Disclaimer: This is not a tech post…but rather about a very tech person and my observations about him/her for a period of time…
In 2018, after one of my contract assignments ended, I was as usual looking new opportunities with my list of “conditions”. Those were the pre-Covid days and here they went:
- I was not prepared to do Indian work timings 😉 (8 a.m. – 12 midnight or more)
- I wanted a nice job in only my area of expertise, Information security 🙂
- I wanted to grow…
- I wanted my work to have timings between 9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.(yes, my kids were decently grown – but I am a “helicopter mom” and I have to know what they are doing!! :))
- I preferred “work from home” but did not wish it entirely
- I did not wish to do 2 hrs/one way commute in Bangalore traffic
Now, these were my main conditions and even living in the heart of India’s Silicon valley did not get me a job that met my conditions. I went for interviews and many said that they started their work only at 4:00 p.m. !!! 🙁 Another work location was located 30 kms away, one way and cab service was provided for coming back at 11 p.m. at night…but no, thank you…I was not at that stage of life…
Finally:
Finally, after hitting against a brick wall for almost 7-8 months and no positive leads, I noticed a nice company ad popping up on my LinkedIn feed. It was an InfoSec training company offering certification help for all CISSP, CCSP aspirants. It was a fledgling startup and I liked all what I saw. I was a CISSP girl even though I have not got the certification and cannot get it either! 🙂 Anyways, once I see Information security anywhere, my eyes start glowing… and I wanted to join the company right away… 🙂
I applied and I applied and finally, I got a start there. Maybe, the important points that differentiated it from different companies were the following: These tips will surely help many in their entrepreneurial journey:
1. Now, as I have written many times earlier, the CEO who starts a company in India has to be young or rather very young! 🙂 With a young CEO and a strong loyal team, thoughts will surely bubble away… 🙂
2. Now most CEOs are managerial and leave all the technical things to all their employees. But this CEO was different. He was the tech person himself!! He did not need to ask his tech team to conduct interviews and all. He could do it easily and guage and judge a person’s tech skills!! 🙂 And not one error in tech will skip his eyes…
2. Most job descriptions from this company said “Work from home” and these were pre-Covid times which was probably the smartest strategy ever for an innocent startup. We have all the tech advancements for anybody to coordinate and work – why invest in unnecessary office space?
3. The trainers in the company were the only employees who were moving and delivering the training at various organizations. This again, was a very smart move for any company.
4. During my initial assessment, I was also asked if I worked elsewhere and I replied in the negative. Maybe the most interesting part about this company was that I could work elsewhere and I could work with them too!! (yes…when I heard this first, I was totally puzzled as well) I had always been associated with companies who wanted total employee loyalty and here I was encouraged to work else where too!! 🙂 🙂
This again, is a smart strategy for a startup to thrive and grow.
With all the points mentioned, you might be wondering if the company survived the pandemic. I think they did…what was their success mantra?
- Keep it small
- Think smart
- Have a nice and loyal team
- And flex the financial muscle only according to each one’s capacity. We all see our competitors, but we cannot do all what they do.
Dedicated to the person who is making a positive difference in many people’s lives and who thought smart!!
This post is the fourth post for Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.
Very well penned Jayanthi. Quite a keen observation and insight writing.
Definitely, young CEO’s think pragmatically. Also they are more excited to start up something new, they might not have many other responsibilities so they are ready to take up more risks. I liked this post to understand how to begin an entrepreneurial journey and how to sustain in tough times.
I feel its less to do with young or old…its just that who is updated and aware about the issues that a normal faces on a day to day basis and wants to make it a employee friendly company first before making it customer centric. Nice observations. Great post. Keep them coming.
#MyFriendAlexa #ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
Good observations specially for one starting entrepreneurial journey or looking for job in specific conditions.
Observing and considering employee needs and requirements certainly gives an extra added edge to one who is applying.
A lot of insightful observations there about the conatantly evolving new normal even in work culture
Very nice post. Well-written and points that you have covered are good. I being a new entrepreneur this post is of great help. Thanks for sharing.
That’s a cool company with a super cool CEO.I also feel that unnecessary cost cutting and taking calculated risk will help small companies to survive.
Very nice post. Well-written and you have captured very good points. I being an entrepreneur this post is of great help for me. Thanks for sharing.
Really, really smart strategies. A big shift in the usual thought paradigm actually.
Yes, you struggle but achieved. Stay positive!! The points you shared are practical and doable.
Some ironies make up life.
No wonder smart strategies and great observations too. The post is surely going to help many especially the new entrepreneurs.
Good observations about the company and I am sure they are doing well despite the pandemic. All the best on your future endeavours. I visited your blog for the first time, thanks to MFA, must say that your content is very interesting. Keep writing :).
As someone who also has limitations and looking to monetize her art work and blog, I could totally relate to the first half of your blog. Thanks for sharing these tips. I too am surprised to know that there are organization that let their employees work in multiple jobs… That’s super amazing…
Indian work times are amazing isn’t it.. karm kiye jao fal ki chinta mat karo!!!
Wow..this sounds such a cushy job..work from home and work for another company as well. I wish I cud get something like this Jayanthi 🙂
I can totally relate to the first part of your post…and I am glad you got your wish fulfilled. Hopefully Indian companies evolve to meet the changing needs. I see so many educated professionals unable to get back after a break due to timing and mandatory travel requisites in a job!
We are so similar buddy can relate every bit
Working that way is a wish for msny of us .. helicopter moms or not ! I need time for myself and 48 hrs / wk as in my profession hardly leaves time for self and family.
Good to know about your CEO who was ahead of his time ! Are you still with them ?
Yes 🙂 🙂
I learnt something new from your post today, Jayanthi. Insightful read.
You were smart enough to get a job you felt is ideal for you. Wishing you all the success well penned.
Very well written… This post is very insightful.. There is a lot to learn for sure…
I love the list of work rules you have.I too have similar ones.Its the only way maintain health and wellbeing
You have shared a great list of work rules. Very insightful post.
I loved this write up . very beautifully explained. I am surely gonna implement few #Myfriendalexa #Hemareads
My husband works in Enterprise Cloud solution services and he meets various Indian startups on a regular basis. His observation is almost similar for young entrepreneurs, very well narrated post.
Why the leaders in the Indian IT space like TCS Infosys still insist on working from office, even in the times of pandemic is just beyond me. It’s so awesome that the young ceo of a small company understood the efficient use of technology in a technology based firm early on. Great post.
This is exactly how I find Blogchatter as a company to work with except the fact that they allow e work elsewhere too. But love he scenario and the factor that I can grow my own blog along.
I really liked the pointers you have shared !!