• This topic has 24 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by DrJ.
Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
  • Working in India
  • molgrips
    Free Member

    Applied for a job in Chennai, 3-6 months. Anyone got any experience of working in India?

    thomthumb
    Free Member

    collegues have to go out every couple of years as service contractors. they hate it. long days, no breaks, curry for three meals a day, guaranteed food poisoning, lack of appropriate tools etc.

    on the plus side they enjoy the time off afterwards.

    vinnyeh
    Full Member

    seriously? You reckon you can get a visa? I didn’t realise they had a shortage of skilled It professionals. 😆

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...
    Latest Singletrack Videos
    djglover
    Free Member

    If you like living in an air conditioned hotel, which we all know you do, I’m sure you’ll get on just fine out there.

    molgrips
    Free Member

    No idea about the visa situation, but they put a job advert out. I suspect it’s not an Indian company.

    I forgot about the insane work culture though.. hmm.. will have to ask about that if it goes further.

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    My job went to Chennai, I find it hilarious to hear they are hiring IT people from the UK.

    I never had to go but colleagues who did didn’t enjoy it and didn’t want to go back for the reasons already given. I think they suffered many of the bad bits you’d expect on a holiday (food poisoning, etc) without the fun of an actual holiday.

    See if you can get feedback from anyone working for the company you are considering, the experience may vary from one Co to another.

    phlemo
    Full Member

    Just back from 2 weeks in Chennai. Not my favorite place. Chaotic, smelly and not much to do. Poverty is gut wrenching. Not rushing to go back.

    For thrill seeking though, head out in the rush hour traffic.

    molgrips
    Free Member

    I find it hilarious to hear they are hiring IT people from the UK.

    I am sure it is NOT an Indian company hiring a Brit, but it is a British company needing someone to go there briefly.

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    Yes, I expect it is a British Co needs someone over there to get a new project up and running, sort out one that isn’t going well or something similar.

    It would be an experience so if you can handle being away that long why not do it?

    Edit to add, a Brit Co may hire you but I was thinking you will be working on the premises of a Chennai Co they are using to do some work.

    molgrips
    Free Member

    Possibly.. I ain’t working 12 hour days tho to satisfy some distorted work ethic, like I hear about..

    phlemo
    Full Member

    The office I was working in was strictly 9 to 5 as the staff all had taxis prebooked for getting to and from work. Any overtime had to be pre-arranged but they were happy to do it.

    All the IT sites are in the IT parks on the outskirts of the cities. The commute was long and scary from my city centre air conditioned hotel……

    geoffj
    Full Member

    Given the chance, you’d have to try it.

    thomthumb
    Free Member

    probably won’t be able to order pizza’s to your hotel in Chennai! 😉

    phlemo
    Full Member

    McDonalds, KFC and PizzaHut all available in the Express Mall. PizzaHut delivery scooters all over town, some of the maddest riders there and that is saying something.

    TheBrick
    Free Member

    molgrips – Member
    Possibly.. I ain’t working 12 hour days tho to satisfy some distorted work ethic, like I hear about..

    I would if the money was right.

    iDave
    Free Member

    you’ll certainly get a good run for your money…

    DT78
    Free Member

    I haven’t heard many good things about it. A few ex-colleagues work for TCS/HCL in this country and have had stints out there. They don’t enjoy it. The indian companies do employee some british, it helps with the bid process, 6 months after signing up the deal, and once your over a barrel, thats when they whip all the decent staff away and give you fresh faced grads who want to practise thier english and coding on your business critical projects….

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Are you a washing machine salesman?

    INDIHAA???

    [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnKhlymHcu0[/video]

    TandemJeremy
    Free Member

    Zedsdead is out there at the moment is he not?

    tang
    Free Member

    if you like, or think you might like the experience of india(i do, lived there for a few years) then it could be great, embrace the chaos and have a look about. chennai is not the greatest of cities (im a delhi/kolkata man) but if you have some time off there are some amazing places to visit not so far away.

    Zedsdead
    Free Member

    I am indeed working in India.

    Here’s my take on it….

    Anyhow, where to begin?

    Well, if you or your family suffer from any allergies or similar I’d say don’t go. The country really is filthy. In the UK people talk about how some areas are a dump, well not compared to here! It’s down to the government and corruption here in India. They could install a closed underground sewer network – but they don’t. Who the hell thought open shallow sewers in a hot country was a good idea in the first place!
    Here in Bengaluru there is a program to go with UK standard sewer systems. However, the pipework is still sat next to the road more than a year after it was dropped off. Government projects take a loooooooooooong time here. It makes our UK councils look like they move at more than a snails pace haha!
    You will find nice areas though and the properties will be clean. It is still very very different to home though. Have a look around when you get here (if you come) to sus out where is good/quiet etc. As an example, I used the internet to source a hotel a few months back. The photos looked great, the reviews were good. Upon arriving it looked not bad. However, the photos were from when it was built so were fresh looking. In reality it was a little tired and in a built up area with a slum next to it (you’ll get used to that) and a patch of wasteland where all the local wild dogs liked to meet up at 1am every bloody morning! The wasteland was also used as a huge toilet for the people who lived in the slum and the locals in passing. It was a bit smelly walking past there to say the least!
    Smells! aaaaaaah! the first thing you will notice when you arrive in India is the landscape (very red here) and the smell. It’s not a bad smell at all (you’ll find plenty of those as you go on) but you know you’re in India. One of the first things I saw when I first came here was some random guy taking a dump at the side of the road! It’s a place where one moment you will be disgusted and the next you will be laughing. There are so many things happening all the time everywhere! They are on a different level to us as well, but they have a great sense of humour.
    In general people who are educated are great. They will have a good understanding of English (which is very important as there are an estimated 120 languages and then all the dialects bringing it to around 1000) and will be more open. People who are not, very much operate on the caste system which I still dislike and can’t get on with. But that’s just how they work.
    DON’T DRIVE! They are **** mental and totally shit at driving! They have no road sense, no concept of how a road system should work, no concept of how vehicles work – nothing! Get a taxi if you need to go anywhere – the first journey or two will be ‘exciting’ as you will see it as total chaos – which it pretty much is. However, they will get you to where you need to go. Using a taxi company usually means you’ll get a half decent car too rather than a jalopy. Auto’s (or tuk-tuks) are pretty radge too. I’ve used an auto once as I was stuck – it was fun but that one trip was enough. If I had a few drinks I would probably hire one again haha!
    Beggars and street sellers – there are many of both. Street sellers a pain and will pester you forever if you let them so you need to be firm with them. No need to swear at them or anything but just make it very clear you don’t want anything. They sell crap so avoid. For buying gifts etc there are government run shops which are actually really good. It means you can find decent products and they are at a fixed price. Haggling is great fun but they know that everyone from the UK is rubish at it. Generally if an Indian wants something they will add around 30% for haggling purposes. Then the customer can haggle around the 30% off… For a white dude they add at least 60% haha! We think 30% off is great and they get a slap up meal… lol. Shopping can be great fun – but always be firm. And don’t get dragged into a haggling game with them if your not happy as they will win!
    Beggars – my advice is don’t give them anything. Yes, it’s tough as you will see some heart breaking stuff but if you do give then be prepared for a nightmare. They already know you have lots of money, once they know you give it out they will multiply and follow you forever. It’s really not nice. I’ve met a charity worker who tells me that it’s the worst thing you could do anyway – most ends up spent on drugs. If you really want to do something then go to a bakers and buy a load of cakes and give them to the kids.
    Conmen – are everywhere. Everyone wants your money, like I said before just be firm. At first I felt almost guilty but after a while of being hassled you get into it very easily. It’s far better if you do that too.
    Back to accomadation – as I said, check it all out when you’re here. I spent a couple of weeks looking around and have now found a great place which is a good price, clean enough (I doubt you’ll ever find clean like at home) and quiet. Quiet is a rare thing to find in such a heavily populated area so I enjoy that. Avoid anywhere near a busy road as the tooting of horns never ever stops!
    Eating – there are millions of places to eat! Be aware, you won’t find shops/restaurants like at home. It’s all very Indian here and not nearly as commercialised. This is a good thing. Speak to locals for advice on where to go (there are a couple of good websites too). DO NOT DRINK THE WATER! Even the locals tell me not to. You will at some point get the Delhi belly here but you really don’t want anything from the water supply. It is worse than bad. Always get bottles of water, they’re peanuts anyway. I brush my teeth using bottled water too. Showering is fine though – but close your mouth. The general rules I use for food are that if it is cooked then it should be fine. I avoid raw fruit and veg, although bananas, apples etc with a skin are fine as they are protected.
    In a food place only accept sealed bottles of water. I have eaten in some amazingly good places and then been gobsmacked at just how little it costs. You’ll love that whole side of things. Also, when you tip, even if it was a really expensive meal only give 10 rupees (20 if it was an amazingly good one). It’s the done thing here and they will be offended if you throw money at them.
    Food is awesome! I’ve tried all sorts out here. It is nothing like what you get from your local Indian place at home though – it’s a million times better! If you want to cook you can ask the locals where the local market is and go yourself. Or you can do what a mate does and hire someone to do it all. He pays £30 for someone to cook, clean, shop and wash his clothes, per month. I’m in a small hotel so don’t need that – plus I love going to the restaurants haha!
    There’s a whole load more I can tell you if you want, although it may be better if you ask me specific questions rather than me waffling on.

    I’ll finish by saying this though. Yes, it is filthy, yes you will be disgusted but at the same time you will see things which will amaze you. You can deal with the bad stuff – it’s simply how it is here and it aint gonna change anytime soon. The filth – just keep your hands clean etc. Find somewhere nice to stay and it really isn’t a big deal. Personally I walk everywhere I can. Partly because I hate their driving, but mostly because the weather is ace and it’s such a cool place – you miss a lot of it if your driving by. I’ve met a lot of cool people too.
    For me, I arrived on my own with no experience and not a clue about how any of it worked. That’s daunting. But I decided that I could either hide in the hotel room or just jump in feet first and get stuck in. I am so glad I did. I do love it here. I’m also always glad to get back home too though. I think the most telling thing is that when I’m coming back out here I look forward to it. I don’t think “ah crap! I need to go to India again”. I miss the family loads but over time I’m spending longer in the UK between trips so it’s working well for me.

    I say do it. No point in wondering what if?……

    All the best

    schroedingerscat
    Free Member

    I worked in Travindrum for two years and pretty much what Zedsdead said, with bottled water check the seal really is ok and not just superglued back on if the shop even seems a little iffy.

    Find a tailor and stock up on clothes to bring back, I took a shirt in to be copied and picked up about ten the next day in various materials and colours for bugger all.

    I quite like tuk tuks and used them all the time. If you find a driver you really like, get his mobile number and stick with them.

    If buying an Enfield to putter around on seems like a good idea, it aint cos if you’re in a largish town or city, you’ll be dead in three weeks.

    Great place if you approach it with an open mind and are there for long enough to adjust rather than short bursts.

    higgo
    Free Member

    I’ve been out there for 2 weeks work (Pune, Chennai & Bangalore). It’s mad, filthy, poor and chaotic as people have said but I loved it. If I didn’t have a wife and kids I’d happily go back fro 3-6months. Colleagues of mine absolutely hated it, even some who thought they knew what to expect and were looking forward to it.

    So…. I wouldn’t commit to 3-6months out there without trying it for a week or two first. If you get out there and find it’s not for you, you’re going to have a torrid time.

    boblo
    Free Member

    Hey Molgrips, does this mean you’ll be flying your kids backwards and forwards? 🙂

    DrJ
    Full Member

    3-6 months is nothing – how bad can it be? I have only been for a week (Mumbai, Ahmedabad) but it was fantastic – not comfortable, or “nice”, but amazing.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

The topic ‘Working in India’ is closed to new replies.