My Job……Choice or Destiny….?

There were only two reasons of me being in my previous organization for three long years, the latter half being very painful – ambition and destiny.

I appeared for the off-campus selections of the same organization, six years before, when I couldn't pass one section of the written-test. While I was felling bad that I’ll miss the moments of appearing in front of a panel for interview, along with my friends, I couldn't stand there a moment looking at my friends.
I tried one chance, and asked one of its employees, if I had any chance to give an interview and that I was very confidant of getting through. He said "you've to qualify all rounds of the written test. If fail one section, its not going to help even if you get 98% of others". He was just an employee. What can he do, if its rules were so?
I thanked his response with a half-hearted smile and turned away.

May be, many of my friends were surprised that I dint qualify or that one competitor was gone, everyone were making faces at me. Some were murmuring at my back, and others headed directly to me and asked different questions -
"how can u fail the synonyms/antonyms section, when you could win the essay-writing competitions at college?"
"I can't believe you scored so much in aptitude, while you've failed in English"
"Are you the one who used to teach English to others..? Thank God, I'm not among them...!"
I couldn't even have a pleasant lunch, and retired from the venue after eating half.

I returned to my hostel accommodation and watched a movie. When I called my dad's phone, he assured that its just a stepping-stone and that I should learn from today's mishap.
When I woke up from the sleep that evening, I knew that one day I’m going to work for this company. I’ll be there and I’ll make everyone remember that I was there.

Later I enrolled for post-graduation, and it was the first organization coming for campus interviews, four years before today. It was very easy getting a selection in to it.
Though I had my own choice of work and domain, which I may and may not have a chance to get into, I made my decision to join this organization and attend the training. It wasn’t because the market was down for the domain of my interest, but because I had a strong belief that my employer will stick to the words “Right People, Right Place & Right Time”.

While I believed that I'd be put in the VLSI & Embedded division @ Bangalore, where I was promised to be destined to; I was posted to Hyderabad, and asked to work on telecom software services. Though I had appreciations for my work while I was a trainee in the same firm, I didn't know that inter-personal relations play a significant role than the contribution. Like fate and destiny always play over work, worth and wrath; the company policies, requirements and decisions always override the achievement, aspiration and ambition of the employees. I was told that I should be ready to relocate in case of any urgent requirement.

For a few months I kept cribbing that I wasn’t given the location, domain and work of my preference. I kept attending interviews for all the relevant jobs. When I learnt that I've screwed the second round of an interview given to seventh company, I couldn't hold my tears. మోర్ than the fact that I lost the interview, it was an agonizing pain that my chances to get back to the specialization of post-graduation were fading-off into mirages. Something which I've worked from scratch to comfort, was going waste.

One day while watching National Geographic Channel, I realized that the challenge in nature is not to migrate to a distant land every time you face a problem, but to live there, sustain and evolve with it. I thought the same applies at my work place. The next day was the first when I’ve really put my head into anything happening in my project, after 6 months of joining the same. When I can't get the job of my dream, then I've to excel at what I have. That day I set targets for myself, in this career.

I was lousy till that time, but started learning slowly. Though I was no quick leaner, I was satisfied with my pace, even if my team wasn't. The next two years, I spent doing anything and everything I could, only for marking an impression in my career, though I expected an on site opportunity out of it. Everyone around me knew the fact, that it was my only driving force at work.

Almost three years I spent craving for the moment when I can choose, instead of being chosen. When I learnt that things are not moving anywhere in my previous job, I finally decided to change my job, after six months of self-debating. It took me one month to attend seven interviews and grab five offers out of them.

I was tired of being chosen, and badly wanted to be the one who chooses. It was wicked pleasure when I've declined the first offer, after 3 years of employment. The second offer that I've declined, I was very much like best-match for the role, and they've contacted me numerous times for convincing me into it. But I've already taken my decision to join this company, in a place where I wanted to be, since the last five years, Bangalore.

After two months in this job, the last week, I was laying on the beach, looking at the moon in dark sky, speaking to my roomie and colleague. I told him that I feel like quitting my current job and finding one that suits my interests and capabilities.

He looked directly into my eyes and said "you need not answer me, but be answerable to yourself. Do you have a legitimate answer for you to quit this job? Is it because you are not interested, or is it because you are afraid of it? If it is the first, then I'm with you. Or if it is the latter, then this would be your first step down the ladder. I know that you had many choices when you've joined this organization. If you've chosen it from four others offers, then there is a reason why you did so. You were destined here, and hence you did so. Life is not running away from difficulties, but stand your ground and face the tides. Do not be afraid that this job doesn't allow you any personal time. Instead, try learning how to evolve, creating some personal space in your professional life also, as you've reserved a room for your profession in your personal life. And remember always, that professional pursuits are just temporary and forever stays only your personal life".

I was too impressed with his wisdom. I dint even thank him for his advise.
I think he'd be happy if I take it and put it into action.

My dad recently said, "you'll never get job-satisfaction unless you learn to be satisfied with what you have. My job has turned quite uninteresting since the last five years. I've been in it for over thirty years and I don't have the faintest thought of quitting it. One has to pursue his dreams, while still running on the land. If your dreams are in the skies, better limit them to dreams, and live in reality. Being in a position to choose is good, but wanting to choose because of that position, and leaving the possession is poor discretion".

Only recently I've started learning what life is....!