Blood Bulls

The other day I saw a huge banner dangling in front of IMDC which read Placements 2009, making it sound like the name of some local fair. Two days later I found that it was exactly that! There were several high profile companies sitting in different rooms, all come to recruit the best students. Day Zero had sounded like a dream when it was described to us by our seniors. For us, it was more of a nightmare. Recruiters trying to make offers early on to ensure that no others got the best candidates. All of them asking how many other offers we had and how many more interviews we had left. Were they apprehensive? Probably. Of markets? Oh yeah. And we? Not so much at first. But with the passing hours, we realized just how difficult getting a job would be. Were we desperate? Boy, yeah! It felt more like imploring, begging for jobs.

It really did not feel like what one could imagine the much-hyped placements to be like. A natural thought was that, as students who were being sold through one of the most successful recruiting agencies in a top educational institution, we would not have to face the full blast of the global meltdown. Maybe a bit tougher this time, but not terribly disturbing. Or so we were led to believe. That did not even begin to capture the ordeal most of us went through. There was hardly a choice of any kind or type. Capped by the mental trauma induced by waiting in the airport lounge like place all day long. We were mentally drained. With barely any strength left to confront the panel smiling at you and asking about your life. Tormented by the thank you. Knowing that you were faced by the ultimate test of patience. Any words I use would be a mere shadow of the anguish I'd felt. At times, on the verge of disintegrating.

For even the wisest, it was totally unanticipated. We all knew the markets were bad, but most of us had failed to grasp the enormity of the situation. We sure did not realize Day Zero would be this, dunno how to put it here, depressing? Especially after the rosy picture painted the previous year. Now morphed into a mirage. For us and for them. The situation was considerably better in the next few days with everyone working towards just one goal - get them all placed!

The technicalities of the scheduling process were kind of weird. A little random. But it was probably the best and only solution seeing the quality and preferences of students. All the sudden interview calls. The occasional argument between the company HR and PlaceCom about how the scheduling was messed up and it did not allow companies to "take away the top 25%" like they all wanted to. It was one of the craziest things I've ever seen!

It was fun volunteering for the remaining days. Made one appreciate just how challenging the job of a PlaceCommer can be! But fun nevertheless. Its a unique experience, nothing comparable to any other college. Made even better by the free pizzas and chocolate milkshakes ;D We had all become so involved that most of our discussions centered around how many students had been placed and how many were still left in the process. It was as much of a relief to be placed as it was to see others placed. And then the whole batch!

A lot of us did not get the sector, firm or division of our choice. But we were ok with it. Maybe from a more holistic point of view. Or at least will be in ten days time :P

They'd said it right the first time. It was the place for all the pain and happiness in the world.
:)