Now and then

'Now and then' is the title of a catchy UB40 song. 

'Now' in this post refers to 2009 while 'Then' can refer to any year in the late nineties. Let us compare the situation of an IT professional 'Now' and 'Then'    

Scene: Graduation day 

Then: I have applied for and got easily through 3 different companies who visited the campus. Which one should I pick? Which one offers the best perks (salaries are broadly in the same band)? 

Now: My seniors who appeared for campus placements and got one job each are yet to join. Their joining dates have already been put forward 4 times in the past year. This year no one has come to the campus yet (software companies that is). 

Scene: Joining date  

Then: Hope the training is as good as they claim. I am a bit put off because during the training period, we have to travel to a location outside the city. If I get a good offer towards the end of the training period, I will quit. I hear that company 'x' needs developers trained in technology 'y'. Wonder if the training in technology 'y' is good enough for me to jump jobs at the end of the training period. 

Now: I am very lucky to be joining today after a year of sitting at home. I wonder when my classmates will get the joining date communication. Any technology / domain will do as long as I am paid at the end of the month. 

Scene: End of a project 

Then: I have put in 6 long months on this maintenance project. Now I am going to demand for an onsite assignment.  I hear that it is cold and windy in Chicago around this time of the year. I will demand a posting in Florida in project 'y'.  My friend Vasu is already there. Should be a blast ! 

Now: Oh my God! I am released from the project. I hope I get allocated to a project  any project will do as long as I am billable and will be eligible for my variable pay. Last year they increased this component from 10% to 40%. 

Scene: Pay review 

Then: What is this? Only a 25% hike. If I float my resume today, I will get at least 10 offers before the week is out. I will get at least a 40-50% hike. Why bother discussing with my boss? I have already given 18 months to this organisation and is this what I get? 

Now: Good that they have reduced only one component of the pay. Three chaps in my account got the pink slip and they were in the high performance category last year.           

Scene: End of the year

 Then: I have saved 7500 dollars in the past year. That 6 month project in Florida was indeed good. This year I should try for longer onsite project and insist on H1 visa. I can easily get another job and ditch my company once I am in the US. L1 visa will not do. I think I will settle down in the US. The future is good….. 

Now: Why did I choose to specialise in computers? I should have opted for some other field instead. What made me apply for an H1 and decide to stay in the US? 

Wonder if there is any age limit for the bank's probationary officer's test......