Indians have been known for computers, engineering and now recently for ambitious space programs, but it will be long before, the world considers them professional and trustworthy. I am writing with a wish to correct this.
A disclosure to begin with, I am an Indian by birth and by heart. I feel very proud to have imbibed the Indian culture within during my upbringing. However, I have been living out of India from the last decade - long enough to get insights into how another national feels about Indians and also in many ways get a first hand experience by other fellow Indians which has influenced me to write this article.
Many at times, when aiming for anything - whether it's for getting a new job or to get funding for a startup or even for new skates from one's parents - the pitch would be a winner not only if the technicality is real, but most importantly it should be believable. For example - when my son pitches how important it is for him to have a new set of skates and how he can master it very quickly and make me a happy father, what is also important is whether he is believable or not - especially after a fact that the bike he got as a gift for his last birthday has been taken out exactly 10 times in the last 11 months.
Whether the fact is correct or not is irrelevant, but you get the point don't you? It's not just making a promise, but one should keep it to the best of one's ability. Indians; not all, but a few bad ones have not made the lot proud in this area. Indians should have been known for - Dharma and Righteousness but due to a few bad apples, we are often perceived as cheats, unprofessional or untrustworthy. It hurts other Indians especially when living or doing business abroad.
When we hired a front-end developer 2+ months back from India, we did not expect we would get a taste of this. He was mediocre, but with an attitude to learn, adapt and grow. Being a startup, we took his word as commitment and giving ours as one, offered him a job without going on to draw any agreements and postponed this to later. He also initiated a catch up when he was on a personal trip during transition and we talked about his abilities and our expectations. A very convincing, enthusiastic discussion, didn't expect this surprise coming up. Within two days of his joining he said he is taking up another offer from a big company and won't be continuing with us. I was told that he had this coldness in him which was eerie.
We are glad this happened now and not two months down the road - it would have wasted time of all our team collectively (not that it already hasn't wasted 4-5 months of search and rehiring time). When startups like ours hire, we invest in our teams, spend time to groom them, guide them and help them not just learn new skills and stuff, but unlearn a lot of shit learnt through various systems.
We have no bad feeling about him personally, but he deserves to be sued. A lot of work was planned up for him, it was crucial for us, he knew but, gave a shit.
We always say in my company, Lean Station - commitment is everything. We collectively need to change this attitude in people to be respected in-full for what they are.
I was taught as a part of my upbringing that words coming out our tongues are no different from getting it done - Well this is the Indian culture that seems to have been suppressed somewhere for an unknown reason in some of us. It's time to awaken now when world is watching closely.
Again, commitment is everything folks, prowess is respected only when you gain trust.
By the way, we are looking for a front-end developer - if you are interested write to us.
