First Face-Saving Job: Post-9/11 Market Jitters and Recession
It was the last semester in college, and campus interviews were in full swing. The year was 2002, and the aftershocks of 9/11 still rippled through the economy. A recession was underway, making jobs scarce. I remember watching the breaking news of planes hitting the towers while I was playing carom in the hostel common room. Little did I know the profound impact this event would have on the job market.
Sleeping through the interview
I got selected for an interview with Infosys based on my CGPA. My name on the list was posted on the college placement notice board, a beacon of hope in a sea of stressed-out students. The once lazy campus was now crawling with dapper graduates, each more polished than a newly minted rupee. Meanwhile, I was savoring some of the best sleep of my life, hidden behind the closed doors of my room.
“Oye, wake up! Oye… wake the fuck up!”
I was jolted awake by persistent banging on the door. I wanted to strangle whoever dared to disturb my beauty sleep.
“Who is it? What the fuck do you want?” I shouted from my bed, squinting against the light.
“Dude, your Infosys interview was at 10 am. It’s 11 now and you’re still sleeping! Don’t you want a job in this recession?” he yelled, clearly disgusted with my life choices.
“I don’t like Infosys. Now let me sleep,” I yelled back, burying my head under the pillow and drifting off again.
The real reason I didn’t want to face interviews was that I felt like the lamest computer engineer on campus. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sincerely attended a class or opened a book. I was petrified of interviews, convinced I’d crash and burn. I longed for a world where companies hired based on CGPA alone. I wasn’t ready to face rejection and confirm my worst fears.
“I’ll prepare for UPSC civil services exam anyway, so why bother with these temporary jobs?” I consoled myself with this grand delusion.
A month later, I graduated with a B.E. (Hons.) in Computer Sciences and zero job offers. My only saving grace was a college-sponsored internship at Veritas, a tech company in Pune, which I felt I didn’t deserve. The days of procrastination were over. No more mischief, no more lazing around. I felt like an orphan abandoned in the industry, staring down a future that looked bleak at best. Those were uncertain times.
Starting at Veritas: An Unexpected Lifeline
It was a twelve-hour train journey to Pune, and my mind was like a racetrack with thoughts running wild. Anxiety and nervousness were at a paramount. The city’s temperate climate offered some comfort, but the first major relief arrived when I received my first paycheck.
“11,200 rupees! That’s a goddamn boatload of money!” I marveled at the sight of it. I had never seen so much money in my entire life. I couldn’t stop fluttering the stack of cash I’d just withdrawn from the bank, fanning my face with it like a deck of cards. Anxiety turned into exhilaration. Money speaks volumes, especially when it’s your own.
“Should I save it? Should I spend it? Maybe a little bit of both?” My thoughts seesawed back and forth.
In the end, I decided to spend the entire amount since it was my first paycheck. Savings could come later.
“A Casio watch for Dad, a saree for Mom, a phone for my brother, and earrings for my sister. That should do it,” I thought, and went ahead with my perfect plan.
Given the economic situation, I knew I should save money. But who are we kidding? My internship stipend was just enough to cover a room, bitter-as-hell 8PM whiskey, a few packs of Wills Cut midget cigarettes, occasional restaurant visits, and a snail-paced bike that belonged in an antique museum. The job market was so bad that even master’s graduates were fleeing the US like it was on fire. Luckily for me, my manager decided to jump ship and start his own IT company, and I became his first employee.
“18,000 rupees.” Now we’re talking. That was my new salary, and it was a significant upgrade. The snail-paced 100cc Bajaj 4S Champion was replaced by a trendy and sporty 150cc Bajaj Pulsar, equipped with disc brakes. 8PM whiskey was upgraded to Blenders Pride, Wills turned into Rothmans, making my smoke rings more expensive, and my acoustic guitar was swapped for an electric one. I went from living like a pauper to feeling like a rock star. Life was good again.
