Re-Recruitment @ Mahindra Satyam

23rd January, 2010

Though this was not my first experience with Satyam, it was definitely my first experience with Mahindra Satyam (erstwhile Satyam). It is very pleasing to see the worlds economy(atleast India's) showing some signs of recovery from a two year long recession period. This is very much evident from the fact that many IT companies are starting to recruit employees to meet their business demands. In Mahindra Satyam's case, they have started onboarding few of those recruits made by Satyam during 2008 and 2009. I have mentioned "few of those" because, they clearly said that they will be onboarding selects in batches as and when business demand unfolds, assuring everyone of those selected for the job. To this regard they have sent mails to all those earlier recruits, asking for confirmation. Based on the confirmations received, M-SAT as they call Mahindra Satyam, have shortlisted around 1000 students who have an aggregate of above 70% in graduation from all round the country, though majority of them were from Andhra Pradesh.

Accordingly students were asked to attend an Online Intranet Exam conducted by M-SAT on 22nd January, 2010. I had a lot of questions going on about this exam. Firstly, will there be only an exam or will there be an entire selection process with GD and PI. Secondly and mostly importantly they mentioned that "there will be no elimination as such", and hence I wondered why is the exam for then?. Since I had only two days left before the exam, I thought of better leaving those doubts aside and concentrate on preparation. I made a long list of what to be dealt with in preparation, but eventually I failed to even pick out a book and have a glance at it. I was very busy with other preparations such as buying a formal dress, polishing my shoes, etc....hehe.

The day has finally come after a very long night of anticipation I had. Though it was pleasant to hear early in the morning that we are gonna have just a written test, the day didn’t kick off well for me, as I was one of the few who were made to stand in a queue under the hot sun for as long as one hour, posing a reason that the conference hall was full. What was even more disgusting was, that i was left to be the first person in the queue, which meant that had there been a bloody single place inside the hall, I could have easily been IN. Nevertheless, I stayed there assuring that my place in the queue was not lost. After an hour, suddenly the gates were opened, and seeing the way students rushed in, I got the feeling that I was in a flood relief camp. As I entered the Conference hall I saw not a single chair left empty and few people stranded at the last. I quietly joined them searching for some relief (a chair). "Overcome one trouble, another one awaits you". But all was bearable with the hope that the results will be fruitful.

Now comes the grouping of batches. Since its an online exam, and there were only about 150 systems to accommodate with, they have to group these 1000 students into 6 batches or so. Now comes the twist, on special request girls were given 100% quota for first batch. "Understandable". Then again on another request, non-locals were given quota of second batch. "Agreeable". Then the third batch was again filled with girls. Situation was getting impatient with still no empty chair in view. Then came the announcement asking "local people to better have their lunch in the mean time". We understood the situation, thought anyway they are not going to allow us for the exam, so its better to have our lunch. As my friend Ramu and I approached the Canteen, we witnessed another relief camp over there. Food became Gold now. I have given it up. But Ramu struggled, struggled, struggled and finally succeeded in bringing us both some food.

Then later we proceeded back to the conference hall. It was getting sick, we saw a long queue for registration for the remaining batches. This time for local students. Remind you, we didn’t sit anywhere since morning. We hurried and joined the queue to make sure that it doesn’t get too late. Again sickening was the fact that this time around a lot of chairs were empty, but we couldn't occupy one. ‘State of self pity’. Starting there it took 3 hours for our chance to get registered, and straight from there we went upstairs towards the computer labs. The time was reading 5:45 PM. Then again another queue to get a login ID. By this time I was exhausted, I was having back pain and my legs were aching like anything. After getting the login ID, then again another bloody queue waiting for a chance to get in.

Meanwhile, waiting in the queue, I got disgusted with myself. Prior to the exam date, I was praying that there should be no GD & PI, it happened so. Then on the morning of the exam I prayed for the exam to be a non-technical one, which luckily happened so. Yet, before entering the exam I was praying for something more easy to come in the exam. I slammed myself internally as to what was I upto. Thought as to why I was fearing when I loved the challenge and was ready to face it. I prepared myself mentally to take on the challenge and to give my best. Finally, my chance came and I was allotted a system. I logged in, and started my exam. It was a 100 questions paper divided among 6 sections unequally(Three of them English, one Quant, one Reasoning and one Logical related section). It was announced that there was no negative marking, and hence I made sure I attempted all the questions. Some of them were attempted confidently, some of them not so and some of them very blindly.

I finished my exam at 7PM, and I was a relieved man then, not because that I have written the exam that well, but because the purpose for the day was fulfilled after a long struggle. Afterall, its a struggle worth being taken. Finally before leaving home I learnt that based on the results, grades will be allotted and top graded people will be communicated within a week's time. For now the day was over paving way for another week of enthusiasm. Well I have to keep my fingers crossed.