No Comfort Zone – Expect to Be Challenged

When you apply at Chillibreeze, a lot of questions will be running in your head...

What is Chillibreeze? What does it do? How are the people working there? How reliable is the company?

I too had questions, maybe not the same ones though as I was familiar with the company in the early days when it started. When I applied, I had some knowledge about it and the people. Even then, I was nervous, and I am sure you will be too.

Now, it is easy to get information by visiting the website; you will get to know the purpose of the company, the story, the customers, what the expectations are, see the team, the office, and the job opportunities.

Interview

My interview at Chillibreeze in 2008 was different from what it is now. The entire communication was through emails, and I was very fortunate to be able to connect and be interviewed directly by the CEO, Ralph Budelman.

The email interview took about 5-6 days to complete as Ralph was not in India at that time. If you think an interview through emails was easy, you have got it wrong.

The interview was intense, with back and forth emails. I was asked questions like, what I did in my previous organization, the responsibilities I handled and what more could I do. Ralph asked me how many years could I commit to Chillibreeze, could I commit for five years?  Instantly, I agreed to 5 and more years.

I was very excited throughout the whole process and at the same time nervous and as the conversations went well, I was positive of being selected until I received an email with the subject line
“We don’t want you.”

When I opened that email, it painted an accurate picture of what Chillibreeze was as an organization and what the CEO expected. The email said, we don’t want you if you think this is going to be easy, we don’t want you if you are not ready for challenges, we don’t want you if you are not open and flexible to change, we don’t want you if you don’t have the grit and determination, we don’t want you if you think you are going to do a mediocre job.

The email set the tone and made me realize that unless I was ready to accept challenges and ready to learn, I should not go ahead with the selection process. But I was excited and ready to be part of Chillibreeze.

After confirming that I was ready and committed with the expectations of the company, I met the Senior Manager of HR in Shillong and we discussed the other formalities.

I joined Chillibreeze on 7^th March 2008 and was well prepared through the email interview I had with the CEO. I still remember my first day, my first laptop and the place that I sat in. My first few days were learning about my new responsibilities, knowing the people.

Since I challenged myself to always do more of what's expected, I started being productive and got results in the first few days.

Now, 11 years later I still feel like it is Day 1 for me as there is so much to learn, I am still excited and nervous at the same time, it is a great company to start your career with and a wonderful place to keep working at.

There is so much learning, challenges, and things to figure out is what makes this exciting. Right from day one to today, what I was challenged during the interview, it is more than that – believe me.

I suggest you apply only if you are serious:

• if you want to grow and learn if you want to be challenged every day
• if you are open and flexible to trying new things
• if you want to build your grit and determination and are looking for a long-term career.

There is no doubt that you can grow, excel and be the best you can be in Chillibreeze, the company and the people are an awesome bunch that will make your work life exciting every day.