MY JOURNEY IN THE VERY BEGINNING

It was in the year 2006 when I am still pursuing my final year BHM, when I was appearing for my first interview. It was one of the reputed and finest hotels in Chennai Le Meridien who had called for the campus interviews in their Hotel banquets. My placement manager had put up a poster about the same which my eyes dint sees until I found my friends were preparing for the interviews.

I was very late in the preparation and I rushed to the browsing center to get my CV prepared (in the year 2006 there is not any personal laptops). In a hurry I was typing my CV which dint go up more than a page and all my friends were having CV at least 2-3 pages along with plenty of certificates. (That time I realized that I had not utilized my time and skill efficiently by attending any symposiums or trainings). With heavy heart, I got my so called CV printed from the center and moved fast to the bus bay to take the college shuttle, the surprise saddened me by seeing 3 buses full of my friends who are seated in a very formal suits for the interview. I dint give up by their attire, I managed to get a seat at the last so that I can have some good time to prepare for my interviews ( actually it is my favorite place for a deep sleep).

All my friends are completely immersed in the preparation for the interviews and I was observing each and everyone and trying to be a silent spectator throughout the travel in the bus which was almost 90mins from college campus to reach the Hotel. The Management team was at the entrance of the Lobby giving us a warm welcome to their hotel and made necessary seating arrangements for towards the preparation for the interviews. I was astonished to see such a big banquet hall which has a seating capacity up to 1200 pax at a time and was questioning myself why they would block the entire banquet hall just only for 300 of us. The next surprise was revealed instantly as I started to think of this question, that is nothing but they have invited all top notch colleges from throughout the city which would reach up to 1000+ for the campus interviews.

It was very clear in mind that I was not prepared for the interviews and that too I was not confident to handle such a tough competition but still had a gut feelings that I would get through the interviews ( Just a gut feelings with no backend preparation though). When I know that all colleges in the city are participating then immediately, I expected that my friends from other colleges would also join and I was eagerly waiting for them to join. (in fact, I reserved 4 seats for them to be seated) In no time all the other colleges started to come one after the other and my friends too arrived and seated next to me.

When the whole hall was preparing for the interviews, I was chatting with my friends and passing comments of my fellow friends. Some time later, the HR administrator addressed to the crowd that there will 5 rounds of interviews held in which the first and second will be done today and the rest in the coming days. The interview pattern is as follows,

1.      Written test comprising of all 4 major departments of a Hotel (Front office, Housekeeping, Food and beverage production and Food & beverage service).

2.      Group discussion comprising of 20 candidates per session

3.      Prescreening interviews by the HR leads

4.      Departmental Heads interviews

5.      Final personal interviews with the HR Manager

Also, she mentioned that the selection process comprises of Management Training positions, Hotel Operational Trainees and Entry level.

As soon as she finished saying this, my friends started to gossip that the Management Trainee positions and Hotel Operational (MT’s and HOT’s) are usually filled up by the IHM Chennai and only the entry level positions will be grabbed by other college students. It gave me a shock and I asked them the reason for this which was never answered.

So, I made up my mind that I would be hired for a entry level only but in a reputed hotel in the town. This time my gut feelings was compromised by the fact that I do not belong to IHM. The HR administrator started to issue the question papers for the first written test. The question paper has total of 80 questions 20 from each department. It was an aptitude questions, so we do not need to really break our heads in overthinking or too much of writing. (at least aptitude gives us some luck in choosing the right answers). So, everyone started to fill the questions and so do I, the time given was 1 full hour to complete the test and to hand over the answer sheets.

I was very worried to see the question paper, expect Front office and Housekeeping I do not know an any answer for the F&B production or service. So, I started to fill the answers FO and HK as I know many of the answers and then followed by the F&B. out of the whole crowd, I was the first one to finish the written test in 25 – 30 minutes. So, I handed over the answer sheet to the administrator and walked out to wait for the others to finish the test.

I was having mixed feelings that I did the FO and HK questions very well but not the F&B and if they would hire a MT will they be looking for the overall score or individual departmental scores. But it was too late as I already handed over the answer sheet and no way, I can change my fate. So, I continued to wait for 45 minutes till the whole hall finishes the test.

The administrator told us to have a tea break so that they can correct all the answer sheets and can announce the names who cleared the first round of interview. So, we all moved slowly to enjoy the hospitality of the hotel by trying out almost all variety of teas and cookies placed in the buffet. It was a treat to my eyes and to my tummy. After the high tea we moved back to the banquet hall and continued to wait for the results.

The Administrator came inside with a clipboard along with some papers, so we all knew that it is the names of the first shortlisted candidates for the written test. So, she started to read out of the name of the Candidate and their college one after the other. The entire was in a pin drop silent and I can easily hear the heartbeat of not just mine but my friends too. The administrator was reading out the names only and not the position they are selected. So, I approached one of the waiting staff there and enquired about the same. The response enlightened me and gave a courage that there will be only names who cleared the written test will be announced and the positions selected will be told only at the final interview.

I sighed with relief and gathered all confidence within me and waited for my name to be announced. It was almost 1 hour she was reading out the names and making them to sit separately for the next interview. So almost lost my confidence again as none of my friends’ names were called and not mine too. So, I was convincing myself that the hotel has lost one of the most dedicated and talented staff to hire ( No other option other than thinking like this) Finally I hear the administrator announcing the most awaited name “KARTHIK”.

I was into deep shock to hear my name but within no time I realized that it was a dream cos there were more than 8 KARTHIK in the hall. So, we had asked for the college name, the administrator announced my college name which was not surprising to me cos there were 4 KARTHIK from my same college (Different batches and degrees). So finally, the administrator said it with my initial KARTHIK. P (First time I felt very happy to carry that initial P with me)

It was a big shock to my friends sitting next to me more than me when I announce my name. I took at least 5 minutes to react to it before walking up to her to be seated for the next interviews. I could not believe that I made it in the first round and moved to the second from more than 1200 candidates. It was a goose bump moment to me until now to walk in the crowd with a big smile on my face.

 -         TO BE CONTINUED -