This post should have been written around two months ago but due to my laziness, it has been delayed. But, I feel that it’s always better late than never so here it is. The coveted letter is the letter that I was supposed to receive from the company from where I did my final semester internship. It was a document stating that I had been involved with the company for 4 months and, that my performance was satisfactory. This wasn’t a big deal and it was a fairly small task to collect it, or so it seemed. For this post I will describe the events as they unfolded and at the same time put in some inputs that I had written when I was actually sitting and waiting for my letter to be handed over to me.
I had informed my superiors a few days in advance before I actually went to the company to collect my Internship Completion letter. I reached the company at around 10 am on a Monday and had expected to be back home for lunch with the letter, after having completed all the requisite formalities. Unfortunately, I was issued the letter at around 4 pm on Tuesday, which is actually food for thought as to why a simple, half page document should take so long.
When I met my superior on Monday morning to collect my letter, he told me to wait for a while as he would talk to HR and make sure everything was lined up for me when I went there. I got my reports signed after which I was asked to wait for a while so that the process could take place smoothly. It took a while for my seniors to issue a letter saying that I had worked in their department, and the process finally ended after Lunch on day 1. After that he talked to the HR department and told me to meet them after 5 minutes to finish off with the rest of the formalities.
When I met the HR people, I was asked to meet them after half an hour, which gave me some time to kill. After having a coffee and talking to some of my friends, I decided it was time to make my final goodbye and get the thing over with. I was handed a fairly long form and was asked to get no dues signed from different departments. Now, I was a “Non Stipendary Trainee”, which was drilled into my brain several times, and was not entitled to avail the functions of most of these departments so I felt it was quite redundant to go through this. I also learned that I was the last person to go through this process as it was being autmoated from the next day. Realising I had no other option, I decided to go through the motions and went to the various departments to get the document signed. Some departments posed no problems and things went smoothly. A couple of department personnel asked some weird questions. I was asked if I had a Visa on my passport due to company work, which was not something I expected to be asked as a trainee. The finance department didn’t even have a file with my record, and they were a little confused about why I was sent there.
Once this was over, I headed back to HR where I was asked to surrender my access card and sign in a couple of places. Now, my part was done and I just had to collect the letter. It was around 4 pm and the office continued to function till around 5:30, so I felt I could get things done on the same day with no serious hassles. While waiting for the letter to be printed, I was told that the computer which held the format for the same, was not functioning properly and that a complaint had been registered so it should be up and running soon. I waited for a while without my access card, which rendered me unable to open any doors within the company. While sitting outside, some thoughts crossed my mind which I had typed at that time :
“I honestly feel that every single process in this organization is inefficient, poorly managed and not well thought out. In a word it is unorganised. Since the day I joined as a trainee till the day I left, every single activity was pretty much a joke. I am honestly baffled by the amount of things that are poorly planned here and it is a wonder that this organization is able to survive in such a way. I am really relieved that I am not going to do an engineering related job in my life. I am quite sure I made the correct decision and whatever doubts I had have been washed away by this experience.”
I waited hoping to get the letter and when I went to enquire about the letter after half an hour I was told that the computer was not fixed and it was highly unlikely that it would be fixed that day. I was a little irritated but there wasn’t anything I could actually do so I asked them when I should come the next day to collect the same. I was told to meet them at around 10:30 and I was assured everything would be done by that time.
I reached the company at around 11 the next day, giving them half an hour extra and hoping against hope that I wouldn’t be made to wait that day. I was of course stopped at the gate because I no longer possessed my access card. So, it took a few minutes to go through the formalities and contact someone in HR to allow me to enter the organisation. Once that was done, I went in hoping to see some progress there and, as I had feared, the computer was still not fixed, and on seeing me there, they felt the need to get into action and lodge a complaint again. Resigned to fate, I had to wait outside wishing that things got over soon. There I had some more thoughts, which I wrote down :
“The irony of this situation is sickening. I think I finally figured out this expression. A computer engineer in an IT company is unable to get his work done because the computer is not working. The worst thing is that I really don't need the letter as I can manage without it and there shouldn’t be much of a hassle. Of course, I can't really tell HR this. I guess it will be the last thing that I will have to tell them before I leave today. There is no way I am returning tomorrow for this coveted letter.”
I made it a ritual to pester them every half an hour to ensure some progress was made so that I could leave the company as soon as I could. I realised at that time that in an IT company, the HR department rates quite low in the hierarchy for the IT department in case a problem arises. In the short time I had spent in the company as a trainee, whenever I needed something done on my machine, it would be done really quickly, and I felt I was at the bottom of the food chain.
I was told at a point of time that the computer was being fixed and I would soon get the letter. When I went to the department, I discovered that I was lied to and no progress had been made. It was very irritating and I decided to vent my frustration a little, after all, what was in the format that it was stored only in a single machine. I decided to give them a piece of my mind, as I had been a decent, understanding and accommodating person till then. I told them to just type a letter on another computer and print it out on their letterhead as it would serve my purpose. My college was not aware that there was a fixed format so it wouldn’t matter to me and it would serve a purpose so I had absolutely no problem with it. At this, they offered their apologies and told me that they had a protocol which they had to follow so I would have to wait for a little more time, and things should materialise after lunch. I had made some observations at this point of time which I typed on my phone :
“The more I learn about this organization, the happier I am that I won't be working in an IT company. I mean, basic common sense is definitely lacking. While waiting for the coveted letter, I observed a few unusual happenings which made me realise that simple operations are actually very well thought out. Sweeping the floor for example is done walking backwards so that your footprints are swept as well. Of course this didn't happen in this particular company. The floor was swept in such a way that once the task was over, there were only the sweepers’ footprints that remained.”
I think my outburst actually had some impact as I was told the computer was fixed, and this information arrived just before lunch. I was relieved as I was actually looking forward to see this format that had delayed this process. Once the document was retrieved, it was discovered that IT had failed to give access rights to other users, so they had to be pestered again, and privileges were granted, after which the document was edited and was finally ready to be printed. At this point of time everyone realised that the computer which had the recovered letter was not connected to the printer. I could not help but be amused at this point of time and it was then that I realised the difference between technical and non-technical people. There were several scenarios running through my head to rectify the situation but I was told to have lunch after which things would finally work out. I had some observations during lunch which I had noted down at that time :
“I really don't know if it is the ignorance of the HR department or the stupidity of the IT people but it really is quite dumb that I have been made to wait for around 8 hours for a simple certificate. I think it will be quite a momentous occasion when I finally get this coveted piece of paper. The text file containing the aforementioned document was a normal word file and I saw absolutely no way in which it could have been misused nor was there any good reason for it to be secured or locked or for a single copy to exist
After having a quick lunch, I had to wait for a while before I could actually get a printout once the computer worked, the file was accessible, and the printer was also connected to the computer. The letter was finally printed and I just had to get it signed. I took the letter to the signing authority and was told that it was not the correct letter as it was for a general trainee and not an academic trainee. So IT was summoned again to recover files from the computer that was not working, which they did, but failed to grant access rights, which forced me to wait once again. Eventually, the letter had to be typed and printed, twice, which was what I had suggested in the first place. I was relieved to have finally collected the letter and sever ties with the company once and for all, and while waiting for my cab, had some more thoughts which I had to share :
“It truly is fascinating to see the amount of chaos that prevails in the world but everyone is just too busy or preoccupied to notice it. Trust is a truly magnificent as well as important feeling that allows some semblance of order to prevail amidst this chaos. Blissful ignorance is not an excuse but a state of mind for which u can't always blame the guilty party. Ignorance cannot always be cured and u have to accept the fact that u will be ignorant about a lot of that happen in this world.”
These thoughts came to me for several reasons and practices that I had witnessed in the company. The worst thing was despite the fiasco, I wasn’t too upset with the HR department as I had made a good friend in the department during my internship and the others there seemed like nice people as well, especially the ones with whom I had interacted before this catastrophe. Of course, I will probably never have to visit this company again so it’s all history now and the coveted letter is now safely in my possession.
2. the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.
I had informed my superiors a few days in advance before I actually went to the company to collect my Internship Completion letter. I reached the company at around 10 am on a Monday and had expected to be back home for lunch with the letter, after having completed all the requisite formalities. Unfortunately, I was issued the letter at around 4 pm on Tuesday, which is actually food for thought as to why a simple, half page document should take so long.
When I met my superior on Monday morning to collect my letter, he told me to wait for a while as he would talk to HR and make sure everything was lined up for me when I went there. I got my reports signed after which I was asked to wait for a while so that the process could take place smoothly. It took a while for my seniors to issue a letter saying that I had worked in their department, and the process finally ended after Lunch on day 1. After that he talked to the HR department and told me to meet them after 5 minutes to finish off with the rest of the formalities.
When I met the HR people, I was asked to meet them after half an hour, which gave me some time to kill. After having a coffee and talking to some of my friends, I decided it was time to make my final goodbye and get the thing over with. I was handed a fairly long form and was asked to get no dues signed from different departments. Now, I was a “Non Stipendary Trainee”, which was drilled into my brain several times, and was not entitled to avail the functions of most of these departments so I felt it was quite redundant to go through this. I also learned that I was the last person to go through this process as it was being autmoated from the next day. Realising I had no other option, I decided to go through the motions and went to the various departments to get the document signed. Some departments posed no problems and things went smoothly. A couple of department personnel asked some weird questions. I was asked if I had a Visa on my passport due to company work, which was not something I expected to be asked as a trainee. The finance department didn’t even have a file with my record, and they were a little confused about why I was sent there.
Once this was over, I headed back to HR where I was asked to surrender my access card and sign in a couple of places. Now, my part was done and I just had to collect the letter. It was around 4 pm and the office continued to function till around 5:30, so I felt I could get things done on the same day with no serious hassles. While waiting for the letter to be printed, I was told that the computer which held the format for the same, was not functioning properly and that a complaint had been registered so it should be up and running soon. I waited for a while without my access card, which rendered me unable to open any doors within the company. While sitting outside, some thoughts crossed my mind which I had typed at that time :
“I honestly feel that every single process in this organization is inefficient, poorly managed and not well thought out. In a word it is unorganised. Since the day I joined as a trainee till the day I left, every single activity was pretty much a joke. I am honestly baffled by the amount of things that are poorly planned here and it is a wonder that this organization is able to survive in such a way. I am really relieved that I am not going to do an engineering related job in my life. I am quite sure I made the correct decision and whatever doubts I had have been washed away by this experience.”
I waited hoping to get the letter and when I went to enquire about the letter after half an hour I was told that the computer was not fixed and it was highly unlikely that it would be fixed that day. I was a little irritated but there wasn’t anything I could actually do so I asked them when I should come the next day to collect the same. I was told to meet them at around 10:30 and I was assured everything would be done by that time.
I reached the company at around 11 the next day, giving them half an hour extra and hoping against hope that I wouldn’t be made to wait that day. I was of course stopped at the gate because I no longer possessed my access card. So, it took a few minutes to go through the formalities and contact someone in HR to allow me to enter the organisation. Once that was done, I went in hoping to see some progress there and, as I had feared, the computer was still not fixed, and on seeing me there, they felt the need to get into action and lodge a complaint again. Resigned to fate, I had to wait outside wishing that things got over soon. There I had some more thoughts, which I wrote down :
“The irony of this situation is sickening. I think I finally figured out this expression. A computer engineer in an IT company is unable to get his work done because the computer is not working. The worst thing is that I really don't need the letter as I can manage without it and there shouldn’t be much of a hassle. Of course, I can't really tell HR this. I guess it will be the last thing that I will have to tell them before I leave today. There is no way I am returning tomorrow for this coveted letter.”
I made it a ritual to pester them every half an hour to ensure some progress was made so that I could leave the company as soon as I could. I realised at that time that in an IT company, the HR department rates quite low in the hierarchy for the IT department in case a problem arises. In the short time I had spent in the company as a trainee, whenever I needed something done on my machine, it would be done really quickly, and I felt I was at the bottom of the food chain.
I was told at a point of time that the computer was being fixed and I would soon get the letter. When I went to the department, I discovered that I was lied to and no progress had been made. It was very irritating and I decided to vent my frustration a little, after all, what was in the format that it was stored only in a single machine. I decided to give them a piece of my mind, as I had been a decent, understanding and accommodating person till then. I told them to just type a letter on another computer and print it out on their letterhead as it would serve my purpose. My college was not aware that there was a fixed format so it wouldn’t matter to me and it would serve a purpose so I had absolutely no problem with it. At this, they offered their apologies and told me that they had a protocol which they had to follow so I would have to wait for a little more time, and things should materialise after lunch. I had made some observations at this point of time which I typed on my phone :
“The more I learn about this organization, the happier I am that I won't be working in an IT company. I mean, basic common sense is definitely lacking. While waiting for the coveted letter, I observed a few unusual happenings which made me realise that simple operations are actually very well thought out. Sweeping the floor for example is done walking backwards so that your footprints are swept as well. Of course this didn't happen in this particular company. The floor was swept in such a way that once the task was over, there were only the sweepers’ footprints that remained.”
I think my outburst actually had some impact as I was told the computer was fixed, and this information arrived just before lunch. I was relieved as I was actually looking forward to see this format that had delayed this process. Once the document was retrieved, it was discovered that IT had failed to give access rights to other users, so they had to be pestered again, and privileges were granted, after which the document was edited and was finally ready to be printed. At this point of time everyone realised that the computer which had the recovered letter was not connected to the printer. I could not help but be amused at this point of time and it was then that I realised the difference between technical and non-technical people. There were several scenarios running through my head to rectify the situation but I was told to have lunch after which things would finally work out. I had some observations during lunch which I had noted down at that time :
“I really don't know if it is the ignorance of the HR department or the stupidity of the IT people but it really is quite dumb that I have been made to wait for around 8 hours for a simple certificate. I think it will be quite a momentous occasion when I finally get this coveted piece of paper. The text file containing the aforementioned document was a normal word file and I saw absolutely no way in which it could have been misused nor was there any good reason for it to be secured or locked or for a single copy to exist
After having a quick lunch, I had to wait for a while before I could actually get a printout once the computer worked, the file was accessible, and the printer was also connected to the computer. The letter was finally printed and I just had to get it signed. I took the letter to the signing authority and was told that it was not the correct letter as it was for a general trainee and not an academic trainee. So IT was summoned again to recover files from the computer that was not working, which they did, but failed to grant access rights, which forced me to wait once again. Eventually, the letter had to be typed and printed, twice, which was what I had suggested in the first place. I was relieved to have finally collected the letter and sever ties with the company once and for all, and while waiting for my cab, had some more thoughts which I had to share :
“It truly is fascinating to see the amount of chaos that prevails in the world but everyone is just too busy or preoccupied to notice it. Trust is a truly magnificent as well as important feeling that allows some semblance of order to prevail amidst this chaos. Blissful ignorance is not an excuse but a state of mind for which u can't always blame the guilty party. Ignorance cannot always be cured and u have to accept the fact that u will be ignorant about a lot of that happen in this world.”
These thoughts came to me for several reasons and practices that I had witnessed in the company. The worst thing was despite the fiasco, I wasn’t too upset with the HR department as I had made a good friend in the department during my internship and the others there seemed like nice people as well, especially the ones with whom I had interacted before this catastrophe. Of course, I will probably never have to visit this company again so it’s all history now and the coveted letter is now safely in my possession.
ab.surd [ab-surd, -zurd]
–adjective
1. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false.
–noun
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