Qualcomm had called for applications for summer internships. Just like every other blind trial, I put in mine too. It's called "Cheekatlo banam" in Telugu. :) And as days passed, got busy with other things... assignments, SE and so on. Suddenly, one day, a mail popped up in my mail box that I was shortlisted for interview. It came at a time when I almost forgot that I had applied for the interview. The D-day(as it was my first) was scheduled to be the 10th of March. From the 6th itself, there was an unknown and uncontrollable shiver going down my spine every time I looked at the mail in my inbox while going through the other mails. It was an interview and I had to prepare for it.
My little and incomplete knowledge of what an interview meant, and especially the stories I heard from friends helped me get my ass to be more stable and start preparing for it. But, going by reality, the mind was more powerful than the conscience. And as it happens for every exam, I began to study with the least amount of dedication and the maximum reluctance. I searched for Qualcomm on Google and what the hell !!! an ECE company??! had no words. Was I working hard to get an intern in an ECE company? Of what use will I be to them? Why will they take me? What about Image Processing? What is the use of preparing for this interview? And infact what should I prepare? were some of the many damning questions that struck my head. The newspaper on my desk read "Better Half: Ex-wife Katherine strangles Cameron's Oscar Bid". And I need not mention explicitly the latter half. I was going through with the second CD of the ceremony when, this guy, Vignesh pinged me -"What about your preparation? What are you doing?" :( I put away with him that I would watch for just 10 min and get back to my preparation. The three parts were over and I realized that it was 9PM 9th March. With the deepest regret, I opened my mails to find another most pacifying note that the interviews were postponed to 12th March. Yes. This was indeed consoling. I decided to prepare hard atleast for the next two days.
Studying is one of the toughest jobs for a student of my nature. Food and bed are two things in my life that get the maximum priority though I donot wish to go by them. A nap daily after lunch and the best food are two things I never manage to miss. Along with all this, I continued my preparation. I started with C, went on to DS and slowly went on to DBMS. I realized that I knew everything but could remember nothing. I had to redo all the syllabus taught. Infact, the worst of doubts spring up during exams. All sorts of strange doubts, loads of material to revise and friends wishing good luck for the interview, all went hand in hand. And ofcourse, I should not forget to mention those guys who really gave that moral support - Srinu, Vignesh, Abhishek. It was great. They were giving me tips on what to prepare and how to do so. Thanks to all of them!
It was 11th night and all my friends decided to go for a party. And as I mentioned, I cannot forgo food for anything. I attended the party, and as a matter of fact, the party also helped me a lot. Learnt many things as to what can be asked and so on. Kudos to the hosts.. It was a grand and nice one. I came back and realized that I didnot have a proper dress for the next day.It took time and struggle to arrange one formal pair. Arranging everything, I cotinued to prepare, but this time, with more vigour and concentration. Picking each subject, one after the other, went through the best I knew from that. Each topic seemed new, couldnot remember what I had learnt before, infact just 3 months before. Google helped me a lot! It became 12 AM and my battery came down! Had to sleep. But, that night, I could not sleep. A wide variety of thoughts and questions struck me. What if I am asked this? What are my interests? My goals? My achievements? My drawbacks? and so on... Finally, managed to sleep.
It was a great experience to work for that interview. A great revelation, I decided to start for my placements at the earliest. It takes a great amount of time to revise and revisit all that was learnt and infact "FORGOTTEN". I resolved to work from then itself for the placements later this year. But as I had mentioned before, I did not start till now. :P
