He asked “shall we start the interview?”
“Here?
“Why not? Are you not comfortable here?”
“No no not like that... I am okay…” – he added one more surprise.
“Ok. Why did you first choose mainframe technology? What do you find interesting in this?”
“First of all I did not choose this technology. In my college itself I got placed through campus. So once I entered in office they put me in mainframe training. After one month training I got my current project. From training on wards I started loving mainframe technology. It’s for dealing huge amount of data where bank sector and health insurance mostly use. It’s not like java and other languages. Hacking is too difficult when company uses mainframe coded software. Its giving 99.999% error free result. All these behind its very simple to learn more than c and c++. “
“How you rate yourself in JCL, COBOL, VSAM and CICS?”
“Do you know DB2?”
“What abends have you faced?” Etc etc…
I answered for every question. I didn’t want to make him upset. I tried my best and even I wanted to show off my knowledge. For unknown question I just told “We have not used that. So once I got into this project will learn for sure. As I entered in my project there was no seniors. All were in notice period. I just learnt everything by myself only.” For most of the question I answered correctly. Yeah I am technically strong. Actually it was piece of cake and Completely it was off the cuff. And finally there he was. He asked his final question “Do you want to ask anything else?”
“yeah I want to ask many things… what’s your DOB? Are you committed? Do you like me? Will I be your girl????“ – all these questions I wanted to ask him but didn’t. asked only one “ why did you keep interview here and need feedback about me? “
“I have not seen anyone like you… you are not nervous about interview and all. You are straight and narrow which I liked in you. You don’t want to be formal. That’s why I didn’t treat you in formal way. Hope you got answer for both questions.”
“Hmm”
“come let’s go” – he said.
“where”
“you will be new kid on the block yaar... Don’t you want to see your future working place. Let’s go to ODC. Let me give intro to your team.” – with the full smiling face. Was good to watch him like that.
“That means… omg I got selected. Thank you. Thank you so much” – literally I was over the moon because I am going to work with him. I got the best of both worlds.
“no need. you deserve it. Initially I thought you will be chatter box and doubted about your technical knowledge. On second thought you are good in that too. I liked the way you handled in front your friends. You have good decision making skills. You will get things done at time because you don’t want others to wait for you. So hope you will beat the clock. But one thing you need to improve.”
I looked at his face.
“Use your noggin! Think before you say something! Without knowing anything you should not blame others. First you should find out where the mistake is. And you need to have little patient because you are going to hire for lead position. Down the road You should toe the line just to avoid problems even if you don’t like. Nothing is wrong in speaking your mind but not all the time.”
“Thanks for your words. Surely I will take that in mind. But now I need to leave to my office. If you don’t mind shall I meet team after my joining here.”
“okay your wish… you will get a call in 3 days. So be available on phone.”
“sure sujith… shall I leave now?”
“of course. But before that shall we take a selfie?”
“Oh god. Another surprise. He is full of surprise package. What’s happening? Is it possible to start a relationship like this? Or he just want a snap for his memory? He dunno anything about me. Even I… but why this is going like this? He wants to be friend? Or good stranger? No way… he is not a stranger anymore. I am going to work with him after 3 months.”- I had ants in my pants and he stopped my mind voices and asked “shall we?”
“yeah sure.”
“do you want to know why I took a snap?” … he then finally dropped a bombshell by saying “you are my replacement too. I may not be here when you come back. So just for memory I took.”