geared up spinning faster, my focus get induced; I realized!

    

From past one week I was constantly putting efforts in getting an appointment for a specific job profile, but it was't working out! Some or the other problem was popping out each time. Like, some of the companies don't offer paid internship, some are offering very low stipend, some are providing stipend on some specific job functions; some are even worse, no stipend and work from home.. What the hell!

Okay.. Now, at this point, I would like to highlight few things here:

- Never presume things, which are not in your control!

- There is no such 'perfect' job profile in the market, you have to be fungible as well as adaptable enough to ace the league.  

- Never be constrained to your Job description, be open to change!  

- Last but not the least, develop a bold mind frame to challenge the hardships.

Anyways.. 
“Fortune favors the Brave!” as it says. After struggling from past one week, I finally got a good list of contacts and by my past ‘failed’ experience, I shortlisted few. But still.. I was resistant to make a call! Why? My past experience of failures were coming into my mind which was resisting my casual approach towards making a ‘cold call’. 

"Yes, it has to be a proper cold call.." ~ I kept chanting in my mind!

Frankly speaking, for getting an appointment, for a decent internship, you really don't require to know the rocket science of making a 'cold call'. What you all need is to remember some basic rules in mind while dialing the number:

Rule 1: What is your purpose of making that call? ~ The Prime Objective
Rule 2: Can you communicate your objective clear to the calling person? 
Rule 3: Do you know exactly how to initiate and direct your conversation?
Rule 4: Most importantly, have you taken a trial or two before making the final call?

Most of the time, we fail to set a specific objective before making a call and hence we don't know how to direct the wave of conversation. Also, people often get stuck to make a further move when the immediate motto seems to have accomplished, like:

- We've got the exact contact details we were looking for.. Now what?? We gonna cook it up?! And, we become so overwhelmed with our short-term success that we forget what our prime motto is, and that results into our casual approach while making the calls. On the contrary, many of us, got so over excited/ over confident that we ignore the issue of making the call, and starts exaggerating about what is not at all required to talk about!      

- Another problem is that we exactly don't know what to say and what not to say. This refers to our behavioral terms. Why? As because, nobody taught us! Whenever we make a call to mom/ dad/ a close friend, we don't even require to think for a while about what exactly to be conveyed. It's very obvious as because we are used to it over years! But calling an unknown person for meeting certain objectives is difficult to handle. 

- Most of the problems arise when we think too much about the issue. Our mind is a very funny thing, it cannot resist the gap of uncertainty; so it fills the gap with it's self-framed data. And that is why, when we hear of something regarding a Company's work culture, we start presuming things with lots of subjective factors which have no actual existence, as because these data are not yet verified by us! So, while making the call, these subjective factors get over us, which results in lack of confidence while having a conversation.   

It is tough to manage people's decision, whether s/he is willing to give you an appointment or not. But unless and until you work upon throughout, it would really be difficult for you to make one! 

(to be continued...)

mAy I kNoW yOur fRieNd...??

In most of the social gatherings, I usually get bored hanging with the same set of people around me! But still, I find it very difficult to go and start a conversation with the 'unknowns'. Why? 

- I don't know what the other person may feel about me?

- I'm highly conscious about my self esteem! In case, the other person doesn't show any interest in talking with me; I may screw my self esteem for that day and will become more conscious to talk with anyone else thereafter.

- I may find a bit awkward & embarrassing if they start knowing me better than I have actually thought of. We all are resistant to be informative (about ourselves) at some or the other point! The situation may worsen up and I may land up with some awful experience with the other person/group of persons.

And when my mom/ dad/ friends ask me to go & talk to other people, my excuses, holding these beliefs are:

- I'm enjoying myself. Don't worry.

- I don't know her/ him. I don't find any reason to talk to her/ him either way. 

- I'm not feeling like talking with her/ him. S/he seems to be busy.

- Someone told me, s/he is very aggressive!

My mom usually doesn't force me. But my dad is extreme in this matter. He may call all those persons and start introducing me to them & when they start asking me all weird questions, and attacking me with all of their free (worthless) advises,  meanwhile he will leave the battlefield! This is sick! And his way of introducing anybody, man... is so humorous! The person may feel himself a celebrity/ some VIP alike, for a while! LOL. And, I've no doubt in saying that my dad really has a weird style of introducing others (typical Bong style). 

And some of my friends are so kind to me, eventhough I'm tired of their kindness. 

Trust your roomie, but never trust your neighbor for God sake! Coz, they won't open the doors, when they are needed! 

Are you wondering 'why'? Then let me share with you an incident...

It was the Freshers' week, 'Hafta-de-Hakuna-Matata' means 'week of no worries', but trust me, the name was exactly opposite to that of the reality!

It was the real week of worries... As because, there were some terrible guidelines which every fresher has to follow for the entire week. If anyone will not follow, the Freshers' Party may get screwed! 

And one of the weirdest rule of 'Hafta-de-Hakuna-Matata' was that every fresher has to propose a senior (un-/ willingly) & ask her / him for a date, for the Freshers' night; then only s/he (the fresher) can get 'the' chance to participate in the events held throughout the week and also get a scope to become Miss/ Mr. Fresher! 

It was lunch time, at the mess.. 

Me: Hmmm... a date huh?

222: Guys!!!! <3 <3 <3

Miss KFC: All bullshit...

224: What's going on your mind 222??

Me: What you're expecting?

222: Gals.. I've decided whom to propose..

Me (with one eyebrow up): Is that.....

Miss KFC: Who else it can be...!!

224: Are you serious 222?

222 (speaking with a childish glee): Relax.. I've plans for everyone!

Me: No way.. I'm over & out!

Miss KFC: Debo, count me IN..

224: What? Who? For me...?

222: ... that I've not decided.. but for these two, I've.. aheeeemmm..

Miss KFC: I'm done, Debo.. moron eat fat, we will be late!

Me: Yeah.. Yeah.. Almost done...

(224 still staring 222...)

222: Okay.. Let's everyone meet after the class, I'll say you the plan! 

Me: Shut up! Just finish your meal fast. You're also getting late.

(224 continued to stare 222.... And I & Miss KFC left..)

It was OB (Organisation Behavior) class. And let me tell you something about our OB Prof., she is just too awesome. Even if, you hold no interest in the subject, you're bound to listen to her everytime she speaks. She is a perfect mesmerizer!

After the class got over, we were back to hostel as the next class would start again from 5:30pm. It was 3:30pm.. So, I just laid on my bed. And within few minutes...

"Polu.. Get up.. It's time to discuss the plan!" ~ 222

"Get lost!" ~ Me

 "You're sooo boring polu...." ~ 222

"......."  me almost dead "Let me sleep please...."

And I don't remember what else she did afterwards.. 

(After 2 days..)

Me (kicking 222's door very hard): Open the door!

222: Why? What you want??

Miss KFC had suddenly appeared..

Me: What you did huh??? You think yourself too smart or what!! 

Miss KFC (showing me her mobile): Just look at this message.. What should I reply to him now???? Who the hell has told her (222) to ask him on behalf of me!!! 

222: It was the part of my plan.... (shouting from inside)

Me: Plan....???? Or punishment??? You better open the door, or I swear we gonna break it..

(No sound from inside for next 15 minutes... We were at halt! After maintaining 15 minutes of silence, the door was opened..)

222: Get in...

Without speaking a single word, we both (me & Miss KFC) entered her room.

For another 15 minutes, we continued the silence zone.. And then finally I somehow dared to break it!

Me: Why? Have I told you to ask Mr. Financier? (one of the senior, into Finance specialization.. And I still have no idea, why the hell 222 gave a proposal to him from my side, &, without my permission! In this way, actually I've screwed my opportunity to give a proposal to that senior whom I wanted to...!)

Miss KFC: And why the hell did you ask Mr. Garba? (lol, guys, it's another senior, actually he was Miss KFC's dance partner for the Garba Dance in Navratri festival..)

222: (silent)

Me: What??? Say something... 

222: I just tried to help my friends... 

Now, at this point, we were dumbstruck! I was wondering, as if we're still in kindergardens!

Me: Have you totally lost it..

Miss KFC: Wait Debo! 222, tell us the full story.

And she looked at us for the first time, eyes full with tears...

Me: Has he...?

222: Hmmm... He rejected my proposal. 

Kiss KFC: We knew that.. And that's why we tried to warn you that day only..

222: You warned...!!! You people just ignored it...

Me: Probably that's our style of warning you.... LOL

Miss KFC: So.. What's now?

222: You people enjoy.. I've settled out the things for you gals no...

Me: I still can't believe... I already have apologized before him..

222: Apology?? For what???

Me: You can't go with anyone, right?? And for me, I just want to enjoy with my friends.. that's all.. So I said sorry to him.. Got that?

222: Welcome to the club! (smiled with joy, for the first time)

Miss KFC: I'm also joining the club gals.. I'll say him sorry..

And this way, we ended up this episode! But it was really embarrassing.. As because you've to deal with something, out of someone else's  mischief(s)!

(After few months....)

"May I know your friend's name?" ~ I asked a gal in an engineering college campus. And I wasn't feeling like asking her that way... But anyways I did.

I was on a live project of NIIT, it was basically related to the promotional campaigns for NIIT's Cloud Campus Program. It was a team of 3 heads, me & 2 other guys of my college. Well.. They were roommates! I don't really understand why 'roomieship' is sooo popular among boys! It's like, 'wherever you go, I'll follow'! Anyways, the management had given a separate territory to each team. Each territory, consisting of 3-4 (technical) colleges. 

Well.. We started off our journey! We visited the 1st college.. Guess what! No one gave us a shit..! (metaphorical)

Next.. 2nd College.. The Principal literally took our class instead we promoted any NIIT stuffs, he promoted his college & management programs...! Freaked Out...!!

3rd College.. "Debo..! You start off.. We'll follow you.." And they vanished.. Later on, I rediscovered them in the college cafeteria (3rd College's), smoking at a corner side! And this ought me to say again, "Men will be men!"

But the experience there, wasn't that much horrifying.. We did the assigned activities effectively. But the worst part was the 'lead generation' kinda stuff while collecting feedback(s), where you're supposed to ask all the crap questions which literally make 'nonsense shits'! Why? Coz, people buy from people whom they like.. Likability becomes the major priority!! And.. Unless & until, sales happen.. how come you count on the feedback(s) of the mass out there?? They're still suspects.. I guess!! Though I agree that Promotional activities are meant to increase the likability.. But do you mind if I ask you to get me the exact numbers of prospects after 1-2 such promo campaigns?? That too for 'a service'?? That too for such service, which have 'n' no. of substitutes, available in the market..! Ooops!!

Anyways, for the 4th college, we dint find any.. We were lost.. Both physically & mentally!! So we gave them (the management) an excuse.. "We dint find the address!!"

Emotions triggered that day.. And I was stuck with 5W1H! I was stuck in a dilemma! Dilemma of being an introvert, or, a narcissist.. I was fussed off!! 

An introvert?? Or, a narcissist?? Big question! 

Well.. I guess there lies a 3rd category in between this two.. Think! Or, a separate emotion that differentiate a person from this two..! Think again!

Forget all.. 

What if I say.. It's not at all 'the personality trait'.. Personality keeps on changing.. Personality is situational.. Alike Leadership.. 

It's different modes!!

Will you agree?? No?? Okay.. Check this out!

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130415121533-117825785-it-s-modes-not-personality-traits

Do you still believe your so called personality trait?? I don't.. Coz, neither I'm an introvert, nor a narcissist.. I'm so damn moody!! LOL

Aren't you??

Well.. I can understand.. If you still believe the person standing next to you is soo strange to talk to.. That doesn't mean you're.. Whatever!! But one thing is sure.. that person isn't that much likable to you or vice versa..!! Figure it out!! 

mOtiVatiOn is diRecTly prOpoRtiOnaL tO sUccEsS...!

Research by Forest Tennant, M.D., Ph.D., shows that regular doses of motivation will increase your success. Dr. Tennant, one of the top drug experts in the world, has been a consultant for the NFL, NASCAR, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Abbott Laboratories, Texaco, and many others.

Dr. Tennant attended a seminar of Zig Ziglar, conducted in Anaheim, California. Before the seminar had started, he (Dr. Tennant) took blood samples from 5 persons in the audience. When the seminar ended four hours later, he again took blood samples from those 5 persons. The endorphin* and cortisol levels had increased by 300%. Since then Dr. Tennant has conducted additional experiments and has made these fascinating findings:

There is a biochemical basis for why people feel good after these talks. Something hearing about success, gives us an emotional charge that releases those chemicals into the bloodstream and that makes the body function better. And while these effects last for no more than a few hours, regular doses of motivation will lead to better health, happiness, and achievement.

What is endorphin*? 

In the early 1970s,  researchers were studying how the brain is affected by opiates, such as heroin & morphine. They found that opiates interact with specialized receptors in cells that are primarily massed in the brain and spinal cord. When opiates enter these receptors, they hinder or block the cell's transmission of pain signals. But why, wondered the scientists studying this phenomenon, would these specialized receptors exist in the first place? The most plausible answer was that opioid receptors exist due to the presence of an opiate like substance produced naturally in the body.

Enters endorphin: your own private narcotic!

Endorphins are neurotransmitters, chemicals that pass along signals from one neuron to the next. Neurotransmitters play a key role in the function of the central nervous system and can either prompt or suppress the further signaling of nearby neurons.

Endorphins are  produced as a response to certain stimuli, especially stress, fear or pain. They originate in various parts of your body - the pituitary gland (the major endocrine gland, a pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain that is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands), your spinal cord and throughout other parts of your brain & nervous system - and interact mainly with receptors in cells found in regions of the brain responsible for blocking pain and controlling emotion. 

tHe uNspOkEn wiShEs!

I know you will come back to me one day,
So, I see you in my dreams every day;
And slowly days are passing one by one!

I know good times will come back to me one day,
So, I'm lightening up candles every day;
And thousands of bodies are getting burnt one by one! 

I know we will look at the dawn together one day,

So, I'm coloring my skies every day;
And the color remains smokey every dawn!

Now the time is passing very fast every while,
So, I'm trying to stop myself every way;
And the roads are getting elongated every mile! 

Now I think about my unspoken wishes every mile,
So, I am getting late to walk with the time;
And, deep inside, within my mind
I'm feeling aloof all the time! 

Life is whispering, we can't wait all the days,
So, I chose to pace up with time, being agile;

And, now I look back to my unspoken wishes every mile,

They seem to have disappeared with worldly timeline!

Scorpions! ~ rElOadEd...

'Grief' ~ the worst emotion of mankind & the toughest one to handle! Previously, I had written a blog on 'Scorpions!', keeping the focus at the same, i.e., how one can get rid of; instead how to handle the worst emotion, called grief. Here is the link:

 http://dasdebolina.blogspot.in/2012/08/copyright.html

Getting rid of the worst emotion, means escapism/ resignation from the problem itself; instead handling the worst emotion, means acceptance!

We all know somewhere deep inside us that 'acceptance' is the last stage of dealing/ coping with any problem, either organisational, or professional, or personal. But many of us gets confuse between the two terms, called ' resignation' & 'acceptance'. Acceptance is not resignation & vice-versa. To get/ build more insights on this, follow the given link below:

http://chandra-kant.com/2012/08/27/acceptance-is-not-resignation/

So, when Professor asked me, "Do extremely emotional people fits well at their respective workplace???", I reverted my anger/ denial/ depression/ resignation, but not acceptance. As because, deep inside me, I was still being somewhat & somehow dominated by grief, the toughest emotion of mankind! 

Why 'grief' is the toughest emotion of mankind? Let me elaborate it to you (don't worry I'll make it a way good & interesting to you, not a typical theory read): 

At first, check this out ~

People, Yes! 

Recipe to Grief is DABDA (Denial, Anger, Bargain, Depression & Acceptance). For more taste, add 1 tsp of 'Shock' at first, 1 tsp of 'Fear', and lots of 'Performance' in bits & pieces, but watch your every action while performing. As because, every choice has actions & every action has consequences! And you'll taste the finest dish out of grief that you have ever tasted; grief, the worst emotion of mankind, can actually make wonders! Try it.

And now, let's review the underlying theory of DABDA...

The 5 stages of grief, is called DABDA, also known as 'Kubler Ross Model'. The Kubler Ross Model is a hypothesis introduced by Elisabeth Kubler Ross in 1969. This model states that when a person is faced with the reality of impending death or other extreme, awful fate, he/ she will experience a series of emotional stages: DABDA (in no specific sequence).

On contrary to that, George Bonanno (a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University) argued (along with extensive scientific studies) that most people who experience a loss do not grieve, but are resilient. His findings  concluded that a natural resilience is the main component of grief & trauma reactions. And it's like a 5W1H!

And, back to tier-I... "

"Do extremely emotional people fits well at their respective workplace???"

Especially, if the person is 'a-happy-go-lucky' kind. And the answer is ~ "Change is the only inevitable!"