The Broken Spectacle
Manav works in a tele-marketing firm. He has to sell credit cards to customers. For ten thousand rupees a month, he has to listen to ten thousand abuses and slangs. And that, ten thousand bucks is inclusive of the incentives. And the incentives can be pocketed only if he achieves his sales target. The sales target is five credit cards a day which is a mammoth task to achieve. There are days when achieving two sales a day becomes so difficult. Manav is not all happy with his job profile. He wants to quit. Working as a tele-sales executive has its own hazards. Manav is often bashed by his manager when he fails to meet targets. On top of it, the irate customers abuse him back when they learn that he is pushing them to purchase credit cards! He has been working at Easy Credit Ltd. for one year now. The leaves are limited. Manav cannot apply for a leave when he needs it. Even if he is ill, he has to drag his feet to office. There is only one weekly off that too not fixed, on a Sunday, unlike other decent jobs offer. And the worst, if Manav fails to give sales, the salary credited is only eight thousand. The two thousand bucks goes for a toss! Being glued to his chair for nine long hours with headphones paining his ears is a punishment. No social life. The single day he gets an off slips away sleeping like a log. No, he must quit.
It was the month of May. That particular month, there was an advertisement in the career section of the English daily Manav reads. An interview date published for an MIS executive post. Manav is good in excel. Compiling data, application of formulas and presenting the team report before the management. Going through the job offer Manav thought, "I must walk in for the interview. But how?" If he attends office he cannot make for the interview. It's not possible to be present at two places at the same time. But he made up his mind. He must grab the job. Better salary and also job satisfaction. But it's not an easy task to convince his manager for a leave application. What the hell! How shall he manage the manager! Mr. Manager, will not agree, that's for sure. Moreover, for the last two weeks Manav failed to give the required credit card sales. And a leave at this juncture is not credible. Taking a sick leave won't hold water. None of the reasons seemed right for Manav. But he cannot afford to miss the interview either. This is a lifetime opportunity. Take it or leave it situation for Manav.
Manav's manager is a man of principles. He hates absenteeism and late comers. But come what may, Manav decided to bunk office on the interview day. That is, the coming Monday at 10am sharp. Manav decided to keep his cell phone switched off that whole day.
The Monday morning finally came. Manav walked in at the interview venue, smartly attired and looking confident. The interview was a long process. First a written test assessing Manav's English, mathematical and reasoning skills. Within 30 minutes, he has to complete answering 90 questions. He cleared the written round. The next round was a technical one. It consisted of questions on his current job profile and the application tools he used. And an excel proficiency test. Finally, Manav went up for the managerial round. He was told by the HR manager, "Congratulations, you have cleared the previous rounds. The result of this round shall be analyzed taking into account all aspects of the role that you have applied for. For the time being, you shall be kept on hold. If we feel you have the right expertise, we will get back to you in a week's time. Thank you and best of luck." Manav left for the day.
Here at Easy Credit, Manav's manager was trying his number. Whenever he is calling, there was no response. Only three beeps and the line disconnects. Actually, this happens when one's cell number has a missed call alert service activated. "Damn it," said Manav's manager. Manav is now apprehensive. He is not sure whether he shall be finally selected for an MIS position. Whatever it is, he has to face the music tomorrow at office. Anyway, Tuesday morning Manav walked into his office. He reached fifteen minutes earlier than the usual log in time. First he must go for a smoke. That will steady his nerve a bit. He was at the smoking zone when Navin, his colleague told him that the big boss is mad at Manav. Navin said, "Since you were absent yesterday, you have been marked ULP." ULP is unscheduled leave penalty.
Being on ULP is a grave concern for an employee. It implies no work, no pay. Loss of incentives for that month, even if Manav meet the sales target, he shall get a file note against him. Manav is totally in a blank now. However he walked down to his cubicle and logged in. Within a couple of minutes, Manav was asked to meet his manager at his cabin. Manav thought, "Oh god! What excuse shall I do?" Manav knocked at the manager's cabin. "Come in," the manager's voice boomed. Manav went inside. He gave Manav a hard look. The manager came straight to the point. "Look, Manav, you were on ULP yesterday. I hope you know the pros and cons of it. Rather the cons of it! I am extremely annoyed with you. How could you be so irresponsible?" And the tirade continued. By this time, Manav had thought of an excuse for yesterday's absence. This time the manager shouted, "Why were you on leave yesterday?" Manav mustering enough courage said, "I am extremely sorry sir, but yesterday my spectacles were broken." Looking very innocent and in a repentant voice, Manav continued, "Trust me sir, I have only one pair of glasses and it broke. I am totally helpless without my glasses. I had to sit the whole day at the optician to replace my broken glasses so that I can resume office today."
Still distrust on his face, the manager asked, "How come you didn't give me a call? Now the manager was watching Manav very closely. Manav in a genuine apologetic tone said, "Sorry sir, actually I left my cell phone at home in a pandemonium. And it was switched off. I generally switch it off at night. You know I don't have a landline connection at home." Now this is the only grain of truth that Manav have spoken till now! Manav continued saying, "I don't remember any of the office numbers, otherwise I would have definitely informed you. The office numbers were saved in my phone book." Manav's extremely innocent countenance and pleading made the manager melt. He said, "Ok Manav, you are lucky this time. But don't repeat this again. And get yourself an extra pair of glasses." He asked Manav to log in immediately without wasting anymore time.
Manav quietly walked out of the cabin. A pair of broken glasses did save him that day! He felt relieved. After about fifteen days, an HR executive called Manav and confirmed him that he has been selected for the post of an MIS executive. Manav quit tele-marketing!
It was the month of May. That particular month, there was an advertisement in the career section of the English daily Manav reads. An interview date published for an MIS executive post. Manav is good in excel. Compiling data, application of formulas and presenting the team report before the management. Going through the job offer Manav thought, "I must walk in for the interview. But how?" If he attends office he cannot make for the interview. It's not possible to be present at two places at the same time. But he made up his mind. He must grab the job. Better salary and also job satisfaction. But it's not an easy task to convince his manager for a leave application. What the hell! How shall he manage the manager! Mr. Manager, will not agree, that's for sure. Moreover, for the last two weeks Manav failed to give the required credit card sales. And a leave at this juncture is not credible. Taking a sick leave won't hold water. None of the reasons seemed right for Manav. But he cannot afford to miss the interview either. This is a lifetime opportunity. Take it or leave it situation for Manav.
Manav's manager is a man of principles. He hates absenteeism and late comers. But come what may, Manav decided to bunk office on the interview day. That is, the coming Monday at 10am sharp. Manav decided to keep his cell phone switched off that whole day.
The Monday morning finally came. Manav walked in at the interview venue, smartly attired and looking confident. The interview was a long process. First a written test assessing Manav's English, mathematical and reasoning skills. Within 30 minutes, he has to complete answering 90 questions. He cleared the written round. The next round was a technical one. It consisted of questions on his current job profile and the application tools he used. And an excel proficiency test. Finally, Manav went up for the managerial round. He was told by the HR manager, "Congratulations, you have cleared the previous rounds. The result of this round shall be analyzed taking into account all aspects of the role that you have applied for. For the time being, you shall be kept on hold. If we feel you have the right expertise, we will get back to you in a week's time. Thank you and best of luck." Manav left for the day.
Here at Easy Credit, Manav's manager was trying his number. Whenever he is calling, there was no response. Only three beeps and the line disconnects. Actually, this happens when one's cell number has a missed call alert service activated. "Damn it," said Manav's manager. Manav is now apprehensive. He is not sure whether he shall be finally selected for an MIS position. Whatever it is, he has to face the music tomorrow at office. Anyway, Tuesday morning Manav walked into his office. He reached fifteen minutes earlier than the usual log in time. First he must go for a smoke. That will steady his nerve a bit. He was at the smoking zone when Navin, his colleague told him that the big boss is mad at Manav. Navin said, "Since you were absent yesterday, you have been marked ULP." ULP is unscheduled leave penalty.
Being on ULP is a grave concern for an employee. It implies no work, no pay. Loss of incentives for that month, even if Manav meet the sales target, he shall get a file note against him. Manav is totally in a blank now. However he walked down to his cubicle and logged in. Within a couple of minutes, Manav was asked to meet his manager at his cabin. Manav thought, "Oh god! What excuse shall I do?" Manav knocked at the manager's cabin. "Come in," the manager's voice boomed. Manav went inside. He gave Manav a hard look. The manager came straight to the point. "Look, Manav, you were on ULP yesterday. I hope you know the pros and cons of it. Rather the cons of it! I am extremely annoyed with you. How could you be so irresponsible?" And the tirade continued. By this time, Manav had thought of an excuse for yesterday's absence. This time the manager shouted, "Why were you on leave yesterday?" Manav mustering enough courage said, "I am extremely sorry sir, but yesterday my spectacles were broken." Looking very innocent and in a repentant voice, Manav continued, "Trust me sir, I have only one pair of glasses and it broke. I am totally helpless without my glasses. I had to sit the whole day at the optician to replace my broken glasses so that I can resume office today."
Still distrust on his face, the manager asked, "How come you didn't give me a call? Now the manager was watching Manav very closely. Manav in a genuine apologetic tone said, "Sorry sir, actually I left my cell phone at home in a pandemonium. And it was switched off. I generally switch it off at night. You know I don't have a landline connection at home." Now this is the only grain of truth that Manav have spoken till now! Manav continued saying, "I don't remember any of the office numbers, otherwise I would have definitely informed you. The office numbers were saved in my phone book." Manav's extremely innocent countenance and pleading made the manager melt. He said, "Ok Manav, you are lucky this time. But don't repeat this again. And get yourself an extra pair of glasses." He asked Manav to log in immediately without wasting anymore time.
Manav quietly walked out of the cabin. A pair of broken glasses did save him that day! He felt relieved. After about fifteen days, an HR executive called Manav and confirmed him that he has been selected for the post of an MIS executive. Manav quit tele-marketing!
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