Slowdown

                        I've been quite full of activity lately.  Job search is in schedule, two of my colleagues are resigning, bank tests are going on, applying and preparing for bank tests, loads of work to do in the office, etc...  Am in a safe position as of yet, but afraid of getting far-away transfer or pink slips.  In fact everyone is under the shadow of the same fear, however safe their so-called jobs are.    

                        A good company, best package - this combination is a bit tough and rare to dig up nowadays.  Dictum is try try till you succeed.  Its not that I've been laid off, but afraid of the same or transfers and pink-slips.  One another option is bank PO exams.  Well, in fact that is the only one good other option in front of me.  My mother has been behind me for ages compelling me to get into some bank.  According to her that’s the only job in this whole universe which is safe.  Well, I think its time that I listen to her words.

                        Oh yes, nowadays people appearing for bank PO exams are highly qualified.  There are candidates who were earning lakhs per month abroad and now searching for "a job" here.  IT fellas are the ones in huge numbers appearing for these exams nowadays.  Midst of all these giants a dwarf like me getting through is of rare possibility.  But again, try try till you succeed.

                         Many of them have lost their jobs.  Although, India has not been affected so hard by the financial meltdown, Indians all over the world are suffering from the layoffs and pink slips.  Some say the recession has not hit India; its just a slowdown.  With reference to the current situation its obvious what is going to happen once it hits India.  It’s going to be hard, real hard.  Already I've got candidates walking in, searching for vacancies, and these candidates  are those who were previously employed in Dubai and the US or UK.  It’s such a hard time to go through.  

                         The slowdown  is happening, people are getting layed off, pink slips are being given; but at the same time there are recruitments happening all around us.  We can’t say that the recruitments are freezed.  There are recruitments happening, but on a lower basis.  The HRs are short listing very few and intake is just the minimum.  Earlier they used to recruit in larger numbers.  It’s a more competitive market than ever before.

                         Some companies had stopped the intake for a brief period as a curb.  Now, most of them have restarted, but again on a lower basis.  Some took deterrence in terms of cost reduction, etc.   Moreover, even if someone gets through an interview they are afraid to go for it, last in first out.  So people are sticking on to their precious jobs and rowing harder than ever before to please the management.  Me too.