An easy 10 minute interview!! Phew!!

I had a real tiring day at office. I had just begun to work on Linux for the past 3 days. Everything was totally new to me. And i was expected to start execution from Day 4. Well, what can i say. That is IT industry to you. You just barely fight, struggle and manage to survive.

I left office at 7.30 pm. I was showing my handbag for security check, when the call came!!

"Hello is this Archana", said the voice. The voice sounded so unsure and new to me.

Intrigued by who this new acquaintence could be, i answered "Yes. May i know who this is?"

"This is Harish here. I am a HR in X. You are working for Y technologies right? Will you be interested in working for us?" asked the voice.

I thought, 'that was quick!'. I had sent my resume to one of my friends in company X. I did not expect to get a call so soon.

I had committed to my manager in Y technologies that i would work at least for 6 months. In fact, i wanted to shift only after 2 years of experience and i had 6 months more. Shall i refuse the offer and hang up? What the hell, after all an interview. Let me give it a shot. What can happen at the most. If it was a good offer, why should i lose it?

I started walking away from the office, towards the main road, concentrating on the phone conversation.

"Yes, Harish. I am interested. But how did you get my number?" i asked cautiously.

"It must have been referred by someone here" he said.
Fair enough, i thought.

"May i know what kind of job profile i can expect" i asked.

"It will be on Unix internals and some Shell scripting" he answered.

Screwed man. I was just beginning to learn Unix for the past 3 days. and he wants me to work on Unix Internals and Shell scripting? That is sad.

"Unix internals yes. I am pretty good at it (Archana what are you saying. you have just learnt what 'ls' command is, i thought on the inside). But i have not worked on scripting. Not yet."

A car just crossed by. I had to cross the road. Wrong timing to be having this conversation.

"you have never worked on scripting is it? good at unix internals hmm? can you tell me what an inode is?" he asked.

Damn. Dont start the interview now. i could read Unix tonight and answer the questions fresh tomorrow. Of course inode is an easy question. why is he asking me such a stupid question? May be he is starting from the fundamentals. What if he starts questioning too technically. I need time to think and answer. Else i will make a fool out of myself. At least not while am crossing the road.

"Harish. May be i can call you up tomorrow sometime say 11? May be we could have the interview then. Because, right now, am on the road. And this is not the right time for me. Could you give me your mobile number? You could give me a missed call? So i can call you back?" I asked.

"I cant give you a missed call now. Please note it down." he said.

why the hell cant he give a missed call. this mobile is pretty difficult to operate when am talking. Ok. As you play it Mr.

"Ok. I will note it down. Just a second." Did i have a choice, i thought.

Clear button, options, phone book, add contact. vats his name? vat ever. i typed A for his name.

"Yes tell me the number?"

"9886078899"

"I repeat. 9886078899? ok i will give you a call tomorrow" i wanted to just hang up. But the caller continued.

"Are you a very talkative person archana?" he asked.

what is your problem in life if i am talkative or not? ok may be he is trying to judge me? he said he was a HR right?

"Yup. you can call me that."

"Why are you so talkative" he asked.

what a dumb question? what do you expect me to answer fella? i love to talk because i am good at it. and you are not so good to keep the converstaion going. So, i talk and you listen. You have a problem with that?

"sorry?" i could say only so much. to re-confirm or make him at least rephrase his question.

"where do you live?" he asked.

Is this a crank call. Is he fooling me? why would he want to know where i live? ok, as if he could find out my address and create problems. even if he does, i can manage. No issues.

"hmm. BTM" i said cautiously.

"our office is in CV Raman nagar. will you be ok working this far?" he asked.

OK so thats why you wanted to know. Of course it would be far for me. are you going to construct a new office for me near my home. looser?

"Thats totally fine with me. No problem" i said.

"Are you very good in maths archana?" he asked.

Is he determined to be asking all ridiculous questions. why would he need me to know maths now. of course i am good at it. probably the project has got something to do with math?? how can math and unix go together. you never know.

"Oh i am very good at maths. Its my favourite." i said. and It was true :)

"are you good in geography?" he asked.

that is a tricky one. and is it a coincidence or what? only day before yesterday, i had arguements with my friends about Tropic of cancer and capricorn, the euqator, the position of india, which hemisphere it was in etc. guess what, my brilliant friends kept saying that India was in the southern hemisphere. They were playing a prank on me. And i kept arguing with them. It is surprising that even this chap has to be asking about geography. is it a coincidence?

"hmm. Am just ok with it." i answered. I did not want to be promising and get caught.

"Where is India? Is it in the northern or southern hemisphere?" he asked me with a chuckle in his voice. This question rang a bell.

"Santhosh. Is that you?" i asked.

Laughter on the other side of the phone.

S***. My friend had made a fool of me. I was standing on the road. In the traffic. Answering his dumb questions. That is why he would not give me a missed call, because i will know its him. His name will get displayed on my mobile! How thoughtful! That is why he asked me about inode, because he himself does not know much. And why would a HR guy be asking technical questions anyways. I should have thought about it. damn. i thought he was a fool. But actually I had volunteered to become his Bhakra that day. I should have thought it was wierd to be getting a call at this hour. Screw him. Gosh, if he tells everyone about it, they will tease me.

"santosh idiot. how dare you play a prank on me" i asked a bit angry this time. But could not avoid the hearty laugh at being fooled.

"What can i say. you would not let me finish the conversation at all." he answered, still laughing at his victory.

It was the most embarassing interview i ever had. But i cant blame him!! it was worth the fun. Good one santosh!!
But trust me, you will pay for this some day.

The next day i got a group mail from Santosh.
It read as follows:
"Hey guys, have you heard. archana just got an offer from X technologies. Ask her how much is the pay"

Damn him. I will pay you back for this Santhosh!! truely!!