From Campus to Career: My Journey with Infosys
A few days ago, while going through old emails, I found one of the last messages I sent to my former colleagues before leaving my professional Alma Mater (Infy — Infosys.com).
Here is the summary of that email: Whenever I read it, I feel nostalgic and grateful to Infosys for kickstarting my professional career nearly two decades ago.
Here you go:
Today, I am leaving my first and most beloved professional home. I don’t know how my life will unfold after leaving Infy, but I am feeling very sad today :(
I still vividly remember my journey with Infosys — how I prepared tirelessly, traveling from Haridwar to Kerala for an off-campus drive. Our journey began in October 2006, with a group of three friends determined to join Infosys. We studied countless puzzles from various on/off-campus drives and puzzle books like those by Shakuntala Devi and George Summer.
Preparation for the Infosys off-campus drive has an interesting story. I was staying with a close friend who was also from Mithila in Bihar. Neither of us wanted to join an IT company because we believed we could do better than just getting a job in a private company. So, we were preparing for multiple exams like CAT, IES, IAS, and PSUs, but we never focused on one thing and kept jumping from one to another.
Meanwhile, our batchmates were getting placed in various on-campus and off-campus drives. Eventually, the peer pressure started to build up, leading to a big fight between my roommate and me. As a result of this fight, we challenged each other, with my roommate claiming that we couldn’t even secure a simple private job in IT.
I accepted my roommate’s challenge and began the journey of preparing for an Infosys on/off campus drive, as no one from my college had received an offer from Infosys until then.
On 31st March 2007, we participated in an off-campus drive in Kerala. Fortunately, I cleared it, but sadly, my two friends did not, leaving me with mixed feelings.
After graduating from college in May 2007, I struggled to find a job. By June’s end, still unemployed, I felt deeply depressed and frustrated. On 1st July 2007, I called my father and explained him my situation. Understanding my plight, he immediately responded, “Come home immediately.”
Initially, I thought I could relax and return with renewed vigor, but peace was short-lived. Within a month, neighbors and relatives started teasing my parents about my joblessness.
Everything changed on 17th August 2007 — the day Infosys offered me a position. It was the happiest day of my life, bringing joy to my parents but skepticism from some relatives.
On 17th December 2007, I arrived at Infosys Mysore. The infrastructure amazed me, making me realize I was now part of the Infosys family.
Following the induction program, generic training commenced, and life revolved around moving between hostel rooms and the GEC/ILI building.
After numerous challenges and experiences — joy, sorrow, friendships, partnerships — on 15th May 2008, I received my release letter from Mysore to relocate to Bangalore. It felt like finally being released from “Mysore Jail.”
Today is the day I bid farewell to friends, seniors, juniors, my cubicle, computer, and familiar landmarks like Building-41, Gate-7, Gate-6, and Gate-1.
Part of me is happy to be closer to home, while another part is saddened by leaving my professional home. The uncertainty of the world outside Infosys weighs on my mind.
With these words, I sign off from Infosys. Thank you all for your support, mentoring, and advice. And thank you, Infosys, for transforming me from a college student into a seasoned professional. I hope our paths cross again in the future.
To be continued…..
