At times, i quietly peep into my past life and try to realize the way things have changed for me. It was very tough for a fresh bcom graduate with CCNA certification to get a networking job. Oops..let me give you a background of my networking interest..I was undergoing a course from GNIIT and in my first semester, i had a subject called Networking Essentials, I was not a programming savvy guy and NETESS was a pleasant change in my curriculum, i was thrilled to know a different world of networks and that moment, i decided that i would like to pursue networks rather than programming. It proved to me a very tough decision as there was no one to guide me towards pursuing my new career, there was a very striking incident which happened during those days, which i still narrate to my folks..I was in my 2nd semester and I was trying to know about networks..one day i questioned my faculty regarding "Cisco"..you got to believe this ..He said "its a misprint" it should be "COSCO".. that's another story that after a year i was a CCNA and i met the same guy and showed him my certificate and told him..it was not COSCO..it was always"CISCO".. anyways..journey began from there..i was jubilant, excited and very passionate to achieve my goal of becoming a network engineer..reality check..it took me 24 interviews to get my first job..in the field of networking..i managed my money by working for citibank as Business Development Lead and my prime job was to sell personal loans to doctors..Coming back to my 25th interview..i got my first networking break in Utopia.Com..it was a small company with 20 employees and my prime job was to maintain computers and its network..trust me it was such an amazing feeling..while i touched a Cisco 800 Series router for the first time :)
Oops..i missed one more background story..while working for bank..i changed my job from citibank to Standard Chartered Bank and my new office was a dalhousie square..First day, while i entered bank..i checked with a guy regarding OBS department (Out Bound Sales)..the guy pointed me out to 1st floor..while moving towards stairs..i saw a room full of switches with green lights blinking and there was a guy sitting in midst of computers..someone told me that it was an IT room for bank..it was a mystical feeling ..i worked for six months in SC bank and every day, i use to pass through that IT room thinking...when i will get the chance to enter this room :(
well, i forgot to introduce my friend Nilkantha Lahiri...he is my best friend..i met him during my job interview at citibank and within couple of days at work..we became very good friends...NIL was a sales guy and had almost 4 years of experience in banking industry..Nil joined SC bank along with me and was very passionate about his work..He was aware that, i was not serious about the banking job and always wanted to be in networking field..I use to discuss lot about new things happening in the field of networking..although it was greek for him but he always showed interest in discussions and never made me feel that he was getting bored..I use to make him laugh like anything and very soon we realized that we became best friends..we went through tough times..while getting scolded by our team leaders for zero business..He always use to tell me that dont worry..one day you will sit in that IT room..
Nice one man! Life changes very quickly, now you are almost over with networking and into management :)
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