How did I get my first job? Luck or Hard work?

This is a story around early 2007.

It was placement season and top textile companies were scheduled to visit our engineering college. Each student wanted to get into a big firm. Salary was obviously a factor but reputation of the firm was even more of a reason to choose a company those days.

Amongst the top few names was Vardhman Textiles Limited – the Ludhiana headquartered textile conglomerate owned by the famous Oswal brothers.

They were recruiting from all over northern India and the company was mainly a Cotton-based yarn and fabric exporter.

Being in top students, I got an opportunity for an interview. They asked me a few questions which I was able to smoothly answer but then they asked me about my summer internship – which I had done with Raymonds (a Wool-based textile conglomerate in Maharashtra). I knew this was a mismatch and I wouldn't be selected. And that is exactly what happened. When the final list came out my name was not there.

I was disappointed as I had high hopes of working for this group and had worked hard all my years in engineering. After the interview, I reached out to the CEO (of one of the manufacturing plants) who was there in the interview panel. He was also the alumni for our institute. I asked him why did my candidature fail? What was the main reason? He mentioned my internship was the main hurdle in convincing the interview panel to take me as my experience in wool was completely different from the set-up they have of Cotton. I came back dejected to my hostel room.

After the interview process, that alumni later in the evening came to our hostel to revisit his memories of the college. He sat in the big hall in the hostel surrounded by all members of the final year. I was still in my room. He asked them ''Was there any candidate who was deserving but did not get through?'' Many of the students took my name. He called me into the hall and as I reached he shook hands with me and telephoned the placement in-charge to include my name in the selected candidates. I was shocked. Is this happening for real? He assured me – yes it was. I had gotten selected to a company of my choice and liking.

I realized – some of the best things in life are not planned. They come as a gift to you.

You get luckier the harder you work.

What's your interesting story?