How was my training period as Programmer Analyst Trainee at Cognizant!

Location: A hotel in Manali

Date: 28 June, 2015 12:35 am

*over the phone*

Sister: "Hey when you guys gonna be back from your heavenly Kashmir trip?"

Me: "We will take the train by tomorrow morning and reach Kolkata by 30th evening, probably."

Sister: "That's great! By the way, did you get call from Cognizant?"

Me: "I don't think they will summon me before the Durga Puja."

Sister: "Wait, let me check your mail."

*puts phone on hold and she checks my mailbox*

Sister: "WTF! You have got a mail! You have got a mail from CTS!! Woah! You have got Kolkata! Wait a second, hell noooo! You will have to join them by 30th morning!!!"

Me: "Are you kidding me!!!!"

I had multiple reactions after I disconnected the call, and cross checked my mail box:

a) I will have to book flights tickets right now to reach Kolkata on 30th morning.

b) Maybe I can drop, by showing some cause. Oh wait! If I don't get Kolkata again?

Woke up my parents, made my sister to fill out 17 forms over phone, booked flight tickets from Delhi to Kolkata, slept by 4 am in awe. Finally, on 30th morning I was there at Bantala Cognizant campus with a moderate volume of unknown faces!

Journey started at the Unitech building from the next day. Day 3 and 4 exams on C and SQL were disaster! Well, didn't expect much, since I lost my touch after the 3rd year of my graduation. Frankly, at the end of the first week, I didn't learn anything other than how the coffee machine at the cafeteria works! It was a bit tough to adjust initially, because I had to leave out working on my Youtube channel to join Cognizant.

From the B1 building, Cognizant Unitech.

People from ECE-EEE-etc definitely had massive doubts regarding how to clear these exams. Trust me, the topper from my batch was from ECE, and he didn't even know that SQL existed in this world before joining CTS. I repeat, he topped the SQL exam. Moral: Hard work can take you anywhere.

There were definitely some Chatur Ramalingam-s in our class, who loved mugging things up. They passed. Some Baba Ranchoddas-es, who definitely passed.

And then, there were also the backbenchers. They too passed, using the methods which they used to pass the college exams. And you aren't dumb enough to understand which METHODS am I pointing to! LOL. Moral: You are definitely gonna clear the exams within the 3 attempts. Keep calm!

I was tagged into Customized Java, Business Unit: Retail. For Java or DotNet, one has to clear C, SQL, Java or C#, Summitive exams. Finally, there's a project (MFRP) which you can do well, if you have basic knowledge in Servlets, JSP, and Database. Oops.. almost missed out. Also, there's a 3 hour class of Behavioural Training every week, which might put you into coma! Just kidding. But I will remember the behavioural trainer because every week he pulled me out of my comfort zone, threw on me some random questions, and no matter what I answer, he would reply at the end in his fake accent: "Baba, tumse na ho paega!" Phew. Those were some terrible days at the office.

Had there been an award for the most nuisance batch in the graduation day, definitely, KOL15CJ001 (our class) would have won it by miles. It would be difficult to name any sport that we didn't play inside the class. Dumb-charades, Counter Strike and Catch-the-ball, turned out to be our daily activity! Sshh. Can't go into details! Mentor manager will definitely kill me after reading this! How can I forget those birthday bashes! Add to that, regular treats from fellow classmates! Dear Freshers, this is the period which you are gonna enjoy the most! Cognizant is definitely fun, excluding the traffic jams on way to office! 

Our training got over on September 29th, and it's pretty fun being benched. We have been touring Kolkata day in and out! 

Teacher's Day!

They call us GOANS of CTS; coz we provide free entertainment!

Princep Ghat!

Eco Park!

Eco Park Returns!

Nicco Park!

And, guys, trust me, Kolkata looks totally different during the Durga Pujas! Check out some shots.

Panchami evening!

Shovabazar Rajbari

I like this pic!

Maa Durga

Kolkata's Big Ben

Message to those who are still waiting for DOJ: Have patience, the best days are yet to come!