Letters & Blogs

If you are looking for some tips for tests and interviews then you'll be disappointed, as I'm the person who didn't even try to apply for an intern because of the fear of an interview. Nevertheless, I can tell you a story, my story, hopefully, it'll be able to inspire you a little bit.

I got AIR 5995 (ST rank - 22), due to reservation I was able to get a good branch and good college. Academic pressure in IIT is too much and I wasn't ready to bear it. Although I studied but wasn't able to get any marks. & also there was peer pressure as seniors used to say that do some extra-currics otherwise you won't have anything to write in your CV. I joined some clubs but it was affecting my studies adversely. So the first year is totally bleak in my memory.

I used to sit on the last benches because of the fear that what if the professor asks me a question. Till 12th I did my studies in Hindi, there I was unable to speak in English (one of my fears). Then in my 3rd sem, I was fortunate enough to meet a professor. He possessed an aura of positiveness and always encouraged his students. He is the reason that I started to like electronics. I was able to gain some strength to fight my fears. In his class, I sat on the first bench for the first time and since then I never always sat on the center of the first bench, just in front of the professor.

In the fourth semester, in the Electromagnetic course, we were asked to present a poster. Perfect opportunity to tackle my fear of English Speaking. As without a strategy you have to rely on mere luck for success, so I made a plan that I'll consume all the information on the 'Aurora and Solar storm' so that at the time of presentation I'll have so much information revolving in my mind that I can blurt out anything and I won't get stuck. Relevance of what I was speaking and grammatical mistakes that was not of much importance to me. I wouldn't say that presentation was perfect nevertheless it was able to incite self-confidence in me that I can do it. Since then I have worked for almost months on each presentation whether it's graded or non-graded & learn to be a bit relaxed while speaking.

After I was taught by Prof. Shouri, my love for electronics just intensified. As I didn't apply for an internship, I had to do some projects to complete my design credits but I was too afraid to go to the professor’s office. I was waiting for the perfect time to meet a professor until a friend of mine, Mayank drag me to Prof. Mukul's office. Prof. asked me whether I'll work sincerely or not and gave me a project. Wow! that was too easy. The lesson was learned that don't ever listen to people, they intimidate you more than they give you advice. I worked for almost one and a half years on the 3D Camera project. Everyone was afraid of Prof. Shouri during the BTP presentation. But our presentation was perfect and he told us that our work is commendable. Although I had the Department Rank 1, Divpreet Singh, as my partner he's not the only reason that I was able to do good work in BTP. To substantiate my assumption, I did BTP-II by myself and still was able to get A+grade and Shouri's good remarks.

As I was working sincerely on my projects, some of my friends encouraged me to apply for core companies. The person who used to think that he got in a college way out of his league due to reservation and was afraid about whether he'd be able to complete his degree or not, started to dream a little. Mayank helped me with my resume. Again I chose to ignore people's advice for placements. Although I was a part of the fine art and crafts team of Rendezvous and Speranza for 2 years and played in the Interhostel football team, I didn't mention it in my resume.

As Texas Instruments hires analog engineers also, it became my dream company (till then I didn't know that ISRO also comes for recruitment). For almost a year TI was all in my mind, but I couldn't clear the test. Yeah! I can plausibly defend myself by saying that I was stupid enough not to read the instructions clearly and thought that the total time for the test was 45 minutes instead of 135 minutes & didn't attend all the questions. (There were three sections each section was allotted 45 minutes and you couldn't go back to the previous section).

After TI exam, I was riding my bicycle slowly and the best thing I remember is that I was literally laughing all the way back to the hostel over the fact that just like a snap my dream was shattered. I learned an important lesson that one should not have an immutable dream, cause life is unpredictable. If you are too stubborn to achieve it then you must also consider that what is at stake. Instead one should consider all the things he loves and wants to experience in life. These things should act as a foundation of the future world he wants to create. The future world, comprising of millions of dreams small and big ones. If he fails then he must contemplate ' is it worth it to try again ?'. If not then learn from the failure and achieve another dream. Of course the more effort you put towards each dream, the better will be the success rate and your future world will start to materialize. Even if you succeed don't start to feel complacent & keep on working hard for you dreams.

The next day during class Gaggi told me to check the T&P portal and I saw the words 'Indian Space Research Organization'. I told to myself that this is my chance and I won't let anyone snatch it away from me. During the night I put on my headphone and played the song 'Look if you had one chance, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment. Would you capture it or just let it slip ?'. It gave me goosebumps. Lesson learned - cherish every moment of your journey, don't wait for the moment of success. If you fail, don't worry at least you enjoyed your time. But If you succeed then believe me these are the moment that will make you smile when you will look back.

One day I was going to CSC & met a friend of mine, Gurav. He told me that in the ISRO interview they ask deep questions from each course. on 31 Nov. night, I was in the night mess, I told Vinay that these 4 hours of the morning are crucial for my future. Because next interviews I had, was on 4th December. In the morning I got to know that my interview was at 8.00 am the first slot. It was 7.30 am and I was still struggling to revise the electro-magnetics course. In fifteen minutes I took bath and was out of the hostel in a black suit and tie dangling from my collar, black file folder in my hand containing my CV, cause there was no cab outside so I found myself sprinting at my fullest to the interview venue, LHC. I was profusely sweating while a long queue in front of LHC gave me an excuse to catch my breath & to put a knot in my tie.

I was feeling nauseating, my whole body was shivering. When you need proper sleep to be more creative, I didn't even sleep and had proper dinner and breakfast. I started laughing in my mind, telling myself that 'Bro! you are fucked up. You let your other dream slip away. Suddenly there was a big smile on my face. Now that I already messed up everything, I got nothing to lose. This idea compels me to lighten up and enjoy the process. Now it was quite amazing to studying people's faces whoever was nervous by the burden of the expectations. I found myself opposite to a pretty lady for an intel interview. 'Okay! let's give it a go, Greet with a broad and genuine smile, hand over the CV, Sit, Back Straight, make proper eye contact' - every youtube tips&tricks was now in action. She was talking about advanced digital circuitry and I was giving answers in analog. She was not able to comprehend the difference between time-of-flight camera and a regular camera. Moreover, five minutes weren't sufficient to represent the hard work I had put into my project in one and half years (Everyone was having 5-6 minutes interviews because Intel is a mass recruiter). HR asked me to wait outside until they make a decision. Some guys came out of the room like having been kissed by a dementor and some came out shouting, celebrating, hugging their friend. I told myself " chill man! don't be so harsh on yourself, It was no fault of yours. It was a freaking lottery system. "

Waiting outside for the ISRO interview, I was pondering on what has just happened. There was something that was missing. Then I got it. Lesson learned - You must master the art to abridge your work experience depending upon the knowledge of the interviewer in that specific field. Beforehand you can practice this thing. Explain your project in 1 minute & 5 minutes & 10 minutes. In each case make sure that you conclude each good point about your work. Depending upon the time, interviewer's expression, his interest in that particular project explain accordingly. Indirectly don't let them cut you off in middle. After some time I got myself sitting in front of a Sardarji. First question - "why would you choose ISRO ?". Ans - 'It's my childhood dream, Sir'. He laughed and said "C'Mon man ! everyone is saying that tell me something new." I too laughed & I made me lightened up. The whole interview flowed like a natural conversation, just like the one I had at MJK's home. He asked about each one of my projects and was listening intently. Intel interview's lesson was applied and I was able to summarize every project optimally. He asked some good questions, some of them I answered, for some of them he solved with me while observing my thought process. It wasn't perfect but it was pretty good. I was optimistic until I got to know that everyone's interview went well, I didn't have high hopes because many students with a way better academic performance were also present.

Because I opted to apply for technical domain companies, my next potential interviews were scheduled on the 4th day. On TNP (Training and Placement Portal) they declare shortlist and interview slots at 6.30 am. I woke up at 6.30 am, checked TNP, again slept, woke up in every 30 minutes, check-sleep, repeat. It was 9.00 am Myelin's status was pending. After some time, checked again, Mylin's status - 'not shortlisted'. I slept again, it was a free day. Around 1 pm I woke and checked for next day companies and found that Myelin shortlisted me and interviews were going on. Without taking lunch I rushed to LHC and applied for a test. I revised all control engineering in the last 3 days except one chapter 'Controllability and observability' cause I didn't like matrix calculations thing. On the test paper, there was only two questions and they were on controllability and observability which I skipped. Well! as expected they told me to wait outside until they finalize the shortlisted students. It was 5 pm, I was hungry, borrowed some money from a friend, and took a 100rs latte coffee. I took one sip, I felt nauseated, and threw the cup of coffee in the dustbin. After some time I found myself sitting at Shassi's Dhaba in a back suit & monotonously staring for hours at moving cars on the road.

Prior to the interviews, Vinay and I decided that If both of us get jobs then we'll go to Manali. He got selected on day two. After Myelin's day, I motivated myself ' gather your wits! No time to whine, prepare for the next battle'. Around 11 pm I checked the TNP portal and found there was something like 'congratulation' flashing. I didn't want to get my hopes high until I get a confirmation, but adrenaline rushed and my heart started pounding. I rushed to Gaggi's room and started hammering on the door, showed him the laptop. He told me " ho gya tera ". 'wait! it was too much to grasp in, let me fill the feedback form and I'll think again about what just happened. Congrats on TNP, ISRO status selected, fill feedback form and terms and conditions- I think I got selected.' My face and whole body started to heat up like there is the energy radiating out from my body. Many of my friends gathered in my room to share the special moment with me. I could remember that my face was burning up, I was feeling so light and wanted to jump around the room. I stand on the table and felt like flying. In the placement time, many people were getting jobs, so it should not have been a big deal. But I was not able to bridle my euphoria. All I wanted to do is to go to the top of a very tall building and scream out of my wits. Within minutes the whole hostel got the news that I got selected. I was in the apotheosis of my IIT life. Later in the night, Vinay booked Manali bus tickets, and the next day we were in Manali.