I hope you will enjoy it reading as much I enjoyed writing and reading.
Highlights @ SAP. Live match already played from 02.07.2008-15.01.2010.
Folks...... Read on... :)
The characters are not fictious they are facts, no direct names used.... :)
A college passed out on June 28th 2008 ....Waiting for an opportunity to prove my worth....... Joining SAP on July 2nd 2008 with a lot of aspirations and expectations...Entering International Arena without even playing Domestic matches ….
June 26th 2008 was my final day of interview at SAP, not final round though i had to go through a couple of them to successfully qualify....
The aesthetic beauty of the Campus itself said that I should make it this time. Probably the biggest in Bangalore after ITPL ….
Totally I had to go through 6 rounds.... Obviously a lot of them, but how will anyone filter the best from more than 100 resumes :)
My cell starts ringing , I am driving my bike at 100Kmph I don’t want to pick it , but I don’t know what made me to do so .... Fortunately that was a call which I was eagerly waiting to receive from a long time.
Congratulations Mr. Balaji you have qualified successfully into SAP ... You will join in 2 days from now..... Hurray I did it :)
I was selected to work in a testing team.... i was itching to go into development at college days ... Come on, shouldn’t one of the college toppers dream of that! :)…Chalo Kaminey SAP me kise be kam karo acha hota hai ….. :)
Before Joining SAP I absolutely dint had an idea what SAP works on …. I just knew it’s a company which contributes more than 60% to world’s GDP(Directly or Indirectly). That itself speaks volumes on what this company does and can do…. I was on top of the world, but had no money to treat my friends.:)
The first month passed away with some preliminary warm up games, they call it Trainings in corporate language. For me , a new Technology, new world … It seemed like Greek and Latin for few days .Many experienced colleagues in the induction batch were sprinting away I was the only tortoise crawling at my own pace….
A month passed away very soon at my very slow pace and my manager calls me to join the team …. Arre yaar ABAP training is only half done and I want to complete it… My manager says you are a tester and you don’t need it, only critical decision makers can become good managers :)….An all rounder has a high probability of getting injured than any other players, so chuck it my boy…. :)
The first day into my Team, my manager gives a shock ….you have a video conference meet with a German colleague which happens to be your Team lead …. Wanna know what was shocking in this? …..Imagine Nehra opening the batting against Australia in world cup finals, you will face the music…. My manager asks me, I think you know German ….This took me by surprise, I don’t remember specifying it in my resume and later I realized he was just kidding …. Good sense of humor:),…. in mid afternoon one of the senior pro introduces me to the whole team … Handshakes all the way but no place to sit :) ….. Please wait a while we arrange a system for you…… The day ended …. Very happy to know the team but no pretty girls :) ….
The next few days I spent in the training rooms as there were not systems available ….Definitely not on Bench, playing warm up games….:)
One fine day project allocation, I was given some docs to read and some exercises to work on. Good way to put someone on track, next came the first event@ SAP …. Everyone received a mail for “Celebration of Independence day”, I was charged up …. I always wanted to organize and be a part of all such activities. The celebration started, sung National Anthem … Nice feeling of togetherness… I couldn’t contribute anything for this event…. Sad boy at the end …..
Time to start exploring SAP….I read a lot of blogs … watched some exceptional videos on SAP-TV (http://www.sap-tv.com/)……hooked onto the library…, made a lot of notes, all unwanted for my work :)…. Mind you I did all these managing my work load.….. I was equally productive my friends :)….
Then I found a best friend at SAP …. SAP developer’s network (http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn) …. Wow! What a forum it is …. You post a query; you will receive an answer within a page refresh …. Geniuses working day and night to solve problems …. Some real world out of the box problems…. I couldn’t get anything out of it …. It was far beyond my reach …. But reading was worth, some day I might post an answer.
Slowly I realized I was no more meeting the demands of my work, I was not doing justice for my work …. Only for the fact that I dint know properly what I was doing … It takes anyone time to settle in an Organization like SAP, but don’t take too much time either because your review might be somewhere in the corner waiting for you :)… SAP is an ocean , you really need to be a whale to swim …. I slowly tried to understand but no proper clarity though ….
Ah finally my project was allocated, a colleague from my team was quitting from SAP I had to take up that task … I started working on a component which deals with Budget and accounts. Nice one I was enjoying it, because I loved Finance…But very soon moved to HR….. They both go hand in hand … … Perfect synchronization…..
Oct 15th 2008, probably my best day at SAP …. I joined a community called “SAP TALK”, which encouraged people to come up stage and speak, which basically aimed at improving the communication skills of an individual ….. My most favorite thing is to speak, and share ideas…. I always wanted to speak infornt of people starting from my school days and this group gave me that opportunity ….. And what an experience it was, not because I spoke well (I think I never did compared to the community standards), but just because the quality of the people with whom I interacted with, and the kind of speeches I witnessed made this experience everlasting….. Speeches which were nerve cracking, dramatic, motivational were all part and parcel of this group …. When you speak to a crowd you know what you are ….. Go ahead and join this group (for all people in SAP) ….. Don’t miss the Jam sessions …they will create butterflies in your stomach, and brings your heart into mouth ….It’s like a bouncer directed at your face, you are not steady , they strike you .
Coffee with friends, birthday parties every month ….. I never felt the IT pressure which we always discussed in College days…..Target 150 from 100 over’s. :) ..No pressure….. No doubt why SAP was named "Germany's Best Employer" for the fourth year running, as well as top ranked among companies and in 2009 it bags the “Top Software Company” from Data Quest awards…. The best thing about SAP is the way it values it employees and the work culture it provides …. It directly influences the productivity of the employees…. I was a very happy employee…. :)
Next festival season, SAP celebrated all major festivals ….. Onam, Kannada Rajoystava to name a few….
The only sad thing was we dint had any team outing in 2008 due to some recessional factors and cost saving measures. :)
New Year came …. Celebration, maste, vacation…. A truly enriching year with a lot to take home (Not in terms of money or gifts)..Please don’t misunderstand :)….
Next big thing was the new Organizational set up … 2009 dhamaka …. Many new teams formed ….New managers’ rolled in ….....But not as big as SAP’s acquisition of Business object, which was the major one in computer history :)….. Had a 1-1 meet with my new manager, nice experience …He sounded very good ….Planning, forecast, and discussions everything started on the desk….
July 2nd 2009, exactly a year after I joined SAP one of my colleague and a close friend of mine quits SAP …. My happy day becomes some ones sad day …:)… Happy because 1yr anniversary for me and sad because my friend Quits …. Mid noon send off at Coffee day …. Late evening for the movie “New York “ evening show PVR followed by a Night out at my colleague’s house with a little Beer and vodka :)..Secret reveled at last …. That was my first time and probably was the last ….The day becomes an unforgettable for one more reason, our manager is changed …Batsman gets out and play a new match, part and parcel of any cricket match … Same here. :)
Now the next big thing …. SAP was competing with Infosys and TCS as far as the hiring is concerned in testing arena…..Not in terms of Revenue or Customer Base, which SAP was way ahead of….…. Many new players wear their Debut caps.
Now this phase was the most exciting time for me, because it’s teaching time and I loved teaching…
It gave me a chance to interact with new people and share my knowledge. Hmmm it doesn’t end here … there comes one more batch ….. And one more and a final one. :)
So totally 4 batches of Colleagues in a span of 5 months ….It meant more interaction, more friends … Total around 25 of them ….. This was a wonderful experience …. Not just wonderful but a diversified experience, people from different parts of India …. It was like Diversity day @ SAP for me….
Our first outing, this was a fun filled day with amazing energy.....I missed the target most of the times at the play because my aim was to miss it. J ……Next late night dinner ….It was not just dinner it’s time to rag the juniors, couple of senior pros came up with some action packed mantra , which was amazingly small yet funny ….Want a demo ? , then u should probably meet them.
October 2009 : This month witnessed a huge devastation of the northern part of Karnataka which was stuck by mighty floods…. Between September 29th and October 4th, 15 districts of Northern and Coastal Karnataka in Southern India, were hit by the most severe flooding in the last 100 years. ……The unprecedented rainfall took 229 lives, killed nearly 8000 cattle, destroyed crops in over 22 lakh hectares of land, and rendered over 7 lakh people homeless.
What was SAP’s response …? It was overwhelming…. It keeps me wondering how much we can achieve as a team rather as individuals …….SAP clear purpose and Geleyara balaga achieved something remarkable , along with the employees contributing there one day’s salary, funds crossing more than 1 crore were collected ….… Not just money, SAP plans to build 2000 residents, 375 homes needed, 35 acres being made available at Raghunathanahalli…. What was more satisfying for me? ……I could lend my hand for this purpose …. A great purpose served …….we sponsor Copenhagen by making it Hopenhagen …… we extend every bit of our hands for all social causes ….What next..? …. We celebrate our success through “social focus and joy of Giving week “…., to mark an end for the initiative….Great month….
Annual day: A day to look back and enjoy your success and look forward for change….
Attended annual day at school and college days but nothing as big as this one on a grand stage….Mesmerized by some great events and the unforgettable standup comedy, everyone busted into laughter the whole evening…. Chilled Beer, Dancing to Music… One of the best days in the year …..Reached home at 12 :)
Next the New Year 2010…...SAP Roll’s out new product strategy …. Wanna know the result? , Don’t toggle, wait for 2014…... I will probably read it in New York Times or I may return back to SAP ….. Target 300 in 10 over’s :) …Even you can be one of the subscribers for the product….
Folks there is mammoth amount of information to be shared I can probably write a book on it….
I don’t want to bug you people with a lot of content :)……. One of my content evaluator says it’s too much; people can’t spend more time to read your blog :)… He is yelling at me to stop it … Obliged my Dost…..
And all my team mates out there keep hunting for bugs :) …… One of my colleague said that the only word he dislikes in English language is Bugs so he replaces B with H……Hugs :) …. I give a million of them 2 u….
For further updates on this Blog .... Stay Connected.... :)
Have a blast in 2010 ….. Live for today, enjoy life (the way you want :))…
Alvida….
Finally i want to show you all the precious gift i possess ....
Follow this link ........Video dedicated to me from my team ....
Highlights @ SAP. Live match already played from 02.07.2008-15.01.2010.
Folks...... Read on... :)
The characters are not fictious they are facts, no direct names used.... :)
A college passed out on June 28th 2008 ....Waiting for an opportunity to prove my worth....... Joining SAP on July 2nd 2008 with a lot of aspirations and expectations...Entering International Arena without even playing Domestic matches ….
June 26th 2008 was my final day of interview at SAP, not final round though i had to go through a couple of them to successfully qualify....
The aesthetic beauty of the Campus itself said that I should make it this time. Probably the biggest in Bangalore after ITPL ….
Totally I had to go through 6 rounds.... Obviously a lot of them, but how will anyone filter the best from more than 100 resumes :)
My cell starts ringing , I am driving my bike at 100Kmph I don’t want to pick it , but I don’t know what made me to do so .... Fortunately that was a call which I was eagerly waiting to receive from a long time.
Congratulations Mr. Balaji you have qualified successfully into SAP ... You will join in 2 days from now..... Hurray I did it :)
I was selected to work in a testing team.... i was itching to go into development at college days ... Come on, shouldn’t one of the college toppers dream of that! :)…Chalo Kaminey SAP me kise be kam karo acha hota hai ….. :)
Before Joining SAP I absolutely dint had an idea what SAP works on …. I just knew it’s a company which contributes more than 60% to world’s GDP(Directly or Indirectly). That itself speaks volumes on what this company does and can do…. I was on top of the world, but had no money to treat my friends.:)
The first month passed away with some preliminary warm up games, they call it Trainings in corporate language. For me , a new Technology, new world … It seemed like Greek and Latin for few days .Many experienced colleagues in the induction batch were sprinting away I was the only tortoise crawling at my own pace….
A month passed away very soon at my very slow pace and my manager calls me to join the team …. Arre yaar ABAP training is only half done and I want to complete it… My manager says you are a tester and you don’t need it, only critical decision makers can become good managers :)….An all rounder has a high probability of getting injured than any other players, so chuck it my boy…. :)
The first day into my Team, my manager gives a shock ….you have a video conference meet with a German colleague which happens to be your Team lead …. Wanna know what was shocking in this? …..Imagine Nehra opening the batting against Australia in world cup finals, you will face the music…. My manager asks me, I think you know German ….This took me by surprise, I don’t remember specifying it in my resume and later I realized he was just kidding …. Good sense of humor:),…. in mid afternoon one of the senior pro introduces me to the whole team … Handshakes all the way but no place to sit :) ….. Please wait a while we arrange a system for you…… The day ended …. Very happy to know the team but no pretty girls :) ….
The next few days I spent in the training rooms as there were not systems available ….Definitely not on Bench, playing warm up games….:)
One fine day project allocation, I was given some docs to read and some exercises to work on. Good way to put someone on track, next came the first event@ SAP …. Everyone received a mail for “Celebration of Independence day”, I was charged up …. I always wanted to organize and be a part of all such activities. The celebration started, sung National Anthem … Nice feeling of togetherness… I couldn’t contribute anything for this event…. Sad boy at the end …..
Independence Day August 2008
The days passed very smoothly, no pressure, cool environment, very supportive colleagues. Time to start exploring SAP….I read a lot of blogs … watched some exceptional videos on SAP-TV (http://www.sap-tv.com/)……hooked onto the library…, made a lot of notes, all unwanted for my work :)…. Mind you I did all these managing my work load.….. I was equally productive my friends :)….
Then I found a best friend at SAP …. SAP developer’s network (http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn) …. Wow! What a forum it is …. You post a query; you will receive an answer within a page refresh …. Geniuses working day and night to solve problems …. Some real world out of the box problems…. I couldn’t get anything out of it …. It was far beyond my reach …. But reading was worth, some day I might post an answer.
Slowly I realized I was no more meeting the demands of my work, I was not doing justice for my work …. Only for the fact that I dint know properly what I was doing … It takes anyone time to settle in an Organization like SAP, but don’t take too much time either because your review might be somewhere in the corner waiting for you :)… SAP is an ocean , you really need to be a whale to swim …. I slowly tried to understand but no proper clarity though ….
Ah finally my project was allocated, a colleague from my team was quitting from SAP I had to take up that task … I started working on a component which deals with Budget and accounts. Nice one I was enjoying it, because I loved Finance…But very soon moved to HR….. They both go hand in hand … … Perfect synchronization…..
Oct 15th 2008, probably my best day at SAP …. I joined a community called “SAP TALK”, which encouraged people to come up stage and speak, which basically aimed at improving the communication skills of an individual ….. My most favorite thing is to speak, and share ideas…. I always wanted to speak infornt of people starting from my school days and this group gave me that opportunity ….. And what an experience it was, not because I spoke well (I think I never did compared to the community standards), but just because the quality of the people with whom I interacted with, and the kind of speeches I witnessed made this experience everlasting….. Speeches which were nerve cracking, dramatic, motivational were all part and parcel of this group …. When you speak to a crowd you know what you are ….. Go ahead and join this group (for all people in SAP) ….. Don’t miss the Jam sessions …they will create butterflies in your stomach, and brings your heart into mouth ….It’s like a bouncer directed at your face, you are not steady , they strike you .
Coffee with friends, birthday parties every month ….. I never felt the IT pressure which we always discussed in College days…..Target 150 from 100 over’s. :) ..No pressure….. No doubt why SAP was named "Germany's Best Employer" for the fourth year running, as well as top ranked among companies and in 2009 it bags the “Top Software Company” from Data Quest awards…. The best thing about SAP is the way it values it employees and the work culture it provides …. It directly influences the productivity of the employees…. I was a very happy employee…. :)
Next festival season, SAP celebrated all major festivals ….. Onam, Kannada Rajoystava to name a few….
New Year came …. Celebration, maste, vacation…. A truly enriching year with a lot to take home (Not in terms of money or gifts)..Please don’t misunderstand :)….
Next big thing was the new Organizational set up … 2009 dhamaka …. Many new teams formed ….New managers’ rolled in ….....But not as big as SAP’s acquisition of Business object, which was the major one in computer history :)….. Had a 1-1 meet with my new manager, nice experience …He sounded very good ….Planning, forecast, and discussions everything started on the desk….
Team 2008
Team 2010
March 3rd 2009, my birthday ….. My team celebrated my birthday and we had a gala time …. Thanks team :)
.
Birthday 2009
July 2nd 2009, exactly a year after I joined SAP one of my colleague and a close friend of mine quits SAP …. My happy day becomes some ones sad day …:)… Happy because 1yr anniversary for me and sad because my friend Quits …. Mid noon send off at Coffee day …. Late evening for the movie “New York “ evening show PVR followed by a Night out at my colleague’s house with a little Beer and vodka :)..Secret reveled at last …. That was my first time and probably was the last ….The day becomes an unforgettable for one more reason, our manager is changed …Batsman gets out and play a new match, part and parcel of any cricket match … Same here. :)
Now the next big thing …. SAP was competing with Infosys and TCS as far as the hiring is concerned in testing arena…..Not in terms of Revenue or Customer Base, which SAP was way ahead of….…. Many new players wear their Debut caps.
Now this phase was the most exciting time for me, because it’s teaching time and I loved teaching…
It gave me a chance to interact with new people and share my knowledge. Hmmm it doesn’t end here … there comes one more batch ….. And one more and a final one. :)
So totally 4 batches of Colleagues in a span of 5 months ….It meant more interaction, more friends … Total around 25 of them ….. This was a wonderful experience …. Not just wonderful but a diversified experience, people from different parts of India …. It was like Diversity day @ SAP for me….
Induction 1&2 (Some are missing)
Induction Batch 3&4
September 9th 2009: Bowling@Amoeba@Leela palace followed by Dinner
Bowling@ Amoeba
October 2009 : This month witnessed a huge devastation of the northern part of Karnataka which was stuck by mighty floods…. Between September 29th and October 4th, 15 districts of Northern and Coastal Karnataka in Southern India, were hit by the most severe flooding in the last 100 years. ……The unprecedented rainfall took 229 lives, killed nearly 8000 cattle, destroyed crops in over 22 lakh hectares of land, and rendered over 7 lakh people homeless.
What was SAP’s response …? It was overwhelming…. It keeps me wondering how much we can achieve as a team rather as individuals …….SAP clear purpose and Geleyara balaga achieved something remarkable , along with the employees contributing there one day’s salary, funds crossing more than 1 crore were collected ….… Not just money, SAP plans to build 2000 residents, 375 homes needed, 35 acres being made available at Raghunathanahalli…. What was more satisfying for me? ……I could lend my hand for this purpose …. A great purpose served …….we sponsor Copenhagen by making it Hopenhagen …… we extend every bit of our hands for all social causes ….What next..? …. We celebrate our success through “social focus and joy of Giving week “…., to mark an end for the initiative….Great month….
Flood Affected people from North Karnataka
SAP CLEAR PURPOSE IN ACTION
November: This is probably the most awaiting moment, atleast for the kannadiagas …. We wait ever year for this month, and forget later :)…… Yes its Rajoystava season …Hachevu kannadada deepa….. SAP Geleyara balaga proved their part with a cracking evening… wow! , What an event it was, probably the best I have seen@ SAP…. Any kannadaiga would have been proud by the magnitude of the events that was displayed, the complete history, heritage and custom of Karnataka was exhibited spectacularly …. Every person in the hall had got goose bumps for sure :) … I was proud to be born in Karnataka… Jai Karnataka mathe :) …
Annual day: A day to look back and enjoy your success and look forward for change….
Next the New Year 2010…...SAP Roll’s out new product strategy …. Wanna know the result? , Don’t toggle, wait for 2014…... I will probably read it in New York Times or I may return back to SAP ….. Target 300 in 10 over’s :) …Even you can be one of the subscribers for the product….
Folks there is mammoth amount of information to be shared I can probably write a book on it….
I don’t want to bug you people with a lot of content :)……. One of my content evaluator says it’s too much; people can’t spend more time to read your blog :)… He is yelling at me to stop it … Obliged my Dost…..
And all my team mates out there keep hunting for bugs :) …… One of my colleague said that the only word he dislikes in English language is Bugs so he replaces B with H……Hugs :) …. I give a million of them 2 u….
For further updates on this Blog .... Stay Connected.... :)
Have a blast in 2010 ….. Live for today, enjoy life (the way you want :))…
Alvida….
Finally i want to show you all the precious gift i possess ....
Follow this link ........Video dedicated to me from my team ....
