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My offshoring blog is also a recruiting tool?!

I generally try and respond to comments on the blog on a periodic basis and with some, I also continue the thread of conversation offline. Occasionally readers google my coordinates and ping my email directly. Those conversations are as interesting as some of the postings on the blog. Here is a recent interaction (edited to remove a few specifics and names) I had with a reader in response to the my viewpoint on Pre-Sales I had posted:

The original Post from S:

Hi Mohan,
This is S from Bangalore and I need some advice from you. I am an Instrumentation Engineer and after completing my BE, I joined the Electronics Components marketing industry. I have been into promoting Electronic components and business development for the past 4 years and currently reached Assistant Manager post.

However a friend of mine forwarded my resume to Infosys and I have got an interview call from them for a Pre Sales profile. They said that it would involve heavy documentation work which worries me.

I read your writeup and need some advice from you: Do you think after 4 years of experience in Direct Sales --- is it worth migrating to Pre Sales profile?

Please advice as I have an interview scheduled for Saturday.
Warm regards
S

My two cents

Hi S
As I posted on this blog, my updated views on Pre-Sales are also online. Please review.

Though I am not familiar with details of your specific situation, it sounds to me like you are looking to further your career by joining Infosys, a blue chip software services firm (without a background in Software services)? Fact of the matter is that Infosys does not "promote" Electronic components but if they have offered to speak with you, you have an opportunity to explore synergies?!

Keep me posted on how it goes.
Regards
Mohan

Response from S:

Dear Mohan,
I had been to Infosys Bangalore today and attended the interview.
 
The interviewer is Pre Sales head for Network & Infrastructure division.
Initially he asked me some general questions about Sales and my current job profile. Then he asked me about pre sales and I told him what ever you had mentioned in your article. The interview also comprised of stress test, mock presentation, introduction, selling ideas etc. I was asked to be the "Infosys representative" and he was the "client" who required services. It was a 10 minute mock discussion and was OK

He was satisfied with my performance and I got the job. I am currently awaiting a formal offer letter.

Warm regards
S

Note to self: score one for my moonlingting as a corporate blogger?! 

But there again, before I get too upbeat, I have also had a few challenges, especially when it comes to onsite hiring. I have begun to pen down some thoughts in a working paper on hiring by offshoring firms onsite: Getting Hired in a Flat World

As always: comments welcome

Posted by Mohan Babu K. on April 21, 2008 01:39 PM |

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Comments

Very interesting and useful post. thanks!

Posted by: Thomas | April 23, 2008 05:08 AM

Yes, very interesting.

Keep us up to date ;-)
Thank you for the information!

Posted by: Henrik | April 23, 2008 02:40 PM

Thomas and Henrik,
Thanks for responding. I have continued the thread in my next blog too.

Posted by: Mohan | April 28, 2008 02:01 PM

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