Pandemic Diaries – Episode 07
September 28, 2021
I once belonged to the sea of Software Engineers from one of those big-tech software giants. Between two punches and lunch, I learned and worked with full vigor and enthusiasm and was looking forward to the future. With a reasonable monthly salary and a regular day job, all went well until I warmed the benches in the free pool category, where hope was all but my only companion. I started wondering what was next in store for me as I was now under the ax, and the chuck was anytime possible. Hunting for options outside, I came across a course in Great Lakes that piqued my interest. A six-month program on Data Science and Engineering – an area of my interest – was all I thought I needed to break out of my lean phase, but it came with a caveat. I had to give up my current job and start again from scratch. With strong backing from my family and a renewed hope, I decided to take the course.
Great Lakes taught me a great many things about life apart from the regular course. I decided to focus on the process of bettering myself and not worry about the results. Also, I made it a point not to depend on anybody, which led me to become an entrepreneur. After lots of research on what to do and how to do it, I launched my first venture: The Fifth Element. It was a t-shirt cum reusable synthetic sticker business. Armed with little capital and high confidence, I started my new adventure. We received orders from friends and friends of friends. The company provided a formidable source of income, with customers ranging from bike riders to small organizations. I was happy and proud that I could achieve this in a short span. With the business on one side and a hectic curriculum on the other, I worked meticulously in the pursuit of life. Months passed by, the course was about to end, and all that was pending was my final project presentation. With josh now on a new high, I updated my LinkedIn profile in search of jobs.
One fine afternoon, in the middle of my class, days before my final presentation, I received a call from Harishankar Krishnamurthy, the HR head of Zumen. He was looking for candidates for ML and Java-based roles and thought I would be a great fit. I instantly imagined a company with 100-200 employees and a large workplace. I visited the Zumen office and found that it was not what I thought. Zumen had about nine employees, and the place never looked like a co-working space in the way I had imagined. In the technical interview, I aced the concept-based questions. However, I could not dish out answers to a few tough case-based ones. As a result, I was offered a role as a fresher in ML development, which was fair too! I was skeptical whether to accept the offer since it was a start-up. My parents shared the same feelings owing to job security and the likes. But, I had to make a decision. With that thought, I went on a wildlife trip to rejuvenate myself. It helped me clear the air of skepticism that had engulfed me. I decided that Zumen was where I would start my “Journey 2.0”.
My Journey 2.0 with Zumen started humbly with the regular learning phase, meeting new people, making new friends, etc. But, alas, the Covid-19 played a spoilsport here with a dramatic twist. Yes, the lockdown and its aftermath – Work From Home. I have always been amused by the thought of work from home, how people would even work seriously when a home is where we relax and do things other than work. Maybe that is why it is the “new normal.” Anyways, I started working, and that was challenging to say the least. I always found it tough to get the engine running in the mornings, so I shifted to burning the midnight oil and slept my mornings away. This change helped me a lot, and it motivated me too – a special mention to my teammates and Hari for providing me adequate support.
Months passed by, and in February 2021, with few relaxations in place, Zumen had decided to arrange a workation at a resort in Mahabalipuram. The skeptical air engulfed me again since I thought staying a month and working in a holiday resort was not feasible by any means. But I was wrong. The resort was a beautiful place with lush greenery and a serene atmosphere. A typical day would be a 5km walk/jog commandeered by Hari followed by a sumptuous breakfast, office work, and ended with fun games in the evening. Also, being a marathoner myself, I sometimes spearheaded the morning marathon, thanks to Hari again for the opportunity. And occasionally, I donned the hat of a radio jockey by playing a variety of songs. Those 28 days ended quickly, and I would say they were one of the best months in my life. From morning marathons, work, and playing Volleyball in the same team as my CTO, I enjoyed it to the fullest.
Zumen has shaped me into a better person, professionally and personally. From warming the benches in the free pool to achieving a 2X expert in Kaggle and taking up additional responsibilities like supporting Hari by verifying profiles that would suit the developer role – which I never believed I would since I was an amateur earlier – I realized I had come a long way. Like Batman would say, “ It is not who I am underneath, It is what I do that defines me
Mohan Deep, ML Developer
