CDAC: My Second Home (Part Nine)

June: Placement Fever continues …

At last, I got a job. I got up late; the next day. What a peaceful sleep it was! Both my room-mates were getting ready for the interview. I wished them all the best. At the breakfast; we got to see a dozen of employees from Diebold. Everyone was surprised. I thanked God for getting placed a day before. Johnson sir congratulated three of us; Namrata did not come to CDAC. I was told to remain upstairs and not to roam or say anything that I have already got placed yesterday. All were in the lecture hall except three of us. I ate too much of breakfast because I was hungry, actually skipped dinner yesterday. 

Placement Day Two: 19.06.2012

Company name: Diebold

The Aptitude test started at 10am. The students were divided into different rows and each row got a different set of question paper. The test was over at 11am. I got to meet my friends then. Results were announced within half an hour and then the interviews started. There were four panels. The questions asked were mostly from Operating System. Around 03:30pm, the interview session was completed. Only Bhavya got selected.

 

In the evening, the notice regarding placement at Tata Power SED was put up on the board. The list of students eligible for the placement was also put up with all the relevant information. I used to mail all the details to my friends who were non hostelite. The eligibility was decided based on the marks scored in Class X, Class XII, Graduation and Masters (if any). There were students who could not fulfill the criteria which the companies had set. Hence, there were not allowed for those placements. 

Placement Day Three: 20.06.2012

Company name: Tata Power SED

A small van was arranged from CDAC to Andheri. We were getting all the latest updates from Naveen FM radio. I forcefully made Namrata to come to CDAC that day because my notebook was in her bag and all the project details were in that. We did little time pass here and there. Also I learned how to apply CSS to UI. At Tata Power office, the security took away everybody’s mobile. There was a technical test for an hour. Few were shortlisted for the interview. Rest of them left. Here, students were preparing for the next company. The last update was: Ranjith and Niket are selected. The list of next three companies was put on the notice board.

21^st Jun: Intellvision (Andheri)

22^nd Jun: Alepo (Mahape)

23^rd Jun: ObjectEdge (Mahape)

The next morning I left for home since I had to do nothing and also needed some rest. I was on a kind-of mini vacation; so was Namrata. But I was getting all the placement updates. Now all were more serious, having experienced the three days. Things were not easy at all. 

Placement Day Four: 21.06.2012

Company name: Intellvision

As usual the process started at 09:30 with the pre-placement talk. At 10am, there was a written technical test which included Technical objectives, Aptitude, English and Technical theory. The test was till 11:30am. Students were shortlisted for the interviews. The students who got placed were: Sharvari, Atul and Tijo. This company was in Andheri but they were to shift to Navi Mumbai is coming months.

 

Placement Day Five: 22.06.2012

Company name: Alepo

The same series continued: Pre-placement talk, General Aptitude, Technical Written Test and the final Interview session. I did not get to know much about the day, only got to know who got placed. Naveen, Shivshanker and Pratik got the job.

 

Placement Day Six: 23.06.2012

Company name: ObjectEdge

This company took four students: Litty, Ranjan, Anshu and Gaurav Bhansali. Shadab was in standby. So he was bribing them to backoff. It was funny though. At the end of the week, 17 out of 44 got jobs. 

 

On 24^th, I was back to CDAC after the what-I-called mini vacation. Litty and I started with the project work. Also Sharvari was doing with the UI. Some of the students were also giving interviews in companies wherever there were openings.

Placement Day Seven: 27.06.2012

Company names: Phonethics

Again the usual placement procedures were followed. This company emphasized more on Object Oriented Concepts and had some small programs in the technical test. Salman and Nitin got selected. The very same evening other company had come.

Company name: Finstream

There was a written technical test wherein the interviewer had given full freedom to use Google or any resource including books and friends to answer the test. He just wanted to know the approach the student uses to find solution. Only Madhur was selected. 
 

Placement Day Eight: 28.06.2012

Company name: NV Soft

They had written aptitude and written technical, followed by an MGPT test. And the shortlisted students were interviewed. Later the company was agreeing to take three students but on a lesser package than that was discussed at pre-placement talk. None of the three agreed on a lower package. So the company did not take any student.

 

Placement Day Nine: 30.06.2012

Company name: Network Marvel

Here again, I do not know much because I went home on Friday. I got to know that only Sudhanshoo got placed. And there was party time in hostel.

 

So by the end of month, ten companies visited CDAC, total of 21 got jobs. The quiz results were put on the board. Again, I got highest. Now only the project was left to do. Many got the offer letters within a week. Some were called to visit their respective companies and they were handed over the letters. Only we four were left without an Offer letter. And the others started teasing us. “Asian Paints mein Programmer ka job mila hai, ya Painter ka?” “Do not annoy Pranita! Otherwise, tera chehra sach mein paint kardegi, that too with Asian Paints” The rest 23 students were still doing with the studies for interviews. And we were helping them both technically and mentally, so that they do not lose hope.

The Mock interviews were rehearsals and the Placement interviews were the real stage acts where there were no re-takes. 

Read next: CDAC:My Second Home (Part Ten)