Lighting Design Engineer

The Absurdity of Hiring Processes: A Personal Experience

Recently, I had a mind-boggling encounter during a senior finance role interview at a prominent startup. After impressing the Finance Director and Controller, I expected an interview with CFO as a logical next step. Instead, I found myself facing an Independent Director—a puzzling addition to the process, especially with a CFO in place. What baffled me more was the interview's focus. Despite the role's clear scope within India, the Independent Director bombarded me with international tax inquiries, completely unrelated to the position or the company's operations. It felt like a ploy to glean free consultancy for personal matters. This experience left me questioning the rationale behind hiring protocols. Why subject candidates to irrelevant interrogations by individuals detached from the role's purview? It's disheartening to witness such a flawed process at the hands of those meant to guide a company's growth.

China's Economic Growth Slows to 4.6%

- **China's economy** grew at a slower-than-expected rate of **4.6%** in Q3 2024, down from **4.7%** in Q2. - The growth rate fell short of the official target of **about 5%** for 2024, highlighting challenges in **consumer demand** and the **property sector**. - Despite lifting **COVID-19 restrictions**, consumer confidence remains low and the real estate market is struggling. - Recent measures include **mortgage rate cuts** and reduced **reserve requirements** for banks, but no major new stimulus plans. - **Exports** and **imports** in September were weak, with exports rising just **2.4%** and imports **0.3%**, missing estimates. Source: [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/chinas-economy-grew-46-in-july-september-quarter-falling-short-of-5-target/article68767787.ece), [Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/chinas-economy-grows-at-4-6-rate-falls-short-of-the-official-5-target-101729226236206.html), [The Times Of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/chinas-economy-grows-4-6-in-q3-keeping-stimulus-calls-alive/articleshow/114332969.cms)

New 20000 crore market just opened up

Nestlé’s baby food brands including Cerelac and Nido added sugar in the form of sucrose, in lower and lower-middle income countries including India — but not in the products sold in Europe or UK, according to a report by Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). The research was conducted at a lab in Belgium, and examined Nestlé’s baby food products from Asia, and Africa branded as Cerelac, Nido, Mucilon and Dancow. These contained an average of 3 grams per serving, and in some cases up to 6 grams. Similar products tested in the European markets showed no added sugar. A Nestlé India spokesperson has attested that the company has reduced the sugar content in the baby product portfolio by 30% over the past five years, NDTV reported. In 2022, the sales on these products exceeded Rs.20,000 crore in India alone. Nestlé has been under the scanner in the past for similar violations in several African countries. Reports from the 1970s raised the alarms on their unethical marketing practices in an effort to push artificial feeding over breastfeeding.