Women and Corporate World

With all the little experience that I have got in the IT industry,I am daring to write this article. I guess, all these days have been full of training, knowledge transfers,hectic support work and above all an immense and keen observation. Being a male , obviously most of the study drifted towards women. Initially which came out of curiousity unknowingly evolved into serious observation

I don’t claim that it’s the final and eternal word. It’s just a neutral but a little biased observation and few conclusions drawn out of it. My overall impression was that women have much greater chance than men to succeed and progress in corporate world. There are many factors contributing to it. Few, I may have found out, few, I am yet to know.

So, this is an attempt to draw your attention to what I feel like having understood.

1.Hardwork.

Even under intense intoxication I can definitely tell that women are lot more hardworking than their male counterparts. They are always eager to study new things and give their more than 100% in any kind of work they have taken in hands. This attitude not only wins them good command but respect in the hearts of top management.

2.Communication Skills.

Women have always been better communicators. Compared to men, mostly women tend to have more command over language. Especially, now a days in corporate world ,the fluency over English which is considered to be a mandatory norm is a kind of quality that seems to be friendlier for women. All these attributes not only make women a good communicator but an extremely effective and impactful one.

3.Good interpersonal skills.

Women have amazing interpersonal skills. They are most patient listeners on the earth. You can very easily share your feelings with them and they will really give you an impression that they care for you where as men will not listen they will just hear as if being at some superficial level. Take a small example of someone in a team returning from holidays. A woman team mate will always compassionately inquire about his health, family members even if she doesn't know any one of them.

4.Appearance.

In corporate world, appearance does matter. We know that people are mad behind the façade only. And in this department, women are very clever. They have lovely dressing sense.You won’t see any woman dressed shabbily or dressed up in something which does not go with their persona.Good looking gals even have more advantage with their killer looks mixed with suitable attire , they make an overpowering and dominating combination.

5.Smartness.

This is the only quality which I would like to associate along with women only. Yes, I mean it. Women are much smarter than men. They know what to do right and what to do wrong. They know what to say right and not. They know how to impress bosses. They know how to seduce others for their own benefit. They know what they have and how to make most use of it either destructive or constructive causes. This is where they score and leave behind men miles back and this is the vital most attribute contributtting to to their success in the industry.

So, here goes my take on women and corporate world. Again, I want to make one thing pretty clear that this is not a verdict, this is just an immature observation with many flaws. I am hungry for you reviews and replies.

The Eventual

Why does it happen that your mobile always rings when you are in washroom? But I had no choice, than to pick up as it was the phone I was badly waiting for.
"Hi Vivek, tell me", I said
" Hi Chaitanya, good news , you are through with the interview."
" Ohh, thanks. That's great"
" I have sent you an offer letter, just go through it and let me know your decision by COP today"
"OK, that's fine."
"OK, bye"
Hmm, after hearing the news, I was strangely amazed at my reaction. At that moment, I had to be elated, not exactly ecstatic, but at least pleased to an extent. But it was a vague sense of blankness that had enveloped me making me void of any kind of emotions even though it was almost the perfect offer I was looking for, fine work profile, good package and a better role too.
Why?? The answer was sheer fatigue, I was tired. Tired of waiting, tired because it wasn’t an easy bait, it was to say the least my fourteenth interview that eventually fetched me an offer. Aug 2008 to Oct 2009, 14 months and 14 interviews as far as I can remember. A series of bizarrely bitter experiences, travels through jam packed PMTs, and autos and sometimes those conjusted six sitters rubbing shoulders with all kinds of strangers from Hadapsar to Hinjewadi, from Vimannagar to Talavade, from Kharadi to Kothrud, during heaviest of rains or sticky humid summers, freezing Pune winters just to switch a bloody monotonous job!!!

During this entire period, the corporate entity that I started hating most was HR. I guess, the acronym should be changed to Harassing Resources rather than Human Resources. I must confess that I saw the blackest of faces of the HR operation during this phase. At some places, I have had experiences as in HR would call me for an interview, a panelist would come, give the most disinterested look in the world to my resume, ask me some frivolous questions and ask me to leave. HR would ask me to go stating he/she would get back to me on this and I would leave furious biting teeth and clenching fists. So much so, that at one place, I went through three rounds of interview successfully and I was told in the fourth and the final round that my skills were just not a suitable match for the requirement, it was some misinterpretation by HR that I was called for interview and all previous rounds were conducted by people not related to project. This was really ridiculous, a waste of my four travels to and fro Vimanngar and Hinjewadi phase 2. At some place they told me to keep the resume and leave. At some places, panelists ridiculed me for the kind of projects I worked with. These are just few examples, if I start telling each and every experience, one can rest assured that it would be a long book.

I must thank God that I wasn’t searching for the first job. I had a decent job albeit paying peanuts. At least I had a place to go and work after every rejection. But, the question still remains that why after all these incidents, I was still entertaining all the HR calls, and gearing up for every new interview? Was it a real bad need of a change? Was it for financial reasons? Or was it just my gigantic ego that was driving me to nooks and corners of the City? I am still wondering. And what was it that got me over this lean patch? I guess, one must go and look around the past. I had seen even worse days than these. When in college, sometimes I would not even have 4 rupees to repair punctured bicycle and would walk 2 kms to the college. Two kms may not sound a big distance by any stretch of imagination, however in the scorching March, April heat of Sothern Maharashtra, this was definitely a big deal for a thin boy weighing 50 Kgs . So, this time round, it wasn’t that too difficult. I was just a freak wondering for a change and nothing else. The flattering terms like “Moral Support”, “Fighting Spririt”, “Never Say Die Attitude” and attractive quotes sound well only in the books, when it comes to real life situations they sound nothing more than a Bullshit!!! In the hour of crisis, you are the biggest support of yourself.

I don’t know whether I really achieved a success, or just satisfied my ego or it was eventually an agreement to be tied up as a prisoner with another Capitalist regime just for handful of more wages. But one thing is for sure that people only see the Eventual, they don’t see the countless failures, numerous rejections and dejections, immeasurable frustrations and depressions. They hear loud laughs and see sweet smiles, but fail to hear the long mute weeps and see the hidden brackish tears!!!

My Drunkard Encounters

(Disclaimer: - Nobody is supposed to get intoxicated after reading this article, if you do so, it’s at your own risk. Those who believe drinking is a sacrilegious affair and will be tempted to sue me for blasphemy can very well turn a blind eye. And those who love to enjoy the divine juices on earth can go on this dizzy ride)

Friends, ladies and (not so J) gentlemen, I am definitely one of those who believe that whether it’s good or bad , it’s right or wrong, a true or a false, everything is essentially a relative term. So, today let’s see through my lenses and analyze the some ever cherished aspects of different variants of manmade waters.

Let’s start with short, simple and sweet (or bitter?), the Beer। Beer is simple, filling, enjoyable, and appetizing and considered not so risky। A perfect bet for starters। She doesn’t really have any fuss about herself. She goes well with anything and everything without carrying any airs. You can simply buy a large bottle, a small pint or a glass, get a bag filled with chips and start on a carefree ride. And nothing better than having a beer , chicken fries to go along with, bunch of friends to share and have them watching an India Pakistan Cricket match. With every sip, one must enjoy more excitement and even more intoxication. Well, for beer, I must thank Mr. Mallya for Kingfisher that any other beer brand I tested felt like a water. Sometimes Foster or a Cobra can also work. But for a true Indian Beer fan, Kingfisher has always been at zenith.

Now, enough of simple and soft business. It’s time for Roughs and Toughs, for hard and callous, she is one and only The Rum. One thing is for sure is that Rum is not for the weak hearteds. It’s for those strong, loyal fans and staunch admirers who are willing to literally offer themselves to this ruggedly sensuous lady. That’s why, Rum has always been a favorite amongst Army men and it has always been associated with Royal Navy. Now a days, in market, there are a lot of Rum brands available. But the loyal old timers always owe their allegiance to the evergreen, the real Boss the Old Monk. Although, in recent past Mcdowell’s has been making some inroads, The Old monk still remains the ultimate seductress for Rum fanatics.

Let’s jump to my personal favorite, the pure white, the burningly hot, Russian lady, The Vodka. I am pretty much biased towards this truly exhilarating, crystal clear skinned chic. If wine was to be the Queen, then vodka would definitely be the Princess carrying an enigmatic charm around her. The sheer numbers of combinations one can make with vodka are endless. Vodka with lemonade, vodka with orange juice, vodka with ginger tonic, vodka with lime soda etc. etc. However, for an Indian palate, the combination that has worked wonders is Vodka with sprite. Add a large peg of vodka to your glass, add healthy amount of spite and squeeze one fourth of a lemon wedge in it and start having dead slow sips. Two such pegs and you are in a Boeing 747 travelling faster than the light. Be careful though, as a crash is always on cards after third such round. Whenever I hear the word Vodka, three words come to my mind “Smirn Off”, “Smirn Off” and then there is “Smirn Off”. Personally, I believe, it’s an inexcusable crime for me to be infidel with this long term lady love of mine and go for any other so called pleasing cheap brands. But any non conformists can try their hands at White Mischief, Romanov etc.

Our flowing journey now takes us to the most alcoholic region, the party favorite, the conversation builder, The Whiskey. The liquor has the highest percentage of alcohol amongst her cousins. Whiskey is for a real connoisseur. She is not meant for a hasty affair. It’s a cold winter night, an old friend for a company, two chairs and a table in the back yard of your farmhouse, Mohd. Rafi singing a ghazal in background and a bottle of whiskey, two glasses and plenty of ice to go with. You can spend hours sipping and loitering in nostalgia. Due to her peculiar nature, whiskey has always been a catalyst for authors, poets, singers and even philosophers. Whiskey is a confession of a criminal, she is a celebration of togetherness, she’s a solace of broken heart, and she is a medicine of injured mind. The most adored Whiskey variant all over the world that kisses your tongue, reaches your heart in flash and hits your brain hard is Scotch. Perhaps, the most destructive yet most sought after invention gifted by Scottish to World. The “Teachers” has always been on People’s favorite list in Indian subcontinent. However now a days, some brands like Signature, Royal Stag have been leaving their marks.

Hold on your breaths and tie the seat belts for now it’s time to conclude this fare with the Queen, the Empress, the supreme, the divine, The Wine. She was so irresistible that even the Gods could not detest her. She’s the only snobbish creature amongst her cousins who enjoyed a royal companionship. She was the only one who broke the barriers of the bar and was honored with a place in full five course dinner table and was served in specially crafted glasses for her. They say that 3 W’s invariably lead to crime, Wine, woman and Wealth. Well, Women and Wealth are still a long way away, so I am a one third of a criminal already. If loving wine wasn’t right, I would rather be wrong all my life. If the old fox in childhood story knew the art of making wine, he would never call the grapes sour, would he? I don’t want to categorize this divine drink into brands; The Gods would never forgive me for that. Whether it’s French or Italian, Australian or Chilean or Argentinean, the Queen is a queen.

Hope you have enjoyed this journey through my lenses. Let me close this with a note that “Enjoy your drink, but always drink responsibly and know your limits. Never drink and drive as there is always someone waiting for you home”.

Chaitanya