Aasaan Nahi Hai | A snapshot of entry-level workers in India

From the
blue collared
job seeker
A collection of
perspectives
www.aasaanjobs.com#AasaanNahiHai
Aasaan Nahi Hai
aasaanjobs
Better Jobs. Better Life.

“I come from a farming background. We own a piece of land in Shiposhi where
we cultivate rice, which is the most commonly grown crop in our village. I am
pursuing BMS in a college far away from where I live, where our classes are
held from eleven in the morning to three in the afternoon. Some of my
classmates have to commute up to four hours both ways, so there isn’t really
much time to hang out or organise extra curricular activities in the college, but
we try our best. Even though my convocation is in April, I came right now for
your assessment process since I wanted to have a job oﬀer in hand before I
received my degree.”
“Quite enthusiastic, aren’t you? So now that you are in Mumbai, what sort of
jobs will you be targeting?”
“I like talking to people. I think I will be an awesome receptionist!”
The Receptionist
from Ratnagiri
Mar 25 aasaanjobs

“A friend, who attended the same college I did in Shiposhi, once had a
telephonic interview with a bank based in Navi Mumbai for a client servicing
job profile. He was told that although he fulfilled all the requirements as far as
the qualification and skills were concerned, they would be going for a
candidate who had done the same BMS course in Mumbai.”
“Do you think that was a biased decision?”
“I dunno. Maybe they thought that the guy from Mumbai would be more
promising in terms of influencing local clients. Who knows? But I certainly think
there is nothing that candidates from a rural background can’t do that an
urban candidate can, if given an opportunity. I just hope I don’t face the same
situation now that I am here!”
(Sagar got two job offers within four days of having this conversation with
us. We at Aasaanjobs wish him all the best in all his future endeavours.)
The Rural Urban Bias
Apr 1 aasaanjobs

“I currently work with a leading newspaper, where I go door to door and collect
cheques for subscription. We are given a target for a month, and we can get
upto 2000 bucks extra over the salary of Rs. 10,000 if we achieve it.”
“What kind of jobs did you apply for right now?”
“Telecalling and Data Collection. I have experience in both of them. I think I will
go for any job in either of the two even if it oﬀers me somewhere between Rs.
8500 - 10000.”
“But why change your job from a higher-paying one to another that wouldn’t
pay as much?”
“I had gotten married around 9 months ago. I will need to spend more time
at home now.”
Being responsible
Apr 8 aasaanjobs

“I was pushing 27 and my family kept harping on about getting me hitched,
most of all my kid brother who wanted to marry his girlfriend as soon as
possible. I didn’t want to think in that direction until I was well settled, which is
why I came here from Malda. I have been working since as a construction
supervisor at a site in Andheri.
I have started to feel of late that I will be more comfortable working in an office
space. However ever since I have started to look for a new job I am discovering
that one needs to have sufficient knowledge of computers to be able to work
in an office setting with a good salary.”
“And you don’t?"
“No.”
“So what are your plans now?”
“Certainly don’t want to go back. There is this friend of mine who works in a
cyber cafe. He has agreed to sit with me a couple of times in a week to teach
me the basics. So...let’s see!”
Between computers
and celibacy
Apr 15 aasaanjobs

“I barely remember my mother. She passed away when I was very young. It is
since then that our family became work-oriented, where we contributed to
either the household chores or income. My father works in a factory and my
elder brother is a ﬁeld sales executive. I myself worked at a clinic for 2 years
where I took care of patients. I have applied for data collection and data entry
jobs right now. I hope I get a call soon. ”
“What do you aspire to become, maybe 3-4 years down the line?”
“I ﬁnd accounting interesting. I will try getting a degree in the next few years.”
“You mean you don’t have one now?”
“No. I just gave my 10th board exams a month ago.”
Mommy dearest
Apr 22 aasaanjobs

“I was born disabled. The doctors said I would forever be in a vegetative state.
However, my mum devoted herself wholly towards taking care of me. It is
because of her that I was able to complete my schooling, get a diploma in
computer science and complete a Tally course. She also started an NGO to
support other physically handicapped children in Shrirampur.
My condition doesn’t allow me to work very quickly or to talk very ﬂuently,
but I can be very perseverant. I will ﬁnish the job no matter how long it
takes. I suppose I get that from my mother.”
Mommy dearest
Apr 29 aasaanjobs

“I have always been fond of movies. When I was little, I would sit staring at the
screen and imagine myself acting on the silver screen. I would try to emulate
the action sequences, but would get tired very easily. A check up revealed that
I had a hole in my heart.
It took some time for my father, a newspaper vendor in Shrirampur, to arrange
for the expenses of a surgery, and I was successfully operated upon at the age
of 19. I went to Pune soon after, working as a counter sales executive in a mall
for almost a year before coming to Mumbai.”
“Was there any special reason for coming here?”
“Yes. I will deﬁnitely give a shot at becoming an actor some day. But not
now. Now I need to see and experience how Mumbai feels like, for which I
have taken up a job as a ﬁeld sales executive. I am joining the company
tomorrow.”
The Bollywood aspirant
May 13 aasaanjobs

“My mother was given my custody when she and my father separated. My
father passed away when I was barely 3, and my mum a couple of years later.
My life since then has been one of impermanence, flitting from the house of
one friend to the other, with their families’ kindness sustaining me for several
years. I however, always kept getting this pang to shape the direction of my life,
and therefore after passing higher secondary exams I decided to come to
Mumbai from Shrirampur.
I am now working as a document collector which involves going to various
offices and getting a survey form filled. I am turned away from the gates of the
office complex itself most of the times by the watchmen, and there are some
days when I travel throughout the day without getting a single form filled.
Sometimes when I reach home late at night, I am struck by the irony of how
that impermanence has again taken hold of me, but then the realization
that I am now one step ahead towards being able to take control of my own
life comforts me.”
Impermanence
May 20 aasaanjobs

“Our family consists of 5 people. Both my parents work to take care of us.
When I passed my higher secondary examination, I did an MS-CIT course as
well as a DTP course one after the other, following which I took up a job as a
telecaller. My parents were adamant that I concentrate only on getting a law
degree, which is why I enrolled at a college near Churchgate. I am now
however trying to work out a schedule where I can work as well as study during
the day, for which I am trying to take up a job as a DTP operator.”
“Is there any specific reason for you to want to work, even after your parents’
insistence to finish your studies? ”
“Yes. I am quite interested in this field. And with both my siblings in school
I felt that I too must contribute to the family income, particularly when my
parents are spending so much on my education. So I thought, why not
contribute on my own terms?”
Own terms
May 27 aasaanjobs

“My parents passed away a couple of years ago. I was all set to complete my
graduation and start hunting for a job when this took place. The shock was
absolute, and their absence aﬀected me quite strongly. I and my brother
moved in with my grandmother, and have been living with her ever since. My
brother was always concerned about the ever dwindling reserve of money left
behind by my parents. After a gruelling preparation period, he passed the
naval examination and is now working in Colaba. It was he who helped me
cope with the loss and inspired me to get up and start working. I admit I
couldn’t quite sustain it, since I left a job after just six months due to stress,
which comes in the way of landing a new job since I am still considered a
fresher.
But now I feel I am completely prepared to work, even if it takes me months
from today just to ﬁnd a job.”
A sibling’s support
June 3 aasaanjobs

“I have applied for data entry and back office jobs. Most of the others require
more qualifications.”
“What is the highest level of qualification you have achieved?”
“I passed my matriculation exams in 2006.”
“Did you not try to study more?”
“Nope. Didn’t really see the point of studying more if you had to work at the
end of it all. However, I soon realised that degrees matter in the real world,
after which I wanted to at least pass my 12th boards. But with all the work and
little time to study, I was finding it impossible to strike a balance. Taking a break
from work didn’t work out as well as I thought since I had lost touch
completely. So now I am back to looking for a job.
My only aim in life is now to dissuade my rebellious younger brother from
following in my footsteps.”
A lost opportunity
June 11 aasaanjobs

“I got a degree in travel and tourism management. Since I did not have enough
working capital to start a travel agency of my own, I worked as a sales executive
for 2 years with an automobile company in Guwahati. I was getting around Rs.
10,000 per month, which could go up to Rs. 15,000 if you brought in leads
above the fixed target. The job allowed me to save a decent amount. Right now
I have applied for cashier and counter-sales jobs.”
“But Mumbai is an expensive city. Savings would be difficult with the salary you
would be getting as a cashier. Do you think you will be able to manage?”
“Absolutely. I have some friends in Mumbai with whom I plan to stay, and I
find people here interesting and enterprising. I have, since childhood,
always wanted to experience the culture of this city, and now I will do
exactly that before I go back and set up my own travel agency in Guwahati
for good.”
Change of scene
June 17 aasaanjobs

"On this rainy day I saw this person busy making calls and reading newspaper.
Had a small chat with him and it turned out that he is jobless and is
desperately looking for an opening. Told him what he is doing is wasting time
and energy and that he should doing his job hunting online. All he had to say
is at present he don't have a computer at home. I wished him all the best in his
hunt for a job."
- Picture and caption by Rosario Fernandes, who was the second runner up
in the contest.
Not so tech savvy
July 1 aasaanjobs

"In my teenage days I had no clue where I was and what life was giving me. My
dad had met with an accident and unfortunately he was in coma for almost
two years.Those were the days where I was the only backbone of my family. I
had almost sold out our ancestor's property with a heavy heart because that
was the only source of income. Somehow I managed to complete my higher
studies. As years were passing there was an improvement in my dad’s health.
In those days I was completely shattered, but my mom was the only person to
motivate me and her speaking eyes would always strengthen me towards my
goals. Today I am very proud to say that I am working in a very well known IT
industry. Not only this but with help of my mom’s courage, we are also into
freelancing business which is now looked by my dad."
Picture and Caption by Narayan Marathe, who was the First runner up in
the contest
Against all odds
July 8 aasaanjobs

"I come here daily; this here is my spot. I am usually here from 10 AM till 9 PM
and as there are other sellers in this area, competition is stiff. There are days
when there are no sales at all and days when food is really scarce in the
household. I am 10th pass but it’s very difficult to get a job. Once I applied
through an agency, he took some money and later I came to know agency was
fraud. I am still looking out for a job."
- Picture and Caption by Dilip Shah, the winner of the first prize in the
#AasaanNahiHai photography contest.
Standing out
July 17 aasaanjobs

"Amidst the hustle - bustle of Delhi's Connaught place, in reeling summer (over
40 degrees) I found this dedicated and smartly dressed door keeper (Mr.
Atwal) at a garment showroom. I requested him for a pic and he very gracefully
obliged! Salute to his dedication and professionalism for the fact that when
people ﬁnd ways to skip their duties in peak summer, he is serving his
employers in full attire and with a bright smile. Notwithstanding his telephone
moustaches just add to the grace! No wonder he has three stars on his
uniform and looks great especially for his age."
Picture and caption by Dr. Siddharth Verma, one among the many
submissions for the #AasaanNahiHai photography contest.
Moustache Magniﬁcence
July 22 aasaanjobs

"I was 9 when my mother died due to cancer. My father got married to another
woman and she used to beat me. I bear her torture for 3 yrs and one day I
decided to ran from my village and came here. I really miss my mom and
younger brother. Right now I am working in a hotel so that I can earn
something and fulﬁll my stomach. I want to study to get a good job but left with
no option other than working here."
Photo and caption by Rupam Jain. This submission was among the many
entires for the #AasaanNahiHai photography competition.
Man proposes, God disposes.
July 31 aasaanjobs

"My mother is the one who has kept the family afloat by working as a maid in
several houses in Bhandup, where we live. My father is asthmatic, and both my
sisters have received very limited education, due to which they too have now
started working as a maid nearby. I wanted to contribute to the family income
as soon as possible, but at the same time had this desire to travel and see the
different hues of Mumbai, for which I took up a job in JW Marriot Hotel as a
housekeeper."
"Why did you leave then?"
"At Rs.10,000 a month, it was getting difficult for me to pay for the commute
to Juhu everyday, let alone pay for the expenses of the family. I have since
resigned to look for a job as a packer near my locality."
Cutting the commute
Aug 5 aasaanjobs

"I was born in a small village. During my school days, I used to walk 9 kilometres
to school barefoot. The villagers laughed at me. For them it was insane to walk
so far to study. I worked hard and managed to complete my studies.
Economic condition of the family was not good. In my life, the most challenging
moment came when my mother died suddenly one day, a few days after which
my father lost his job. Right now I am the only earning member in my family. I
had recently completed my graduation and got a job as a telecaller soon after,
on a temporary basis. I keep wondering when this job will become
permanent."
Picture and caption by Aniket, one among the many entries in the
#AasaanNahiHai photography contest.
Prolonged struggle
Aug 19 aasaanjobs

aasaanjobs
“Man needs his difﬁculties because
they are necessary to enjoy success"
- APJ Abdul Kalam
For more such inspirational
stories, do follow us on Facebook.
Head Oﬃce
B-wing, Unit-4, Krislon House,
Military Road, Opposite Marwah
Center, Saki Naka, Andheri,
Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400072
www.aasaanjobs.com
022 4444 6666

Aasaan Nahi Hai | A snapshot of entry-level workers in India

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