The making of an Indian IT professional

In the past decade, the Indian IT world opened its door to aspirants from all walks of life. Even well settled 'babus' from the public organization were lured to the call of IT. My attention this week though is on the young wannabes...who pass out of different disciplines across India with a single minded focus to land a plum job in this field. These are well informed, highly motivated Gen 'Y' folks with a rock solid determination to get what they want...and many do. I remember interviewing a young pass out with dream in his eyes trying to convince me why he should get the job. He told me that he is the son of a very poor farmer and he was the only graduate in his family (Engineering to boot) and currently sharing a one room shanty with his brother-in-law. He had faltering English but he assured me that he is polishing his linguistic skills by religiously watching CNN and BBC. He went on to explain how he would be of value to the organization...his zeal and confidence landed him in the coveted job he was after. There are numerous such examples..but one thread I found amongst all these aspirants is that they come with a one dimensional view about the IT world ...More about this in my next blog..Till such time...

Musings...The decades gone by...

Some stray thoughts... being part of the IT industry for last two decades I have had the opportunity to have a ring side view of a world metamorphosing in front of my eyes. When I entered the IT field two decades back very few people knew the world of computers existed and even fewer people believed that a career can be made sitting in front of a monitor...back in those days, anything to do with computers meant that you are one of those geeky, day dreaming creative guys punching yourself to glory...

Over the next few years as the 'computer fad' caught on...the middle class young college grads in India realized that one can make more moolah in one year in the IT industry than his dad earned in his life time in the conventional industry...as the herd mentality caught on, the local dream merchants started dishing out the right menus ..IT training courses to prepare you for earning millions in SAP..Recruitment companies to get you that dream positions in dreamier companies ... travel agents to service your travel needs...builders enticing you with that dream house ..marriage brokers with those "For me!" kind of beautiful girls ... and the list continued..

As the Y2K era dawned... many Indians found themselves all over the world either by accident or by design..making their dad proud (a guy whom his dad had written off as a bum) ...the 'foreign' bug was so bad that any opportunity to go abroad was not to be missed even if it meant cheating your employer...I remember an incidence ...when a guy took a month's vacation (sick leave) from his employer and travelled abroad ...helped by a 'body shopper' to do a project in Europe .. eventually found and thrown out..

Over the last several years, the 'new age' Indian 'having been there done that' attitude are returning home either out of choice or compulsion...Having seen both the worlds and with enough experience packed under their belts they are either occupying key decision making positions in various IT organizations or or rolling up their sleeves to create something that they believe is the right way or doing something to 'give back to the society'...

This short prelude will help me to link my future blog articles on the want/ needs and must haves of the new-age IT Indian. Till such time ...