@ CLIENT INTERFACING - Dream Role for Placements@

" What are the oppurtunities for Client Interfacing Roles in your company?" - A question which every IT company gives diplomatic answer. I had similar expectation with my job, I only want client interfacing roles, its THE role for MBA, rest all are :-(. MBA's are smart, see how - big companies wont give you D role, so you pick up small companies which is growing. I chased one such company n the story never ended there.....

My trip to himalayas n other scenic places across country was cut short by call from HR, join us ASAP. I land up without any clue of whats in store for me. First hour in office and your senior hands you a large manual size of Oxford dictionary, haaah I can run thru it (MBA fundas), was my thought. Then came the jolt from blue, you will present our case with the CLIENT in the evening call. My joy knew no bounds the coveted interaction was just hours away. I use my MBA ka funda n get ready for the session with client.

I had no one to lean on in the call, first words from client " Hi, this is connie ". My interaction with client got off to a fine start. What else do you want, B-School grad speaking to client on a daily basis, not just talk you discuss things. Communication skills from college boost your confidence about HANDLING the CLIENT.

You get moved into multiple roles, triat of D role." Delivery Lead Offshore " for one part of the project, waaah kya baath hai. The perils of my D role show up, slowly one at a time, entertaining u at times and annoying most of the times. The client doesn't approve your plan first, it thinks we are lying around, so your plan is shrinked ( literal meaning). You try to negotiate the LoE (payment) for your efforts, you have a shocker its halfed without debate and rest is chopped after repeated brain storming. You realize how smart your client, they come up with innovative ways of pushing things on to your plate for the same WAGE.

Still your MBA has taught you, when chips are down, hang in there. Our whole team slogs to meet the fast approaching deadline, a month passes n we have no clue what we made. Day of testing your s/w - IR's pur in like monsoon in Mumbai. You end up running from team to team to fix them all. Your communication skills are a gr8 help during this. No one is as seriuos as you are on the job, reason : You are the only one who faces the CLIENT. Your manager is more than happy if you resolve the issue, without troubling him. You double up as tester/ DBA what not to bring out results( traits of D role). Hourly status calls,clients expects miracles when you dont have one. CLIENT is the last thing you want to hear, forget interact with.

Slogging sessions continue for days. Work begins at Morning IST as a regular employee n ends at Evening EST like a call centre employee:-), again thanks to B-School for the stamina. The day for delivery is 4 days away, what a pain in the back - CLIENT. Was the D role really worth it? Did I make the right choice, when most of my friends are in training and living Life.
I see a ping msg from client at 4:24 AM " Sundeep are u there?" , I dont respond for a while " Sir - I need quick answers , I cant keep waiting" .....as I collect my thoughts and my perception of D role is back.

One more challenge to face ....... Never say die attitude, One desire to beat the CLIENT professionally atleast once.