Another dream job !

Mahindra Spicer was looking for Engineer trainees and I joined their Mumbai office. Here is where I learnt how much respect is given to Executives and how they are respected. One of the executives claimed the cab fare and the finance guy objected saying that the actual cost to that destination was less than that claimed and did not accept the executive’s claim of traffic jams. Our Senior Manager took it up seriously and the Finance guy was advised not to question the Executives. I love that, though I did not think that time, that even executives may try to cheat the system and claim more than actual. Finance guy was doing his work. Hence, I don’t find fault with him either.

During the first week of m appointment, suddenly I noticed lot of fun and commotion. A man sitting on the table was talking and others were listening to him and cheering. He was being treated as a hero. Then I realized, he was a Site Engineer, just returned from a site after 1 year of work. All the employees appreciate the site engineers as they lead a tough life in the sites.

Then, the executives were assigned complete work from getting the design/drawings approved by clients to identifying local contractors to the final installation. I did just that and realized how to get the signatures and stamps as required without wasting time. Yes, the ‘friendly’ attenders were always useful, when we give them money for ‘chai (coffee/tea)’

I was asked to report to Bhusawal Thermal Power station to execute Ash Handling Plant. I landed there and was provided with an apartment. Then I was expected to set up a site office and identify the local contractors to lay the slurry pipe line of few miles. The food was the major problem at site. Though I am not a great foodie, I can not forget how I longed to easy a full meal.

While I was busy with this, I got a call from India’s biggest Power generation company – Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Though I loved Mahindra Spicer, I thought I can do much better as BHEL does complete turn key projects of Power Generation and Ash handling was only a small part.

I packed my bags and reached Bangalore.