Sunday, July 1, 2012

Suffer Khan

Back in my MBA days I remember our HR professor, Mr. Cabral telling us about common reasons for employees switching over to new jobs. He quoted, "Contrary to popular belief, salary hike is not such a restless reason for job change. Bad boss is!" And I was (un)lucky enough to face this fact in my first ever job upon completing MBA. 

Those were some of the most inglorious days of my life. Global recession had hit people like me high and dry with no jobs. Frustration had crept in and erupted out upon citing the slightest of chances. I was battling on personal front as well. Amidst all this chaos I receive a call one fine day about a job opening in Jawed Habib for the profile of Project Manager. I was so anxious that I did not even find out about the company and went for the interview on the same day. I was low on confidence and so never thought I would make it. But I did; they offered a meager salary and I readily accepted. 

I had no clue what was the profile. I remember day one being spent visiting banks for some paper work for franchisees. I had no clue what franchisee is, nothing about the bank work, nothing about anything at all. It was all on the job training. The summer intern who was handing over his list of tasks and job responsibilities to me was of some help. I got into groove in a few days, thanks to reading magazines about Franchisee business. I was recruited as Project Manager but was working as Site Incharge, Project Manager, Sales Executive, Vendor Development Executive and Franchisee Assistance all at the same time. I had a new set of visiting cards every week. The funny part is, the guy who got my cards printed used to ask me, "So what's your designation for today?" (LOL, LMAO, ROFL)

Suffer Khan, as I shall refer to him to veil his identity, was a ruthless boss, to the core. He wanted employees who will get his job done no matter what. He did not have the time and energy to train his employees, give them enough chances to cover up. He was a Blackberry Boy, always bombarding us with texts to be updated with what's happening at our end. He has made me improve communication over mobile, bothering me at any time of the day, across any day of the week and expecting replies within a time limit of 2 minutes. There were times when he didn't even let me take peaceful shit! But one thing made him more negatively inclined towards me; I was not doing a good job. 

There was nothing wrong with my dedication or hard work, it's just that I was not meant for that job. I was a mis-hire and I was coming to terms with it. He was not. I remember him sending me out to one of our franchisee outlets and making me work there past midnight, also expecting me to reach office on time the next day (Mall was at Vashi and I reached home early morning at 5:30 am and this guy expects me to reach office at Andheri by 10 am!). My colleague and my only good friend to share all this with was Harman and he knew what I was going through. He used to comfort me, giving hope and confidence to do well. Later he started asking me to look out for a new job but I wasn't getting any. He told me one day that he heard Suffer Khan saying, "I don't want employees who cannot perform. If they don't go on their own, we will curse them out!" I had nothing much to do except to keep improving and keep going, simultaneously looking out for another job. But my efforts were not enough, as I was a mis-fit for the existing job and unlucky to find any new job.

Till that time I was constantly telling myself to improve, become good for the job at hand. But it suddenly changed over one rainy evening. Our office boy was on leave and it was just me and Harman working at office. Suffer Khan comes to office and tells us a prospective franchisee is on his way. I dug out the required paper work, so did Harman. The party came and were sitting in the conference room. Suffer calls at my desk, asks me to order some snacks for the party. I order snacks which are delivered almost instantly. I took it to the conference room and was about to leave when Suffer says, "Where are you going? Who's gonna serve this?" I was taken aback, didn't know what hit me! I took it back, served it on a plate and was about to go back in the conference room. Two drops of tears rolled down my cheek when Harman saw me. Looking at me, he tightened his right fist portraying, "It's OK. Buck up!" I went in, served the plate and was about to leave when Suffer passes a remark I could never forget; "Now that's like an MBA!". 

I came out to my desk totally disheartened. I didn't even have the courage of resigning then and there because I had landed up in that job after so much waiting and couldn't blow it up like this. I did not mention this incident to my parents as I knew they would want me to leave the job the next day. I was too ashamed to narrate this to my friends. I gulped down all my anger, ego and everything else and just passed it off. But I had made up my mind that day about one thing; the day I get another job, no matter how good or bad it would be, I am leaving this goddamn job!

I guess even He could not take that shit anymore, so He brought a good job opportunity to me. I went for the interview, got through to the final round. After a week or so, I received a call by Mr. Anshuman Misra asking if I was ready to join Logicserve. The package was better than my then current package, plus weekend off. I had no reason to rethink, nor did Suffer Khan when I sent him my resignation email. He replied, "It's OK. All the Best." the next minute!

And today I am venturing in the field of Digital marketing with such happiness. Professionally I am doing good, touch wood! My work is appreciated and I am being paid decent enough as well. So I should also thank Suffer Khan for cursing me out. Just one thing, Suffer could have sat down with me and told me, "Dude, it's not happening. You should leave". Trust me, I would have done that. I am sensible enough to accept it and move on. Point is, it''s always better to tell someone such things by words and not by actions, it's much clear that way!

2 comments:

  1. Interesting.....Good things come late....Happy for u now...best wishes for the future.

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  2. "it''s always better to tell someone such things by words and not by actions, it's much clear that way!" - Not Always.. As actions speak louder than voice! ..... Had he not he acted in that way you would have never found the courage to resign. Well atleast this works with you very well!!

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