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Some, rather most organizations reject his CV today because he has changed jobs frequently (10 in 14 years). My friend, the job hopper (referred here as Mr. SP), does not mind it. Having worked full-time with 10 employer companies in just 14 years gives Mr.. SP, the relaxing edge that most of the company loyal employees are struggling for today. Today, Mr. SP too is laid off like some other 14-15 year experienced guys, the difference being the latter have just worked in 2-3 organizations in the same number of years. Here are the excerpts of an interview with Mr. SP:

Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.

Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?
A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.

Q: That was your second job?
A: That was my third job.

Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying employer loyalty. But I was an idiot.

Q: Why do you say so?
A: My boss didnt give me the promotion i deserved more than anyone . I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a permanent job, so I need not worry about what will I do if I lose my job. I could never imagine not getting a promotion because of lack of accountability on the power-center for its actions and and losing a job due to economic slowdown and not because of my performance. But you cant expect the world to be perfect. Unfortunately, you will face more injustices in future and you cannot be bogged down by them in life and need to think about your family and the people who care for you and move forward.That was January 2002.

Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.
A: Well, I had learnt my lessons for being company/boss loyal and not money earning/saving loyal. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.

Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?
A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me, can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.

Q: What have you gained by doing such things?
A: That's the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process and billability drama for the company to give me a promotion or a hike.

Q: So you decided on your own hike?
A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a debt-free life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.

Q: So are you debt-free now?
A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq.. feet) plus a loan free big car without bothering about any EMIs. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.

Q: Who is complaining?
A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.

Q: What is your advice to professionals?
A: Like Narayan Murthy had said love your job and not your company/boss because you never know when your company/boss will stop loving you.That was the biggest mistake i did in my carreer. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company's/boss's needs. Companies keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.

Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?
A: When a company does well, its CEO will address the entire company saying, well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you. But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO will say, It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go. So does your manager when you do all those night-outs for critical deliveries to save his/her face, they thank you saying u are flexible and it will be rewarded which might not happen due to incomprehensible reasons later. So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.

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"Rs5000 for an extraction, Sir" the dentist replied.
"Rs5000!!!  Benha lakh lalat vijhe... Have you not got anything cheaper?"

"That's the normal charge," said the  dentist.
"Naarmal?!!! What about if you did not use any anesthetic?"

"That's unusual, sir, but I could do it and knock Rs 1500 off and it would be quite painful !!"
"Are beehna...Whaaat about if you used one of your dentist trainees and still without an anesthetic?"

"I can't  guarantee their professionalism and it may be extremely painful, but the  price could drop to Rs 2000".
"Suttho Suttho...How about if you make it a training session, and your Student do the extraction with the other students waatching and learning ?

"It'll be good for the students", mulled  the dentist. "but you must understand that it's going to be very  traumatic as well as really really painful, but I'll charge you Rs 500."
"Arre wah!!!, now you are taalking!!!!! !  Daadho suttho deal aahe !!! daadho suttho (It's a great deal)," said the Sindhi. "Can you immeejaietly confirm an appaintment for my wife next Tuesday then?"

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Finally
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Aftab
 

 
 
 
Amitabh
 

 
 
 
 
Asin
 

 
 
 
 
 
Deepika Padukon

 
 
 
 
Esha Deol

 
 
 
 
Genelia
 

 
 
 
Hritik
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
Imran Khan
 

 
 
Juhi
 

 
 
 
 
Kangana Ranaut
 

 
 
 
Kareena and Karishma
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Katrina
 

 
 
 
Priety Zinta
 

 
 
 
Rani
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Sanjay Dutt
 

 
 
 
 
 
Shahid
 

 
 
 
 
Shammi Kapoor
 

 
 
 
 
Shreedevi
 

 

 
 
Sonam
 

 
 
 
SRK
 

 
 
 

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Perception. Something to think about... really worth spending a minute

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.  The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:  
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to  walk.

6 minutes:  
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:  
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time.  This action was repeated by several other children..  Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.  

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.  

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed.  No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.  

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.  

This is a true story.  Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.  The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?  Do we stop to appreciate it?  Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?  

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.....
 
How many other things are we missing?

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What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs.

There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing.

Until now it has not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.

 

 

What is new about this type of swine flu?

The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A..

H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis.

But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.

Flu viruses have the ability to swap genetic components with each other, and it seems likely that the new version of H1N1 resulted from a mixing of different versions of the virus, which may usually affect different species, in the same animal host.

Pigs provide an excellent 'melting pot' for these viruses to mix and match with each other.

 

 

How dangerous is it?

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.

These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.

Most cases so far reported around the world appear to be mild, but in Mexico lives have been lost.

 

 

How worried should people be?

When any new strain of flu emerges that acquires the ability to pass from person to person, it is monitored very closely in case it has the potential to spark a global epidemic, or pandemic.

The World Health Organization has warned that taken together the Mexican and US cases could potentially trigger a global pandemic, and stress that the situation is serious.

However, experts say it is still too early to accurately assess the situation fully.

Currently, they say the world is closer to a flu pandemic than at any point since 1968 - upgrading the threat from three to four on a six-point scale following an emergency meeting on Monday.

Nobody knows the full potential impact of a pandemic, but experts have warned that it could cost millions of lives worldwide. The Spanish flu pandemic, which began in 1918, and was also caused by an H1N1 strain, killed millions of people.

The fact that all the cases in the US and elsewhere have so far produced mild symptoms is encouraging. It suggests that the severity of the Mexican outbreak may be due to an unusual geographically-specific factor - possibly a second unrelated virus circulating in the community - which would be unlikely to come into play in the rest of the world.

Alternatively, people infected in Mexico may have sought treatment at a much later stage than those in other countries.

It may also be the case that the form of the virus circulating in Mexico is subtly different to that elsewhere - although that will only be confirmed by laboratory analysis.

There is also hope that, as humans are often exposed to forms of H1N1 through seasonal flu, our immune systems may have something of a head start in fighting infection.

However, the fact that many of the victims are young does point to something unusual. Normal, seasonal flu tends to affect the elderly disproportionately.

Can the virus be contained?

The virus appears already to have started to spread around the world, and most experts believe that containment of the virus in the era of readily available air travel will be extremely difficult.

 

Can it be treated?

The US authorities say that two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred there so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.

Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others.

The UK Government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic.

It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains.

US scientists are already developing a bespoke new vaccine, but it may take some time to perfect it, and manufacture enough supplies to meet what could be huge demand.

A vaccine was used to protect humans from a version of swine flu in the US in 1976.

However, it caused serious side effects, including an estimated 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. There were more deaths from the vaccine than the outbreak.

 

What should I do to stay safe?

Anyone with flu-like symptoms who might have been in contact with the swine virus - such as those living or travelling in the areas of Mexico that have been affected - should seek medical advice.

But patients are being asked not to go into GP surgeries in order to minimise the risk of spreading the disease to others. Instead, they should stay at home and call their healthcare provider for advice.

After the WHO raised its alert level over swine flu, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office began advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.

 

 

What measures can I take to prevent infection?

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.

General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.

It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.

If caring for someone with a flu-like illness, a mask can be worn to cover the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of transmission. The UK is looking at increasing its stockpile of masks for healthcare workers for this reason.

But experts say there is no scientific evidence to support more general wearing of masks to guard against infections. 

Is it safe to eat pig meat?

Yes. There is no evidence that swine flu can be transmitted through eating meat from infected animals.

However, it is essential to cook meat properly. A temperature of 70C (158F) would be sure to kill the virus.

What about bird flu?

The strain of bird flu which has caused scores of human deaths in South East Asia in recent years is a different strain to that responsible for the current outbreak of swine flu.

The latest form of swine flu is a new type of the H1N1 strain, while bird, or avian flu, is H5N1.

Experts fear H5N1 hold the potential to trigger a pandemic because of its ability to mutate rapidly.

However, up until now it has remained very much a disease of birds.

Those humans who have been infected have, without exception, worked closely with birds, and cases of human-to-human transmission are extremely rare - there is no suggestion that H5N1 has gained the ability to pass easily from person to person.

Where can I get further advice?

Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus. The UK's Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu. The US government's Centre for Disease Control is counting the number of cases in the US.

You can also track the spread of swine flu reports using unofficial sources. Healthmaps maps viruses using news reports. Social media guide Mashable lists some ways to track the virus . Links to useful websites are being shared on Twitter , the micro-blogging service.

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1. Why did you apply for this job?
I have applied for many jobs along with this and you called me now.
2. Why do you want to work for this company?
I have to work for some company who ever gives me a job, I don't have any specific company in mind.
3. Why should I hire you?
You have to hire some one, you may give me a try.
4.What would you do if we hire you?
Well, it depends on my mindset but I will try to work on whatever is allotted to me.
5.What is your biggest strength?
Basically, daring to join any company who pays me well, without thinking of the fate of company.
6.What is your biggest weakness?
Girls
7.What was your worst mistake, and how did you learn from it?
Joining my earlier company and learn that I need to jump to get more money, so I am here today!
8. What accomplishments in your last position are you most proud of?
Had I accomplished any in my last position, why do I need to change my job? I could demand more and stay there.
9.Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it?
Biggest challenge is answering the question "why are you looking for a change" and I started blabbering irrelevantly to overcome that.
10.Why did you leave/ are you leaving your last job?
For the same reason why you left your earlier job... More money
11.What do you want from this job?
If no work is given but keep giving good hikes
12.What are your career goals and how do you plan to achieve them?
Make more money and for that keep jumping companies for every 2 yrs
13.Did you hear of our company and what do you know of us?
Yeah, I know that you will ask this, I've gone through your website
14.What is the salary expected and how do u justify that?
Well, no one will change job for the same salary, hence, give me 20% extra than what I am getting and that is unpublished industry standard (I know you will bargain on what ever I ask, hence, I have already hiked my current salary by 30%).

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1) Tech Support : "I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop."

Customer : "Ok."

Tech Support : "Did you get a pop-up menu?"

Customer : "No."

Tech Support : "Ok. Right click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?"

Customer : "No."

Tech Support : "Ok, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?"

Customer : "Sure, you told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click'."

------------ --------- --------- --------- -

2) Customer : "I received the software update you sent, but I am still getting the same error message."

Tech : "Did you install the update?"

Customer : "No. Oh, am I supposed to install it to get it to work?"

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

3)Customer : "I'm having trouble installing Microsoft Word."

Tech : "Tell me what you've done."

Customer : "I typed 'A: SETUP'."

Tech : "Ma'am, remove the disk and tell me what it says."

Customer : "It says '[PC manufacturer] Restore and Recovery disk'."

Tech : "Insert the MS Word setup disk."

Customer : "What?"

Tech : "Did you buy MS word?"

Customer : "No..."

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

4) Customer : "Do I need a computer to use your software?"

Tech : ?!%#$ (welll pretend to smile)

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

5) Tech : "Ok, in the bottom left hand side of the screen, canyou see the 'OK' button displayed?"

Customer : "Wow. How can you see my screen from there?"

Tech : ##### ***

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

6) Tech : "What type of computer do you have?"

Customer : "A white one."

Tech : ******_____# ###

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

7) Tech : "What operating system are you running?"

Customer : "Pentium."

Tech : ////-----+++

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

8). Customer : "My computer's telling me I performed an illegal abortion."

Tech : ??????

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

9).Customer : "I have Microsoft Exploder."

Tech : ?!%#$

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

10).Customer : "How do I print my voicemail?"

Tech : ??????

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

11). Customer : "You've got to fix my computer. I urgently need to print document, but the computer won't boot properly."

Tech : "What does it say?"

Customer : "Something about an error and non-system disk."

Tech : "Look at your machine. Is there a floppy inside?"

Customer : "No, but there's a sticker saying there's an Intel inside."

Tech : @@@@@

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

12). Tech : "Just call us back if there's a problem. We're open 24 hours."

Customer : "Is that Eastern time?"

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

13). Tech : "What does the screen say now?"

Customer : "It says, 'Hit ENTER when ready'."

Tech : "Well?"

Customer : "How do I know when it's ready?"

Tech : *** ---- ++++

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