Meet Shaun, our first employee in India
In 2020, when the pandemic was in full swing, KeepCalling decided to continue its expansion and lay the foundation for a new office in Asia. In India, to be more exact. The work from home system we developed due to the pandemic made us realize we could start a local presence without an actual physical office.
Asia has always been on our mind as a next office location. We have a sizeable Asian audience and a local office will add to our local knowledge.
So, we have selected the city of Kottayam in Kerala, India, to be our first base in Asia.
How did you find our job ad?
When the pandemic hit, I lost my job in my previous organization. I was job hunting for a few months and wasn’t able to find something suiting me. I was working as a freelancer for an IT firm. I was active on LinkedIn as my previous job required that. I happened to see this job ad on LinkedIn from KeepCalling and it suited my profile. Since I was in sales in my previous organization, I happened to know how to get the email address and the phone number of the concerned person. :-) I did kind of a research in landing this job. :-)
What is it like being the only KC representative on an entire continent?
It’s a good feeling when you hear that. When I was selected for this job, HR told me that I was the first person they interviewed for the job in India, and the only one they chose. It’s always a good feeling.
What did you study?
I completed my diploma in Hospitality Management in Mumbai.
What is your previous job experience?
I started my career with AOL. Then I moved over to Mumbai and worked for BOA service desk. I was working for US healthcare/medical billing company in Mumbai. That was a major part of my career I spent there. I moved over to Kerala and was part of the marketing team for a company in UAE. We used to design & build exhibitions stands for all major trade shows in Europe.
How is working at KC as compared to your previous jobs?
My previous job was in sales & marketing. So, we had targets to achieve each month and the race was always on. KC is different I would say. Work wise, you don’t feel the pinch like it was in sales. The system and the work are equally distributed among everyone. My colleagues at KC have been super supportive to me. When I first started with KC I would always think, if I had an issue related to work who do I approach? Since it was remote and you don’t have anyone, the questions are always there. But my colleagues at KC were super supportive and helped me in every aspect.
How would you describe life in India?
Being an Indian and brought up in this country, honestly I wouldn’t complain. India is vast in terms of its religion. People of different religions, creeds, colours, and cultures live together with a great sense of brotherhood. In India, we believe in our culture and etiquette. We learn to give respect to our elders and have a great sense of relationship value. We keep utmost positions as God, for our parents and teachers, in our lives.
If you were to move abroad, where would you like to live?
Good question. :-) I would say New Zealand. In terms of natural scenery, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I like the name of the country, how it sounds too, that could also be a reason. :-)
What job did you dream of having when you were little?
I am very passionate about food and always wanted to be a chef someday.
What are your hobbies?
I love cooking, travelling. I play outdoor sports like cricket, at times gardening (that’s only when I’m too bored and have nothing to do). :-)
What is your favourite holiday destination?
Ooty and Coorg. Being a hill station, Ooty experiences extreme cold; however, it never snows there. Coorg has a pleasant climate. In the summer, the air is filled with the aroma of coffee blossoms. While Coorg is famous for its scenic coffee plantations, Ooty is popular for its tea estates. While Coorg has more tourist attractions, Ooty makes up for that with some awesome weather and endless natural beauty!
