Our God is an awesome God. More than 2 years have passed by and I can still feel the thrill and excitement I felt when I first got the appointment letter from HCL Technologies. It was God’s perfect plan that I had to be in HCLT.
Rewinding to the year 2006……. I completed my BE (ECE) in the year 2006. I was fortunate enough to attend all the off-campus opportunities that were offered for my batch. But that was just for fancy and used to just go and come, cleared a few aptitudes but really was not that serious about getting a job. Finally I finished my bachelors in engineering. Very soon everybody started asking me what I am up to these days and if I was fortunate enough to get a job. These things began to nag me and haunt me. I was desperate to get a job. I used to cry out to God asking Him to give a good job that would suit me and my profile.
At that time I had been pursuing this course called HND in NIIT (Porur). This also has a flash back. In the last year of my BE, I attended the 15th Bhavishya Jyothi exam conducted by NIIT and was the area topper and got a scholarship for the HND course, which was a one year course costing around 36,000 rupees and the scholarship reduced the cost to 26,000 rupees and also had a placement programme. This was a two-in-one offer, so I was just attending those classes.
My Peepa (tats how I call my periappa, my father’s elder brother) was the person who helped to bring my family out of the bonds and frets that our most beloved relatives put us in. He was the interpreter between God and us. He has got the anointing of the Holy Spirit and gift of prophesy. We wanted to call Peepa one day so that we could enquire of the Lord. He came and prayed and God’s presence filled us and God spoke saying that He will give me a job. He asked me not to attend any interviews and promised me that a job will come seeking me, knocking at my door at a time somewhere in October or November. Oh god what a wonderful promise that was. A job will come seeking me and knocking at my door. Unbelievable and totally out of the mind to believe such a great thing. God also told me “My dear daughter, did you not ask me for a job. I have heard your prayers. I will give you the best job.”
I had this belief in Jesus that He is able to bring to pass what He has promised to do. He is able and mighty to do great and marvelous things. I was waiting to see how God was going to make this happen. Remembering God’s promise, I said “NO” to many interviews scheduled by the area coordinator Naren. As escapism to attending interviews I said let me complete the course and then I will take up the interviews.
Then one fine day, this coordinator, Naren called up and said, see there is an interview with HCL, you please go and register yourself at the head office, your friend Nirmala also has gone there. You can also join with her. So I called my buddy Nirmala (my close friend for four years of college) and both of us landed in NIIT (Numgambakkam) together to register ourselves to attend the interview. But inside of me there was a small doubt and confusion reminding me about God’s promise and that if I was disobeying Him. But somehow I finished registering and then on my way back home, I went to St. George’s Cathedral and there knelt down to get forgiveness from God for disobeying him. Then told mummy that I had done wrong and then we decided that I should not attend the interview which was scheduled for the next day from 2-4 PM. Then I went back home did not prepare for the interview and had a peace in my mind that I had obeyed God. The following day, I called up Nirmala to wish her good luck and then called back to ask her what questions they has asked. The evening of that day I got a call from the NIIT (Nungambakkam) Officer In-charge. He asked me why I did not attend the interview that I had registered for. He shouted at the top of his voice. He got so enraged, he said he will put me in the blacked list and will not consider me for any other opportunities. I am a very timid person and so full of self esteem. I could not bear myself being shouted at this way. So I put all the blame on mamma and started telling her that it was because of her that I did not attend the interview. She calmed me and said, first thing tomorrow morning we will visit Naren and explain to him and then let’s see how God guides us. Then next day morning, I jus wore some plain clothes, tied my head and went in a 2 wheeler ride for around 45 minutes, sweating and fuming we reached Porur. I took out my mobile to see missed calls from Nirmala and Naren. Hesitantly I went up with my mother to see Naren. Nirmala was also there talking to Naren and paying the fees since she had been confident that she will get the job. I then went inside and Naren very coolly said, I just asked Nirmala to call you to speak to you. Then after Nirmala left, we (Naren, mom and me) were there and Naren asked me why I did not attend the interview. My mother said some lame excuses. Naren asked me “An interview with HCL and you don’t want to attend? Just give it a try, you have time till noon. I will speak to the people there” Mom was convinced and said why not give it a try. I was furious and said God said not to attend the interview. Then we called up Peepa and told him the situation. He was totally confused and did not know what to say. He said I cannot say anything in a hurry burry I have to pray and seek the Lord’s presence to guide you. Since you are in a very critical situation you just attend the interview we will pray about this today evening.
So after that I was convinced and said ok to attend the interview. I did not even have a resume’. Naren picked up from the files an old resume that had not been updated. He told me to tell the interviewers that I had gone out of station and had returned only in the morning.
I was shabbily dressed and not prepared for the interview. I just took the resume and went along with my Mom to Guindy 2 office. I did not know the route also. The approx time to travel is 45 minutes. I had to fill my tank. I got directions from Nirmala and then landed at G2 office at 11:52 AM. I then got a visitor Id and then went in to attend the interview. There was a HR Praveen waiting for me. He asked me to wait and then called me in to be interviewed. There were 3 people inside, Arul Sundaram, Meenakshi Sundaram and Palaniappan
They said had I come late by 5 minutes than they would have left for the day. Then they asked me the ritual question like tell us about yourself and stuff like that. After that they asked me the million dollar question “why I did not attend the interview the previous day”. I gave them a wishy washy answer and praying inside that they do not delve into it so much. Luckily they seemed to be convinced with the answer. Then the question about the old resume, the resume not updated….blah blah…. Aha, I again told them see I am coming back from out of station and just grabbed this old resume from the centre and rushed to attend the interview. Then they asked me a few questions about software testing. Simple questions like what are the types of testing. Then they asked me another big question that was the highlight of the event that day. Tell the stages in the Software life cycle. My tongue got stuck to my throat. I was cursing myself for not learning it properly. Then I remembered a few things. These 3 angels told me, tell us whatever you remember. Even if it is not in order we will put them in order. Then this person MS, took his pen and started numbering the sheet 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. As I kept pushing the words out of my mouth he kept writing each against the numbers. Still there was one missing, the 4th one. I could not remember anything. I said so many stupid things. Then AS was giving me clues to help me remember the phase. He said, when we want to build a house what is the first thing we will do. I like a muffin said we will plan it ahhhh planning phase. He said no, try to recall properly. They waited in vain to get an answer from my mouth. Nothing seemed to come. Then they gave up and said it’s DESIGNING. Oh damn the word why did I not remember it. Then they asked me another question. They pointed to the extension phone on the table and said if you had to test this what would you do. Oooooh silly question I thought. Then I gave them very high answers like checking all the features and add ons. Then finally I said I would test if the person is able to make a call using the phone. MS was relieved and said ah this was the answer we expected. (Ithai munaliya solirikka vendamma???$****!!!!)Then they said ok interview is over please wait outside we will tell you the result. (Apa vitanugada saami !!) I came out and Praveen went inside and I was waiting outside in the lobby. Then Praveen came out and said “Hey you have been selected. There should have been 2 rounds but you have cleared both in just one round. We will call and inform you the day to attend the HR interview. You can leave now.” I was mouth shut. What I have cleared the interview ah, nammba mudiyavilai!! Then I came out and told the happy news to mom who was waiting in the pavement for me. Then I informed Naren about this. But still we were not sure whether this was pleasing in God’s sight.
Then we came back home and waited for Peepa to come in the evening. Oh what a glorious day it was. God had planned it so well. God said that there were many hurdles in front of me so he had planned in such a way like this and given me a job before time. It was HIS will that I should be in that job. He gave this Psalm 34:1-10 and Psalm 20 as promises to me. He has been wonderfully leading me and guiding me in this company till date.
Oh that was a big blog that I wrote today. God bless everyone reading this!!
The point I’m trying to drive thro you is “Our God is an awesome God”. El Shaddai, a fully dependable God. A faithful, unfailing God. In him we put our trust; in Him we put our hope. Amen
Being run by the Convent, discipline and decorum were its lifelines. Since I was staying close to school, I had to be home for lunch so no suthufying or kataduchifying (this is called Chennai Tamil, don’t mind!). I did pretty good in school. 
But still how could I not say about the nice times I had in school. I was part of the school Brass Band. I have played almost all of the blowing instruments……to name a few…..bugle, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, euphonium……I also play the keyboard. Having passed the third grade in Trinity College of London, that’s a treasure I seldom use. Had a bunch of friends whom I lost touch with after school.
By and by…….I have come to end of my first blog. Meet you soon
