Anyone work for an Indian company?

[GasX]

I am interviewing for a position with an Indian company. I would essentially be their US sales force (among other responsibilities). Are their any Indian cultural pecadillos that I should know about that might affect my enjoyment of the work?

In the past, I have worked for a German company (loved it) and a Dutch company (hated it) and am wondering what an Indian company is likely to be like.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I am interviewing for a position with an Indian company. I would essentially be their US sales force (among other responsibilities). Are their any Indian cultural pecadillos that I should know about that might affect my enjoyment of the work?

In the past, I have worked for a German company (loved it) and a Dutch company (hated it) and am wondering what an Indian company is likely to be like.

Well..you have to read from a script...and a shocky monkey shocks you if you don't work hard enough.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I am interviewing for a position with an Indian company. I would essentially be their US sales force (among other responsibilities). Are their any Indian cultural pecadillos that I should know about that might affect my enjoyment of the work?

In the past, I have worked for a German company (loved it) and a Dutch company (hated it) and am wondering what an Indian company is likely to be like.

Well..you have to read from a script...and a shocky monkey shocks you if you don't work hard enough.

Yes, and I heard every one rubs the sacred cow's head before their shift for good luck.

Any other comments - useful or otherwise?

 

[kranky]

In my experience the biggest thing to deal with is that they are very reluctant to ask questions. I don't know if their culture is such that they think it makes them look stupid, or if it's something else. I also found they will not give you any bad news unless you pry it out of them.

If we do work with one of our American companies, a discussion would go like this:
So, how are things moving?
"No problems."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We'll be done by Feb. 15."

With our Indian company, it goes like this:
So, how are things moving?
"Fine, just fine."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We are working on them now."
When will they be finished?
"Very soon, we are working on them."
Will they be finished by February 8th?
"Oh yes, by February 8th."

In reality, there would be only a 50% chance they will be done by February 8th. They will be done by February 15th.

 

[Vonkhan]

strict hierarchy
large power distances
boss is always right
never trust someone's word unless you get it in writing / e-mail
time is flexible



I'm Indian
I HATED working for Indian companies, never again

 

[moshquerade]

expect some cool Diwali parties.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
expect some cool Diwali parties.

I had to google that...

If I take the job I will try not to promise on things with October deadlines...

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: moshquerade
expect some cool Diwali parties.

I had to google that...

If I take the job I will try not to promise on things with October deadlines...

You don't watch The Office?

 

[Mr Pickles]

They like gambling. And get really mad when you talk about their land. And they like to drink a lot.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: kranky
If we do work with one of our American companies, a discussion would go like this:
So, how are things moving?
"No problems."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We'll be done by Feb. 15."

With our Indian company, it goes like this:
So, how are things moving?
"Fine, just fine."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We are working on them now."
When will they be finished?
"Very soon, we are working on them."
Will they be finished by February 8th?
"Oh yes, by February 8th."

See what artificial deadlines does!

 

[Mr Pickles]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: kranky
If we do work with one of our American companies, a discussion would go like this:
So, how are things moving?
"No problems."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We'll be done by Feb. 15."

With our Indian company, it goes like this:
So, how are things moving?
"Fine, just fine."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We are working on them now."
When will they be finished?
"Very soon, we are working on them."
Will they be finished by February 8th?
"Oh yes, by February 8th."

See what artificial deadlines does!

It's funny but I've heard that from a lot of different people in the IT business. Same goes for not just India but a few other areas I'm discovering. I work closely with an office of 10 people in South Africa and their local office IT group is horrible when it comes to deadlines. As long as you are genuinely attentative to the project on hand and I know you are working towards getting the issue taken care of then I don't need deadlines, but when the guys over there take a week to open ports on a firewall I'm ready to fly over there and crack skulls. Same goes for another office that we have in London, except not as bad and I think most of the time when I talk to those guys they are wasted anyway so I forgive them!

Our German office though, blam... pure efficiency. Streotypes go a longer way then one might think.

 

[alien42]

you should start using a pitcher of water and your hand instead of toilet paper so you can connect with your new bosses.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: alien42
you should start using a pitcher of water and your hand instead of toilet paper so you can connect with your new bosses.

I thought they used the 3 clam shells?

 

[blackdogdeek]

i don't know if this will affect your enjoyment of the work but what i've experienced:

1. to show agreement we nod our heads, however, some indian people i work with do a sort of shake of their heads which looks like they disagree.
2. mustaches are a sign of virility.
3. at least as far as the women are concerned, you may find footprints on the toilet seats. my wife found this where she worked and witnessed the cause.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i don't know if this will affect your enjoyment of the work but what i've experienced:

1. to show agreement we nod our heads, however, some indian people i work with do a sort of shake of their heads which looks like they disagree.
2. mustaches are a sign of virility.
3. at least as far as the women are concerned, you may find footprints on the toilet seats. my wife found this where she worked and witnessed the cause.

Not sure any of this would apply to me as I would be working out of my house and dealing with India via email and phone. It certainly would be shocking to suddenly start finding footprints on my upstairs bathroom toilet seat... :Q

 

[Randum]

Originally posted by: kranky
In my experience the biggest thing to deal with is that they are very reluctant to ask questions. I don't know if their culture is such that they think it makes them look stupid, or if it's something else. I also found they will not give you any bad news unless you pry it out of them.

If we do work with one of our American companies, a discussion would go like this:
So, how are things moving?
"No problems."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We'll be done by Feb. 15."

With our Indian company, it goes like this:
So, how are things moving?
"Fine, just fine."
Have you finished the preliminary design documents?
"We are working on them now."
When will they be finished?
"Very soon, we are working on them."
Will they be finished by February 8th?
"Oh yes, by February 8th."

In reality, there would be only a 50% chance they will be done by February 8th. They will be done by February 15th.

wow thats incredibly accurate (based on one experience though...so can't speak for all of them) . whats with footprints on the toliet seats? please explain

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
In the past, I have worked for a German company (loved it) and a Dutch company (hated it) and am wondering what an Indian company is likely to be like.

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

 

[rpanic]

They seem happy at Fry's and 7-11

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Mwilding
In the past, I have worked for a German company (loved it) and a Dutch company (hated it) and am wondering what an Indian company is likely to be like.

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

 

[JTsyo]

Originally posted by: Randum

wow thats incredibly accurate (based on one experience though...so can't speak for all of them) . whats with footprints on the toliet seats? please explain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squat_toilet

Very awkward to use if you're used to US ones. Guess some feel the same way about ours so they do what they are comfortable with.

 

[Randum]

thats really funny. i can totally see these guys doing that. making me literally laugh out loud at work

 

[Mermaidman]

Funny you should ask. A woman who works for an Indian boss and manager just told me they have little respect for women. But since you're a guy, no problem in that regard.

 

[Randum]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Funny you should ask. A woman who works for an Indian boss and manager just told me they have little respect for women. But since you're a guy, no problem in that regard.

we dont have any full time women at all actually...

 

[compuwiz1]

Well, ya probably won't get paid very well.

 

[jai6638]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i don't know if this will affect your enjoyment of the work but what i've experienced:

1. to show agreement we nod our heads, however, some indian people i work with do a sort of shake of their heads which looks like they disagree.
2. mustaches are a sign of virility.
3. at least as far as the women are concerned, you may find footprints on the toilet seats. my wife found this where she worked and witnessed the cause.

lmao I'm Indian and I agree with #1 although #2 is a gross generalization but its true to a certain extent in certain parts of India ( not all ).. However the third one, I can't agree with that.. lol.. wtf! English toilets are used in the cities in India and I'm sure people working in this Indian company of yours are either living in the cities or have lived there.