Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dilemma of clearing the IRDA exam
My tension was getting bigger and bigger as the day of IRDA exam was approaching. It was told to us that if we were not able to clear the exam, we would be sacked from the bank. Whenever I used to see an insurance person, a sudden sense of respect came into my mind. That time they were the most intelligent people for me and I used to think that if they are able to sell insurance products, why these people don’t write CAT and get admission in IIMs. Finally I thought it was better to asked from a salesperson himself and get a way to clear the exam. I called my home and asked my father if he knew any insurance agent. He gave me a contact No of an insurance guy. Loaded with many questions, I called the insurance agent and introduced myself. After listening to my query, he tried to pretend himself as the most intelligent man in the planet and I had to accept it as he was an IRDA certified. After giving some useless thoughts like one needs to work hard to clear the exam, He shown me the exact and simple way to clear the exam. He asked me if a book was given to me from IRDA. I said yes, thinking that now he would ask me to read the book which I found impossible. But he surprised me by saying that there is no need to read the book and that was the happiest line I heard in those recent months. He told me that there would be some objective questions at the end of the book. It would be sufficient to memorize those objective questions and that would be enough to clear the exam . After chatting with the insurance person, I felt more relaxed and thought that I would read the book along with the objective questions . well… I am always known for better planning. Without being realized , how come all the days passed in completing my first priority ( visiting the Bangalore) , the night which we call dark night appeared i.e. the night before the exam and you are supposed to do everything in that night . I took the book at 10 pm ( of course after dinner) and divided 10 chapters for 10 hours . Everything was running smooth till 11 before I realized that even spending one hour of my precious time of my life, I was still on page no 1. I was not able to understand a single word and I gave up finally . I knew I wont be able to complete the book. I left the plan of reading whole book and thought of having a round of my cluster .I found that everyone was reading the book, which encouraged me to read the book again. So I returned to my room and picked up the book again, but without being realized when I got slept, I woke up at 7. 30 in the morning. Exam was at 10. By that time the idea of reading the whole book was gone and I found myself helpless. Suddenly I thought of implementing the idea of insurance agent. I turned down all the pages and finally found 100 questions at the end of the book. Without having any option , I started mugging up the answer . Everything was done by 9 . I rushed to my exam –centre and after one hour, I found myself sitting in front of a computer screen without knowing anything .
Thursday, February 25, 2010
My first day at ING
Having so many dreams in my heart, I reached at CDC ( training centre of ING ). I introduced myself to the receptionist in a very arrogant way as I was about to join as a Manager but she didn’t give any Bhaav to me and told me to go to room No 238, which was in 2nd floor. I thought it would be a room of vice president or some executive . So I along with my roommate reached at room no238 . I was shocked to see the crowd over there as around 30 people were present there. After talking to them, I go to know that all of them had joined as relationship manager from various institutes and I was just a part of crowd. I conveyed my happy feeling to them and tried to pretend how happy I was after having so many new trainee.
Well.. After sometime a guy entered into the room and asked us to take the seats. He introduced himself as an HR person and handed over a peculiar type of note book. Our training program Schedule was mentioned in it and we were supposed to clear two tests in two weeks. One was AMPHI and other was IRDA .later my friend told me that to sell a financial product it was required to clear these exams and our training would be based on that. After knowing these facts I was cursing my luck as I had full plan to see Bangalore in those two weeks . Even though I knew I was not going to read anything but once you have a burden you find it difficult to enjoy even your good time. We were asked to deposit our certificates and documents. After documents verification , we were asked to leave . How good my first day was ,with full of fun and enjoyments. Who says selling is the worst profession one can have and I was unable to realize why people hate selling. Who would pay you rs1000/ day for 2 hours of duty. I was feeling lucky by being a part of sales profession.
Other days during training:-
As the time was passing, my days were getting bittier and bitter. How you can seat continuously for 8-10 hours without understanding anything. They were teaching us about the insurance products and I was surprised how come ppl who are only 10th or 12th are able to sell these products. I was finding those products one of the most difficult products to sell. Me who Was an MBA , B.tech were finding it difficult to understand those product . Hats off to all those insurance agents . I was confused if I would be able to sell the products after following all these rules .
Leave selling, how would I ever be able to clear IRDA exam because I was not getting even a single shit? Those 8-10 hours went like hell to me and I was surprised how come all other trainees were able to understand all the shit . It was not new to me as it was quite common when I was pursuing MBA or B.tech
Well.. After sometime a guy entered into the room and asked us to take the seats. He introduced himself as an HR person and handed over a peculiar type of note book. Our training program Schedule was mentioned in it and we were supposed to clear two tests in two weeks. One was AMPHI and other was IRDA .later my friend told me that to sell a financial product it was required to clear these exams and our training would be based on that. After knowing these facts I was cursing my luck as I had full plan to see Bangalore in those two weeks . Even though I knew I was not going to read anything but once you have a burden you find it difficult to enjoy even your good time. We were asked to deposit our certificates and documents. After documents verification , we were asked to leave . How good my first day was ,with full of fun and enjoyments. Who says selling is the worst profession one can have and I was unable to realize why people hate selling. Who would pay you rs1000/ day for 2 hours of duty. I was feeling lucky by being a part of sales profession.
Other days during training:-
As the time was passing, my days were getting bittier and bitter. How you can seat continuously for 8-10 hours without understanding anything. They were teaching us about the insurance products and I was surprised how come ppl who are only 10th or 12th are able to sell these products. I was finding those products one of the most difficult products to sell. Me who Was an MBA , B.tech were finding it difficult to understand those product . Hats off to all those insurance agents . I was confused if I would be able to sell the products after following all these rules .
Leave selling, how would I ever be able to clear IRDA exam because I was not getting even a single shit? Those 8-10 hours went like hell to me and I was surprised how come all other trainees were able to understand all the shit . It was not new to me as it was quite common when I was pursuing MBA or B.tech
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Part-4 , My honeymoon period as a salesman
After 4 months , I found myself in a 2nd class AC coach of Rajdhani express. Since it was mentioned in our call latter that the company would reimburse 2nd class A.C. fair , I decided to utilize it completely . I sat on the internet and searched for the most expensive train from Delhi to Bangalore within in the realm of my right and it turned out to be Rajdhani. So for the first time in my life I was in Rajadhani, ( Till then, I used to travel in sleeper class only) and started dreaming about the training period . I was sure that I would be provided a complete A.C. SINGLE room in a kind of five star hotel and would be treated like a prince as I was going to join as a manager ( who gives a damn to "relationship") .
Having these thoughts in my mind, I got down at Bangalore station and took a cab to reach the mentioned address in the call letter. After half an hour, the cab reached at a place where I was not able to see a five start hotel . Well, I thought that five star hotel would be hidden somewhere and it is better to ask someone . I went to a shopkeeper and enquired about the address .He lifted his finger towards a big old building . After seeing that building I found my dreams starting to get scattered. Somehow I was able to control my feelings and reached the reception ( if this is the word used for a man sitting on a chair at the entrance ) . I mentioned my name as if I was a prince for whom they were waiting for years . He asked me to note down my name in a register. I glanced through it and found already 30 names were mentioned over there. I was asked to follow . Well.. the hotel was not that bad and the expectation that at least I would get a single room with AC, consoled me. We stopped at room no 179 .The Door was looking good and again I started fantasizing about my new single dream room but I think God was in bad mood when I found that instead of using the keys to open the room he started knocking at the door and I heard the voice of door being opened. A fat boy was standing in front of me and I was told that he was going to be my roommate . After realizing that fact, I went inside the room and found that it was worse than my own room at my home . If any room with a T.V. can be called a five star , then ya.. I stayed in a fivestar room.
I said hi to my roomie and communicated that it is always good to have roommate as you don’t feel alone. He reverted back in the same line to me because he didn’t have a choice and it is taught to us that when you cant do anything , you have to be happy with the present situation . After sometime a paper was provided to us ,stating that we all need to report at 9’o clock , next day at CDC . I asked Manoj ( my roommate ) about the CDC. He told me that it was very near to our hotel . Well.. after having a bad day, I started dreaming about my training and started waiting impatiently for next day to come.
Having these thoughts in my mind, I got down at Bangalore station and took a cab to reach the mentioned address in the call letter. After half an hour, the cab reached at a place where I was not able to see a five start hotel . Well, I thought that five star hotel would be hidden somewhere and it is better to ask someone . I went to a shopkeeper and enquired about the address .He lifted his finger towards a big old building . After seeing that building I found my dreams starting to get scattered. Somehow I was able to control my feelings and reached the reception ( if this is the word used for a man sitting on a chair at the entrance ) . I mentioned my name as if I was a prince for whom they were waiting for years . He asked me to note down my name in a register. I glanced through it and found already 30 names were mentioned over there. I was asked to follow . Well.. the hotel was not that bad and the expectation that at least I would get a single room with AC, consoled me. We stopped at room no 179 .The Door was looking good and again I started fantasizing about my new single dream room but I think God was in bad mood when I found that instead of using the keys to open the room he started knocking at the door and I heard the voice of door being opened. A fat boy was standing in front of me and I was told that he was going to be my roommate . After realizing that fact, I went inside the room and found that it was worse than my own room at my home . If any room with a T.V. can be called a five star , then ya.. I stayed in a fivestar room.
I said hi to my roomie and communicated that it is always good to have roommate as you don’t feel alone. He reverted back in the same line to me because he didn’t have a choice and it is taught to us that when you cant do anything , you have to be happy with the present situation . After sometime a paper was provided to us ,stating that we all need to report at 9’o clock , next day at CDC . I asked Manoj ( my roommate ) about the CDC. He told me that it was very near to our hotel . Well.. after having a bad day, I started dreaming about my training and started waiting impatiently for next day to come.
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