Worklife

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates once delivered a thought-provoking answer to one of the toughest and most commonly encountered questions in job interviews. In a 2020 episode of NBA star Stephen Curry’s YouTube series, State of Inspiration, Gates stepped into the shoes of a junior software engineer applying for a role at Microsoft.

Not every entrepreneurial endeavor leads to success. Although the idea of leaving behind a predictable and routine nine-to-five job to make a mark in the startup ecosystem can feel exciting, the outcome often falls short of the aspirations.

An Indian tech professional in Canada earning $140,000 annually explains his contentment despite lower pay compared to US counterparts. He prioritizes work-life balance and a supportive team while acknowledging higher US salaries. Limited by a closed work permit, he anticipates increased earning potential upon securing permanent residency.

Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, reveals his unique approach to interviewing job candidates. He believes the answer to the question 'How soon can you start?' speaks volumes about a candidate's professionalism and loyalty. Shapiro values employees who prioritize a respectful and responsible departure from their current roles, viewing it as a testament to their character.

Amid rising H-1B visa challenges, a tech professional's story highlights the growing trend of U.S.-based workers relocating to Canada for career stability. In an Instagram reel by Piyush Monga, founder of Salary Scale, the Google business intelligence engineer shared her journey, citing visa constraints as the reason for her move. Despite earning $200,000 USD (about $270,000 CAD), she noted high living costs in Canada.

Janhavi Jain, a UK-based professional, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her disbelief after encountering an unexpected and controversial question from an HR representative of an Indian company during a job interview.

A report titled Gen Z At Workplace disclosed that over 47 percent of Gen Z job seekers highly value work-life balance.

An Indian engineer, Dhaval Singh, used project management software Jira to plan his wedding. He shared his experience on social media. It became popular and people called it innovative. Singh used Jira to manage tasks, guests, and even the honeymoon. Other tech-savvy individuals shared their own experiences of using similar tools for wedding planning.

Some companies are employing unusual interview tests to evaluate candidates beyond their qualifications. One such test involves observing whether a candidate seasons their food before tasting, revealing potential impatience. Another, the "coffee cup test," assesses responsibility by observing if candidates offer to return their empty cups, indicating a sense of ownership and respect for shared spaces.

In a viral video, stand-up comedian Arjun Pratap Rana humorously shares five valuable management lessons inspired by Mogambo, the iconic villain from the 1987 Bollywood film Mr India. Rana emphasizes the importance of avoiding micromanagement by granting teams freedom, setting clear goals, fostering loyalty, maintaining a fun work environment, and showing appreciation for team efforts.

Recently, Saptarshi Prakash, who holds the position of Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Design at Swiggy, shared his astonishment and appreciation for a young individual who chose an unusual approach: dispatching a handwritten letter via traditional mail.

Saiman Shetty, a former employee at Tesla, recently shared his insights about working with Elon Musk in an Instagram post. Joining the company when it was still called Tesla Motors in January 2016, Shetty described Musk as a “no bulls**t” leader who valued transparency and direct communication. He emphasized that Musk’s straightforward emails helped reduce misunderstandings and fostered a culture of appreciation among employees. Despite Musk's tough persona, Shetty noted that he made a concerted effort to express gratitude to his team.