confession - I am an engineer from Tolani Maritime Institute. I passed out in 2013. Placement record in Tolani has been fantastic. I also got placed in Nortrans in my third year but they put me in waiting. I did not have my CDC by the end of fourth year because I could not clear my swimming test on time and in Tolani, unless you clear your swimming the college doesnt allow you to even apply for CDC. As a result, my CDC came after 5 months prior to passing. I was working in a BPO for those 5 months because my familys condition wasnt so good that I could even go home after y passing out. I belong to a lower middle class family from a part of Jharkhand. I have education loan too as the fees is very high in Tolani. Now, I have my CDC and all the required documents but now I am not even getting a chance to sit for placement interviews. College says, I have to wait, but I dont know how much. I dont say other junior engineers are not waiting, but on the other hand, my few batchmates, who were having even lower performance in academics got placed... I have a good overall performance BUT NOW i realise, the most important thing in this industry is... having good contacts. I saw many of the batchmates got placed without an interview in even the best of companies like STENA. Just becuase they had contacts and some of their uncle or some other knowns were already working in the shippign companies. I dont say I am the best, but I am certainly not the worst. Have been trying in Mumbai and running from one company to the other, but they dont even take the CV. Agents are ready to gurantee sailing the next day, if you pay them money.. means.. there are ships which needs junior engineers. I have no one in this field.. My dad and mom are illiterate and they live in the village so they dont know much about this profession. Elder brother is a heart patient and I have to look after him. Have been working for 5 months and now I dnt have that job too because I left the job in gurgaon and came to mumbai for trying the shipping companies after I got my CDC in hand. I dont know what to do.. I cant wait any more.. feels like killing myself every single day.. because a clause in education loan says.. if the student dies... the amount need not to be paid back to the bank. Btu again, I know, I cnt do tht, and after all Im a seafarer, how can I be so weak and be a dent on the name of mariners. But, I am totally helpless now... having studied from one of the best marine institutes, having the degree of BITS Pilani, having a decent score as welll and having cleared all the papers in time and passing out on time... I stand nowhere.. I dont have contacts.. I dont have anybody from this profession whom I know.. All I have is my degree and my knowledge with me which I have gained in four years in Tolani. And I do agree it is one of the best college after having studied there.. but why me :( :( I never failed in subjects... I never got into any wrong activities... I am not that bad that I cant perform in the engine room... hving a contact or reference doesnt guarantees a performance in the engine room... :|
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 04:00:25 +0000