Once an Infoscion, Always an Infoscion

5 January 2011 – Infosys came to our campus and selected a bunch of students for internship batch. We were super-elated and excited to enter the corporate world. We, the final semester students had been given the task to work with Infosys and submit the project in college by the end of that semester. 

GEC 2 - Mysore

31 January 2011 – We reached Infosys Mysore campus. As we entered the Infy arena through the main gate, our jaws dropped with the phenomenal beauty of Mysore campus. As we advanced through the green terrain of THE campus, the gigantic GEC 2 building came by our way. I thought to myself, “This must be a delegatory meeting office. I wish I get a chance to visit the 'monument' at least once during my stay here.” This enormous parliament-shaped building was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi. The very next day we were informed, we would have our classes in THAT very grand building. I need not explain the thrill that ran down my veins, hearing this.

The hostels were no less than some five star hotels. We were the blessed lots previledged to have got this Infosys Mysore training. The classroom sessions were grilling and of course fruitful. The exam result days used to be super heated ones. Some students used to manage an A grade always, that would amaze me throughout. I managed to cross this storm of tests and finally completed the project assigned to us.

Architecture at its best - Multiplex in Mysore campus

We went back to college, appeared for the final exam and presented our respective projects in the practicals. After the completion of college, went back to our homes, where in few days we got another call to Mysore campus for ILI trainings.

25 July 2011 – We reached Mysore campus. Attended these trainings for few days and finally got our postings across the DC's. I got a posting to Bhubaneswar. That was not my first choice. Nevertheless I packed up and got ready for a new journey.

29 August 2011 – Landed Bhubaneswar. We had got a week long accommodation in the campus guest house, equipped with facilities. We were to meet our unit heads by 10 am. I along with others in my unit, got ready and went to the building we were called. We had a short induction by our SPM and were allocated different projects and teams. I got my cubicle allocated with my manager sitting in the very next cubicle. This was disappointing for sure, but manageable.

Team outing from Bhubaneswar to Gopalpur sea beach

I had to work for Amex account which has a lion's share in the revenue of Infosys. I was given a couple of forms like non-disclosure agreement and work station agreement to sign, scan and submit to my manager. Some more similar formalities that I do not remember. Next few days I got busy attending some unnecessary Amex trainings which I really hated, but had to complete as a part of getting on-boarded.

11 September 2011- We had a unit outing to Puri sea beach. I was not acquainted with many folks of our unit before that. But this outing for sure got me some great friends!

A team outing in Bhubaneswar

For around a month I attended KT and project training and hence my work kicked off. Bhubaneswar has a hot weather. Outside office, the summers used to be unbearable. This was one and perhaps the only bad, I recollect from my stint in this place. The winters used to be short and pleasant. The Infosys Bhubaneswar DC was a small one, compared to Bangalore and Pune. But I really liked it as the DC head count was just around 4k , which was quite small compared to 25K+ in the other big DC's. 
 

Volunteering Infy-driven Campus Connect programme

I worked on a middleware technology. I was placed in a support project, where our work used to revolve around tickets. We used to get some tickets with different severity, and were supposed to resolve them in the stipulated time. During my stay at Bhubaneswar, I got two wonderful teams to work with. One was my team that taught me the middleware technology and the other was the one where I brought this middleware project for support. Learnt a lot about work and life. Each and every member of the teams I met, left something or the other for me to learn. The managers were great, quite approachable.

Enjoying Cycling in the beautiful Infy campus

In an Amex support project one needs to resolve the issues encountered in live card transactions. The support timelines are strictly followed 24 X 7. The support person on shift is required to remain on-the-toes all the time. I spent a long time in this project with wonderful team-mates that were very cooperative. But after a span I realised the need to change my portfolio to coding and development. For this matter I arranged multiple meetings with my manager, but all in vain. The manager always had a reason to postpone my release from this project. He was probably bound in some protocols which he had to abide. So excused from my end :) !

After an experience of about 2.5 years I got a middleware development project in Bangalore. My manager agreed to my release and approved my transfer. These months in Bhubaneswar were definitely enriching that helped me getting transformed to a new level. But a lot more was yet in line for me, probably waiting at my new destination. The beautiful time with ups and downs had come to an end, leaving memories I would cherish always.

30 November 2013 – Landed Bangalore. Another chapter began. Joined the development team with whom I sometimes used to interact while at Bhubaneswar in the support project. It was the same extended team, but with the coding portfolio. Learnt different coding aspects and SDLC. I do not want to make this look like a CV, so would not elaborate my work and professional learnings here :) .

\This one was a huge team with around 40 members. It was a different experience altogether. The leads, both at offshore as well as at on-site were brilliant and great to work with. Many in the team were the south Indians who were great to be friends with. Team spirit was high and commendable.

We once also went to a resort nearby and had a hell of fun. We had games, lunch and different team building activities. It was a day long trip and everyone enjoyed to the core.

But within this year many folks left Infy as they had other plans for their future. At the same time we had new folks joining us. It was a great experience seeing freshers catching up with an awesome pace and becoming at par with the seniors in many aspects. Learning from the less experienced too has a different flavour and has its own charm.

Towards the end of the year we had a new team built within the existing team. I was part of it. This team was called 'Loyalty', as it dealt with Loyalty Rewards and Recognition processes of Amex. With around five folks we worked and played together. It was again enriching and worth cherishing. I would definitely miss the team and my best of wishes are always there with them. 

Ethnic Day celebrated with Bangalore team

It's time now to say bye.

But the byes are always good, as they mean there is always a good chance to meet again, some time, with new thoughts and ideas. Infosys, my first company has given me a lot. As they say, once an Infoscion, always an Infoscion. And I am proudly going out with the essence of perseverance and quality, that Infosys has taught me.

It feels nostalgic, at the same time exciting, as a new world is waiting with doors wide open.

Signing Off,

Rashi

LWD in Infosys – 24 December 2014.