We all have those formative experiences that stick with us. For me, that was my first job out of undergrad. I’ve been reminiscing lately, and I wanted to document a few of the moments and experiences that truly shaped me before they fade from memory.
This is my reflection on my time at Deloitte in India.
The Elation of That First Offer
After graduation, I was deep in the grind of the job hunt. I was applying to companies, going to fairs, and trying my luck with firms like Cognizant and Tech Mahindra. I vividly remember the sheer number of students at the Tech Mahindra exam; it felt overwhelming, and I worried about standing out in a sea of graduates.
But then, thanks to my blog and what I’m sure was a bit of divine intervention, I got a call from Deloitte. I interviewed with Amit and Vasu, got through the rounds, and received the offer. I was elated. Sharing that news with my family is a core memory. I officially joined Deloitte on May 5th, 2011, and it was a special moment.
A Grand Welcome and a Welcoming Team
The orientation was held at Taj Krishna, and it was incredibly well managed. We were handed our laptops and backpacks, and I remember being amazed by the speeches from leadership, the food arrangements, and even running into Sunil Gavaskar in the elevator. For someone fresh out of college, it was a novel and unforgettable experience.
That welcoming spirit continued with my team. Amit was a true mentor, guiding me into the organization. He made sure to introduce me to everyone and even had me do a presentation in my very first week as an icebreaker. I have a fond memory of overhearing a couple of colleagues gossiping about the "new kid" who had just joined. It made me feel like I was part of the fold.
In many ways, my experience at Deloitte was therapy. It came after a mostly forgettable undergrad experience and gave me the opportunities I needed to thrive, make friends, and grow my skill set.
Friends for Life and Friday Hookahs
I was fortunate to meet colleagues my age who joined around the same time. Somi, Shreeja, Nadia, Pankhuri, Sindhoori, Bharat, Raghuveer, to name a few. We formed a bond that lasted for years. Our batch became a tight knit group that, I’ll admit, drew some envy from the older folks because we hung out so much.
We did Goa trips together, went to a Metallica concert in Bangalore, and traveled to Vizag. We even had a regular Friday ritual with folks from the digital and graphics teams, going out to shisha parlors. The conversations, the food, the drinks… I do not think I have had that kind of fun since.
Learning, Growing, and Making an Impact
Professionally, my colleagues taught me everything: best practices, communication, analytics, web development, and how to manage communications with executives. I was also actively involved in co-curriculars, especially photography. Our small team was tasked with taking profile photos for everyone, and we had a blast doing it.
One of the most memorable events was Impact Day, Deloitte's CSR initiative. The first one was absolutely special. I remember waking up at 5:30 AM, arriving at the event, and receiving a backpack with snacks and accessories for our activities. Teams were painting schools, picking up garbage in parks, working with inmates in jails, and visiting old age homes and hostels for the visually impaired.
As the designated photographer, I was tasked with capturing it all, carrying a DSLR with four or five lenses. The passion and energy were palpable. While the model has changed since then, here in Canada it is more of an "impact everyday" approach, nothing has matched the fervor of that first dedicated Impact Day.
Small Triumphs and Lasting Impressions
I remember the pride I felt after taking the Communication Excellence exam and scoring so high that I was exempt from further training. I also got involved with Deloitte University (DU), a fancy, sought after training floor. I even had the chance to facilitate a couple of sessions. It was a pleasant surprise to see a very similar DU setup here in Toronto years later.
The team outings to resorts, with spouses included, are memories I will keep forever. And the team dynamics were just different. In India, you made friends for life at work. I remember when a colleague lost their partner, my manager and I immediately went to the police station and stayed through the night to offer support. That camaraderie extended far beyond the office walls.
Even the small things stuck with me, like finally getting my first motorcycle, a Honda CBR, which caused quite a buzz !
A Life Changing Chapter
Above all, Deloitte brought me out of a rut. After I got the job, I slowly started buying things on installment. I bought our first refrigerator, a washing machine, a secondhand AC, and a sofa. It made a tangible difference to our lives.
I will always credit and thank Deloitte for giving me my first opportunity, that crucial confidence boost out of college. I am grateful to all the managers, teammates, friends from other teams, and the leadership. I am even grateful to the Australian executives for introducing me to Tim Tams and Vegemite!
It was, without a doubt, a classic experience that set the foundation for everything that followed.
Disclaimer: This post was converted from a spontaneous audio note transcript. As such, the tone is conversational and reflective, capturing thoughts as they flowed. Some details may be abbreviated, but the essence remains true to the original reflection. AI was used to convert the audio note to text which was then edited for language and tone.
Some photos below:
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