New Face in the Corporate Race III

Niharika left the place but the actions of Alok were disturbing her again and again.

“ Was Alok Sir trying to be extra frank to me or this comes in corporate culture?

   What should I do?

   Should I join the Company? I think I should talk about this to ...Ammm to whom?

  Oh C'mon!! let's leave this here only.

“Well he must have seen the real talent in me!! This might me the culture of the companies. He was  just trying to make me feel comfortable when I was so nervous!!

Why am I thinking so much??

I think I should focus on my work and start preparing for my first day.

I am so excited for my first day of my new life!!

From Tomorrow onwards there will be a New Face In the Corporate Race!!”

Niharika reached home and informed everybody about her selection. Her parents were very happy for her. She had always been a proud daughter of her parents and this time she made her parents happier because they always wanted their daughter to touch great heights and that was the first step for the same according to them. Although Niharika’s parents warned her about the corporate culture but they being not much aware of the same were just able to tell to the extent they have heard from near and dear ones.

Now Niharika had to prepare for the next day. Dress, Foot wears, bag, sunglasses, documents, a new Pen and folder, some required documents etc etc.

Done!! Niharika said to herself after completing the preparation for the next day. 

Although cab facility was available for Niharika but on the first day she had to make it on her own. Hence she had to wake up early in the morning to get ready properly and catch the local train. Mumbai’s local trains have always been very popular because of the rush of office going people. It is magical to see that people or I would say workers of all categories travel under one roof. Unknown from each other but still connected to each other via a local train and no matter what the busy people of Mumbai always find their destinations on their own without depending on anyone.

Niharika’s journey was also about to start. Where for other youngsters the age of 20 would be the age of having fun in life, Niharika was interested in becoming an independent girl financially and mentally. It was not just money but also she wanted to grow as a person in her life which made her take that decision of starting a job and enter the Corporate World.

“All set for tomorrow?” Niharika’s dad asked.

“Yes Papa” Niharika replied.

“Then go to bed as you have to wake up early in the morning.” Niharika’s dad said.

“ok!!”-Niharika

While lying on the bed Niharika was thinking about that incidence when Alok came and sat so close to her. She was wondering why Alok did that.  What could be his intention? Was he just trying to make her feel comfortable or…? Or the matter was something else. But as she was new into that world she decided not to think much about that and focus on her carrier and growth.

"Good night for the last time to the college going girl, Niharika !! " Niharika wished herself and switched off the lights of her room

Next Morning she woke up early and got ready for her first day to office. She tried not to forget anything and managed to look as professional as she could on the first day of office. After catching a local train she managed to reach office on time. She met the receptionist who guided her towards the orientation room where the HR manager was supposed to give the orientation and do all other joining formalities. Luckily she was not the only one who got selected but she had a whole team of new joiners with her. She felt comfortable for the first time after last day's incidence.

After some time the HR Manager Ms. Ammy came.

"Good Morning folks"

A young lady with a pleasing personality entered the room. She was charming in her own way, Fair complexion, curly but well maintained hairs, a well knitted business attire on a perfect slim body and matching earrings embellishing the beauty. She was just  perfect.

"Hi my name is Ammy Shaw and I am the HR Manager of this company. Please make yourself comfortable on your seats. I am a friend of yours and not a senior over here." She said with a mesmerising smile on her face.

"From where do they get training for being so extra-ordinarily sweet." Niharika murmured.


To be continued...

New Face in the Corporate Race-II

But she knew very well that knowing only “golden rules of accounting” would not serve the purpose.  For Niharika, who was a brilliant science student and whose first love used to be laboratories and chemical reactions, entering into the world of accounting was like entering into an unknown tunnel without a ray of hope. But she managed to atleast take a step forward and thus she entered the interview room. Nervousness could be seen on her face. She was holding her resume folder so tightly and sensitively as if the folder was a treasure which she wanted to hide from everybody. The interviewer sensed her nervousness and made her feel comfortable on the chair.

Mr. Alok (The interviewer and Manager of the process for which Niharika was called): (In a sarcastic manner) So miss!! Would you mind giving me your resume?

Niharika: Sure Sir!! Here it is.

So tell me about yourself miss, asked the interviewer.

Niharika: Well I am Niharika from Mumbai. I am a BSC graduate from University of Mumbai and currently looking for a job opportunity in commerce field.

(She wanted to be smart enough to influence the interviewer and make sure that she wants to shift from science stream to commerce stream. Also she read somewhere that a brief bio is the best bio, that’s why she stopped after talking about herself in one line.)

Mr. Alok: (Amused) Ms. Niharika what made you think about a carrier in commerce/accounting field and leave the science stream as I could see that you are a brilliant student and your scorecard is just amazing.

Niharika: (In a very diplomatic way) Sir my interest brought me here. I believe in being brilliant in each and every task I take up and my previous result is a proof of that. But now I want to carry on with my interest and that’s accounting.

Mr. Alok: But Niharika, it is not easy. You don’t even know the rules of accounting…

-          Debit the Receiver, Credit the Giver

-          Debit what comes in, Credit what goes out

-          Debit all expenses and losses, Credit all income and gains, Niharika replied immediately and in one go.

The interviewer being an experienced person knew the level of excitement and immaturity what the people at the age in which Niharika was show and hence he just smiled and moved on with his questions.

“So what are your long- term plans miss”?

Niharika: Sir I want to grow individually and professionally while working with your esteemed organization. ("Waaoo!! a perfect answer" she looked in the eyes of interviewer and gave a perfect smile as if she has just won the heart of the interviewer with that answer)

Mr. Alok (Giving a fishy smile) Well perfect answer Niharika. I am impressed. So what are your expectations from me ahh I mean my organisation.

Niharika was already in a dilemma when she looked at him giving that fishy smile but then she ignored the same and answered, "15K to 20 K per month sir."

Alok looked at Niharika and stood from her chair. He started roaming here and there in the room and suddenly sat next to the chair where Niharika was sitting.

Niharika felt uncomfortable. 

Sir amm, she started making strange faces.

Mr. Alok: Niharika .. well you can ask for a better salary you see.. you are smart enough to ask for that and I would be happy if you ask for that because I want young and charming personalities like you in my organization. 

He stopped. Niharika was also silent.

Alok started again, Niharika, please don't take me wrong. I am just saying that you have the caliber to do wonders in your carrier and you are so bold and confident to take a decision to shift your carrier from science to commerce which is highly appreciable. I was just appreciating the same. Hope you did not mind.

Niharika: (Although she was alert) Not at all sir. I know my caliber very well and that's why asked for this salary.

Alok smiled and gave an instant approval for Niharika's selection.

He called the HR department, "Ms. Jenny I have selected a girl, Niharika. Please take her documents and start with the hiring procedure. I hope you are getting me" and he hung.

"Alright Niharika you can join us from tomorrow onwards. You will be undergoing a training of 30 days after which you will be totally ready to enter into this corporate world." Alok told Niharika.

In the whole conversation, Niharika was looking at Alok in a strange manner. She was unable to understand what was going on with her. No more questions? She thought.

After few seconds..

“Thankyou sir” Niharika replied and left the room.

To be continued..

New face in the corporate "Race"- I

April, 2011

She was 20 when she completed her undergraduate degree and had couple of more degrees in her mind. But before that she wanted to earn a little bit to be able to take an admission in further courses. This led to the idea of taking up a job, no matter small or big but to be able to stand independent further in her life because for her being self sufficient and self dependent was on her top most priority. 

Niharika, not a middle town but a middle class girl of a metropolitan city was an ambitious girl since her childhood.   The high cost of living of the metro city never allowed her family to spend even an extra penny on any luxurious items or anything more than just meeting the ends. Although Niharika believed in flying high but she never left her values and always kept her feet on ground. Thus she touched although not great heights but a fairly appreciative level during her school days and college days. She always managed to be among the rising stars of the school or the college and made her parents feel proud on her. The level of expectation from her was always high and she always managed to live upto the expectations of everybody in her life.

Now was the time to start a new life. A new challenge, a new phrase, a new turn of life was waiting for her and soon she prepared herself for the same. Luckily just after completing her graduation she got her first interview call. It was an outsourcing company i.e. a KPO where she was supposed to look after the expenses and payables in short the accounting work. Coming from a non- commerce background it was somehow difficult for her to perform the job task easily on the other hand the job was important for her because remaining ideal was not her cup of tea. Somehow she managed to clear the written test. Now came the personal interview session. She was tensed. Before her turn came, while sitting on the chair outside the interview room she was wondering what was the only reason because of which she needed the job so desperately. The reason was simple. It was not the carrier opportunity she could see in that 8 to 5 job but the money. Yes !! she just wanted to do the job for the sake of money.

Now when the purpose of job was clear she focused on clearing the personal interview. She looked here and there.Suddenly she heard two candidates talking in the corridors. “Bhai, the interviewer is asking golden rules of accounting from every candidate”. Now what was that crap “golden rules of accounting”? How could anyone expect from a science student to be able to tell those “golden rules of accounting”? But then she did not have any option but to know them all. Hence she stood up and walked towards those two candidates talking about those “golden rules of accounting”.

What are the golden rules of accounting? Niharika asked politely from one of the candidate. Niharika always carried a very powerful weapon along with her which helped a lot while asking for help and that was her childlike smile and pleasant personality. No matter what but she was always able to seek the attention of people around her by her spontaneous actions and positive vibrations. The same attributes helped her on that day as well. The other guy helped her remembering the golden rules of accounting taking pride of being able to get in touch with a beautiful lady no matter just for a short span of time.

Thus Niharika learnt the said ‘golden rules of accounting” and felt more confident before entering into the interview room.

to be continued...