If a virtual internship is one where you interact with someone you will, in all probability, never meet, ShimBi Labs will be giving me a list! Stepping forth as planned, my first employee to be interviewed from ShimBi Labs was Mr. Kailash Chandra Kumawat, Director, Software Development (Earlier joined as employee).
I dialed his number with the excitement of conducting my first interview. A quiet voice met me on the other side of the phone. Little did I know I would have to poke deep to make him talk!
So, let me now unfold to you the life and persona of a software professional. This was an eye opener for me who made the call with many prejudices but had them all killed in 20 minutes. A native of Rajasthan, Mr. Kailash confessed he had always been in love with software. When nudged if he would agree if I tagged software as his first love, he relented with ease. Kailash sir had completed his Bachelors in Computer Science and pursued his MCA from IGNOU. He has joined ShimBi Labs in 2006 and it has been one steady, happy journey for him till date.
I know he had already confessed how much he loved software and how much this gave him content but I itched to know more and asked about his co-curricular interests. That is when I got to picture this virtual acquaintance to be a devoted hockey player all through his school and college life. Not just this, he had explored other sports such as table tennis and badminton too during his study durations. As would be obvious I pounced on him with my next question- don't you miss these now? He made no show of refusing. Yes I do, was his answer. The work schedule and responsibilities that always inevitably accompany adulthood has left him no time for the above however, he does make it a point to catch up with Cricket matches that are being broadcasted.
I had concluded from his gapped sentences and frequent airy laughs that he must be a reserved persona which he confirmed upon enquiry and my mind automatically screeched red “Tisha. Make. Speak”.
Like a pro, I lost no time in throwing a playful jibe and asked him if Siddharth’s choice to throw him in for interview was ‘notorious’. Ofcourse, like a pro, and like a true friend, he laughed my teasing away and I knew there was a grounded friendship between the two.
This tech savvy Director of Software Development department confessed to not be active on social media platforms although his software love has resulted in many apps and websites. He expressed his love for the serene life and an utter dislike to the loud blares of the city life and parties. I dug deeper on his quote about loving the serene life and he unfolded how most of his family are engaged in agriculture and immense joy he gets with each visit to his village. Kailash sir proclaimed his love for travelling with his pin interest being on places of historic importance or relics. This love he reverted to his above mentioned love for the quiet and the serene, mingled with the curiosity of the quiet past.
His role as the director of software department was shed when I asked about his family. There was a sudden surge of excitement and eagerness of a father to talk about his little ones. Father to two, Kailash sir spoke spiritedly about his 6 year old son and 3 months old daughter who brighten up his spirits when he's home from work. As the conversation turned to his wife, he initially referred to her through her pet name and corrected it to give me her full name- Snehalatha. The following informations are open to be read between lines though I would choose not to. It so happens that they both are from the same village and even share the same compound wall! Before I could throw in my vicious jibes, he broke into a laughter as though to say ‘ don't sweat it. It's not what you think it is’. He stressed on how it was all arranged and I, amidst biting giggles agreed to believe whatever I was told.
The questions again reverted to ShimBi Labs and he tells me how back in 2006 he had struggled on his first international project with some Japanese company and how the language barrier caused a sweat or two. From then, he today can understand spoken Japanese. I asked him to site to me what makes ShimBi Labs so different from others and he narrated the practice of work holidays once every two months where the employees all hang out either outdoors or play games. This definitely did break through one of my set prejudices of how robotic tech life can be. Kailash sir proved his answer through his own experience. He told that good friendships and cordial relationships at work mingled with a good work culture get you through even the toughest work pressure. This was something he was proud of at ShimBi Labs. His own steps to development were met with encouragement by Siddharth and the thick set friendship was again reflect in his untold words.
It did come as an impressive surprise to me that there indeed was a balance of work and fun in a technical firm. ShimBi Labs is a sound example of that. He explained the routine and regular meeting held once every 15 days to work on the company's 5-year plans, he spoke about each intern at ShimBi Labs being assigned a mentor to be watched over, he spoke about mistakes by apprentices being met with corrections and a positive spirit for improvement and about the healthy work atmosphere that ShimBi Labs offers. These suddenly left me reflecting if ever I have to work in the tech field, I would want to work for a company like ShimBi Labs.
As the interview came to an end he seemed to be more free. I do not know if the sudden happiness was a reflection of the interview coming to an end for this introvert Director of Software Development. I do not know for whom all this article breaks set prejudices. I do know it did for me. And I do know my first interview was made a good experience and I thank Kailash sir for bearing with me.
Ps: the saga continues...