Do Not Be Vengeful - Learn to Control Your Negative Emotions
The Corpor8 Recruitment Cobweb
1. THE CORPOR8 RECRUITMENT COBWEB
DISCLAIMER: “All the characters, incidents and places in this episode are real.
Resemblance to any person living or dead or any incident or place is purely an intentional
miracle. Any resemblance to persons living or dead should be plainly apparent to them and
those who know them, especially if the Protagonist has been kind enough to have provided
their real names and, in some cases, their phone numbers. All events described herein
actually happened, though on occasion the Protagonist has taken certain, very small,
liberties with chronology, because that is his right as an Indian!”
Characters: (an ensemble cast)
1) The Protagonist – Tarun Eric
2) Accomplice (Partners in Crime) – My Sony Ericsson W705.
3) Various Company HR’s
4) Various Consultants
5) Various Company Managers
Preface: It all started around last year in 2010 when I while working in Ranbaxy Global Consumer
Healthcare fell ill of severe stomach infection and had to leave job to undergo an almost year long
treatment. During this time I could have just stayed back home and enjoyed my break since my doctor
had advised me complete bed rest for the first 5-6 months, but being the individual I know I am I chose to
explore the then prevalent job scenario in India by keeping myself on my toes, appearing for interviews at
various companies. I would like to share my roller-coaster experiences with all of you. There were days
when I was in so much pain that I could barely walk straight but then as they say when facing a corpor8
interview ‘You need to walk the walk and talk the talk’. About this past year you might well sympathize
with me that I have lost 1 valuable year of my career. But then there are things in life over which no one
has control and this was one such instance. What I believe is that my Adversities have made me
STRONGER and WISER! I have gained more than what I have lost during this time. Moreover I have 1
year of invaluable interview facing experience to boast about. This past year has been a mockery of how
the recruitment process is being handled in the corpora8 world these days. Let me entertain you all and
take you through some of my strange experiences….
1. Job – Sr. Mrktg. Exec. @ Company - Hindware
Well this is the first interview I gave during this period. I was informed about this offer through a
consultancy. There were about 5-6 candidates for the interview. After about half an hour I was introduced
to the company hr. The conversation went on well where I was asked about my background, my
2. experience and a few questions to test my marketing knowledge. Then the hr asked me about my current
salary and my expectation. He stressed on the fact that they will be giving me something very close to my
previous salary only, maybe the same remuneration. Then after making me wait for 15 min he informed
me that I have been shortlisted for the next and final round with the marketing manager to be held in 2-3
days time. I left the office and then waited for around a week’s time but didn’t hear from either the
company or the consultant. After this I called up the consultant to find out what was going on. To my
surprise I was informed that the company has already filled up the position through the internal
recruitment policy of the company!
2. Job – Astt. Mrktg. Mgr. @ Company – Tupperware
Next in line was this interview. This is another offer which I got through a consultancy. This was 1 of the
harder interviews I faced. After a brief intro of me to the head of marketing I was grilled on my previous
experience with stress on the numbers achieved by the brand. I was up to the task and answered whatever
came my way. Then again the same question what I was expecting in terms of remuneration? Then I was
told to leave and wait for a day or two. After 2 days it was again me who had to call up the consultant to
know about the result. I was told ‘sorry the company has chosen someone else for the position’. The
surprising part was when I called up the consultancy after 3 months to find if they had any suitable
openings for me yet, I was told it’s the same Astt. Mgr. Opening at Tupperware which is still open as the
company hasn’t found any suitable candidate yet!
3. Job – Astt. Mrktg. Mgr. @ Company – Casio
This one was the weirdest of all. I got a call from this consultancy about the offer at Casio. I was asked to
come to the consultancy’s office where the head of the consultancy will take my interview and if found
suitable for the job I will be sent to the company for 2 rounds of interview. The head had a short 10 min
talk with me where he was basically trying to gauge if I was a genuine candidate. After this he asked me
to register myself with the consultancy by paying a specific amount and filling a form which I didn’t do
as I found it quiet weird. My interview was fixed for the next day at Casio. There were around 12-15
candidates. The 1st round was with the hr of the company which lasted for about 10 min. It was a friendly
1 to 1 where I was allowed to introduce myself and my profile. Then the hr spoke about the company and
the profile of the positioned offered. We were then asked to wait outside the interview hall, where after
about 30 min the 3 of us who got selected for the final round were asked to wait and the rest were asked
to carry on. We were asked to wait for sometime as the head of marketing who was supposed to take our
final round was busy in a meeting. After waiting for about 2 hrs we were told that the head won’t be able
to take the interview that day. We were requested to go back and that the company will call and inform as
to when the final round will be conducted. A week went by and there was no response, I called up the
consultancy and they would not respond. I called up the Casio office and the receptionist said there is no
information from the hr about the next round. 2nd and 3rd week went by, finally the consultancy answered
my call and told me to wait further as they have no news from the company. Meanwhile I kept on calling
the company hearing the same response from their office that they have no news. After innumerable calls
to both the company and the consultancy after about 45 days, I came to know from the consultancy that
the company is taking new rounds of interview for the same position with a new batch of candidates!
Weird is not the word I’m looking for here.
3. 4. Job – Sr. Mrktg. Exec. @ Company - Samsung
This is one interview which I was very keen about after all it was Samsung – the behemoths of consumer
electronics market. The consultancy briefed me everything about the interview and I was there among
around 25 candidates. So many candidates for 1 position! The fact that the candidates were from 3
different consultancies explained the scenario. After waiting for about an hour the receptionist called out
the name and Gosh! I was the first 1 to be called by the hr for the 1 to 1. The hr was the most friendly I
had ever come across and I wondered why people ridicule their breed so much? The rendezvous lasted for
around 10 min after which the hr asked me to leave and told me that I would be informed about the short
listing for the next round after 2-3 days. I waited and waited. After about 1 week I contacted the
consultancy and was informed that interviews for the 1st round were still going on. 2nd week went by and
the consultancy told me they are waiting for the result of the 1 st round. At the end of the 3rd week when I
called up the consultant, she told me that the company has already selected 1 candidate who was having
an electronics background as previous experience!
5. Job – Brand Exec. Account – Marlboro , Bacardi @ Company – Leo
Burnett
The opportunity at Leo Burnett was like a dream come true and excited me the most. I consider creativity
as one of my strengths and what better place to make the best use of that than an ad agency and that too
Leo Burnett! The consultant called me up on one fine morning and after a brief chat setup my interview at
the agency for the next day. I would like to admit that I was both excited and nervous for this interview.
My entry into the building at the ground floor, taking the lift to the 2nd floor where the agency was,
entering my details into the visitors register, waiting in the visitor’s waiting lounge watching all the cool
employees of the agency walk into the office fascinated me to the limits. Then I was called into the
conference hall by the account manager who was supposed to be my immediate boss for the interview.
She was like a breeze of fresh air and the interview was just opposite to what I have heard about how
interviews at ad agencies are supposed to be. After the interview she told me that she liked my
candidature and would like me to meet her boss but it will take some time. After a week’s time I got a call
from the consultant informing about the second round. She also informed me that this time my
interviewer is a tough nut to crack, a no-nonsense lady. It made me all the more nervous and honestly
speaking I was virtually shaking my legs out of nervousness throughout the interview. It was a tough one
with typical ad agency type interview questions. I lost my hope about any positive news coming my way
after this round. After a week I again got a call from the consultant and to my surprise I was shortlisted
for the final round with the agency head. This round went on well with some very clever questions put in
front of me. After waiting for about 6-7 days of time after this round I had to call up the consultancy to
find about the results. The consultant informed me that she had no clue as to what had happened but I
wasn’t selected. Then after about 10 days this consultant again called me up to inform that I have to go to
the agency for an opening for the Bacardi account. She re-assured me that everything is under control this
time and I only will have to face 1 round of interview with the account manager of Bacardi. Hesitantly I
went for the interview. To my surprise this time the interviewer didn’t even start the interview. The
4. moment I gave my resume to her, she had a look and told me that she didn’t know I didn’t have any prior
agency experience. She started blaming the consultant for sending me across for the interview. When I
informed the consultant about it over the phone she started blaming the interviewer for being so ignorant!
I felt like a ping-pong ball to be honest. I didn’t even snore and my dream was over!
6. Job – Astt. Mrktg. Mgr. @ Company - Hitachi
The call from the company hr on a Sunday came like a bolt from the blue for me! I never knew people
even work on Sundays sometimes. Anyways it was one of the very chilly bone melting cold days that I
travelled to face this interview. I was interviewed by a panel of 2 marketing managers and I was the 2nd
candidate among 6 candidates to be called into the conference hall. It went on well, was interviewed for
about 15 min. Then they asked me that I have been shortlisted for the opening. I would have been asked
to meet the head of marketing the same day only but unfortunately he is busy in some meeting. I will be
informed about this talk with the head in a few days time and maybe I won’t have to even travel as this
thing can also happen over the phone. I waited for about 10 days and then called the company hr, I was
informed that the marketing head is busy with a few product launches and hence I have to wait for some
time. After banging my head with the hr for about a month I was finally told that the position has gone on
hold!
7. Job – Manager: New Product Launch @ Company – DS Group
This was my worst interview I have faced till date. I got a call from this hr who knew me already from the
time I had worked in Ranbaxy. When he informed me about the opening I told him I had not much of an
experience in new product launches and so would not meet the criteria for the position. But he insisted me
to come for the interview. I went for it and was ushered into the cabin of the General Manager marketing
of the company. He was an old person and if looks could kill… I knew he would be a tough nut to crack
and that I had my task cut out. He just had a look at my CV and something there kind off pissed him.
From left, right and center I was butchered by a barrage of questions not heard of before in my virgin life!
The funniest thing was when he asked my strengths. On hearing my response he threw my CV on the
table shouting what should I do with your strengths? Even a sweeper on the road or a stone breaker will
have these strengths! It was like a bouncer that I couldn’t hook or pull or even duck to! Need I have to say
anything more about the result of the interview!
8. Job – Brand Exec. @ Company - Emami
This interview escapade lasted for about 45 days with 4 rounds, 3 telephonic and the final visual
conferencing round. The 1st telephonic round was with the marketing head which was a thorough
technical marketing round. After 1 week I got the call for the next round with the marketing manager of
the Navratna brand. It also went on well. But calling the hr of the company 4-5 days after this round, I
was informed that they are looking for someone with around 3-4 yrs experience for this position which I
having a 2 yrs experience couldn’t fulfill. After about 10 days I again got a call from the hr informing me
that I will have another telephonic round for the same position in another brand. After this round I was
shortlisted for the final visual conferencing round wherein I was asked some tough marketing questions.
After facing them all bravely I got stumped when the interviewers said that my strong candidature gets
weakened because of the illness break that has happened. They won’t be paying me as per my expectation
5. because of the same reason. I called up the company hr after 3-4 days and was informed that I wasn’t
selected!
9. Job – Sr. Mrktg. Exec. @ Company – Idea
How can LinkedIn stay out of this quagmire? Well the marketing manager of the company was inviting
applications on LinkedIn for the position. I duly responded. After short listing my resume he forwarded
my profile to the hr. She called me and I was interviewed for 15 min. I informed her about my illness
break and that I don’t have any prior telecom industry experience. She was ok with everything and setup
my interview with the same marketing manager. I was supposed to visit the city Idea office, meet the
center head who will fix up my visual conferencing interview. I reached on time, there was no sign of the
center head. I waited for about two and a half hours for him to come. It took another 30 min to setup the
desktop for the V.C. The interview started and ended within less than 5 min. There were only 4-5
questions like my intro, background, family info and some stuff about my previous brand. I was
bamboozled! When I called up the hr after 3 days I was told my candidature doesn’t match the
requirements of the profile! Flabbergasted!
10. Job – Brand Exec. @ Company – Bagrrys
I had a telephonic round with the hr of the company and didn’t get any news if I was shortlisted for the
next round or not. This lingered around for about a month. Then the consultant said that the company has
shortlisted some other candidates. After 2 days she called up to say I was shortlisted for the final round,
then again no news from her. Called up the company hr and he asked me to talk to the consultant only as
she will be informed about the proceedings. Called her up after 3 days and she said they had shortlisted a
few candidates about a month before short listing my resume and they will select someone from them
only. Only God knows what was going on here!
11.Job – Marketing Exec. @ Company – Laurent and Benon
I received a mail from the hr of the company informing me about this position. Then she had a telephonic
interview with me wherein I clearly mentioned to her about my illness break and asked her to inform
about it to whoever is supposed to take my face to face interview. I want no issues with it once I come for
the interview. She said she will surely do the needful and call me for the interview only once everything
is all clear on their side. After 2 days she called me to inform me that I have been shortlisted for the face
to face. I again stressed on the fact if she had informed the concerned about my illness break. To which
she replied that everything is fine on their side, there won’t be any issues with the break. If I don’t get
selected it will definitely won’t be because of the illness break. I asked her to send an official mail to me
informing about the interview details. Instead she sms’d me on my cell phone the address of the company,
saying she is stuck up with some important work and so can’t mail me, the sms is good enough. I
travelled for the interview. There were 6 candidates, 1 among us was a girl. She went in second for the
interview and after she came back she looked very positive and said she has been asked to meet the M.D
of the company. There was only 1 opening for this position, I got the feeling everything from now on is
going to be just a formality. Anyways, I was the 5 th candidate to be called. The same hr had the 1 st round
with me. It went on well and then she took me to the marketing manager for the second round. The
6. manager asked me to take her through my 2 yrs experience. She seemed to be impressed after I finished.
She said my C.V. is impressive, I have done quite a lot in my 2 yrs experience. But then she said she is
only doubtful about my illness break. She asked “what is the guarantee that I would not fall ill again?”
We will have to talk about your case with our M.D and will get back to you in a week’s time. I knew my
hopes of a job offer were over at this company!
P.S.: This could have been much worse if I would have disclosed the people involved in this mess, but it
would be against the corpor8 business ethics been taught to me during my MBA. I wish my college
director would have read all this to see how someone who he always used to give the lowest marks in his
subject has his ethics right. Even after being knocked down again and again I’m still optimistic about the
corpor8 job scenario, I’m still waiting with open hands and an open mind to get something good for my
career. Imagine how mundane it would have been if after just giving a single interview I would have got a
job? I would have missed all the fun and experience I have gained in the past year. Whether it is the
approach of the company hr’s, or the consultants or my luck, I have no one to blame. I still believe I have
had more positives than negatives from my past year experience. Two negatives make one positive, I’m
just waiting to see how many NO convert into a YES for me.