Stenographer in EPFO,
Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India
I, Satyam
Pandey, Stenographer at EPFO, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of
India, am here to share my journey of becoming Stenogapher at the age of 19
Years. I belong from ‘Patna’ a district in the State of Bihar. In Bihar, they
say, if you get a government job, you get god. I was often told that getting a
government job at present time is really difficult and I can’t get it, reason being
an average student in class and also belonging from UR category which means getting a govt. job
becomes 10X more difficult. I always used to contradict these sorts of
statement whenever someone near me used to say this, but you can’t make someone
shut his mouth. After I took my board exams in March 2020, Lockdown started. I
had nothing to do at that time as the results were pending and admission in
next academic session i.e. Class 11 was not done, so my father suggested me to
start learning ‘Shorthand’. Formerly, I was not aware of this thing, but
eventually after doing a lot of research on Youtube and Google, I came to know
about a book ‘Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key’. I bought this book and just
starter following the book. When children of my age were busy in playing PUBG
and making TIKTOK reels and watching it, I was doing practice of outlines day
and night. It was like penance for me. It took me approx one year to learn
shorthand properly and attain a speed of 90-100 wpm with 99% accuracy. In
October 2020, 1st Laptop was brought in my house, only for my typing
practice. My family was suffering from financial crisis at that time due to the
Lockdown. Still, instead of all the difficulties my family has left no stone
unturned to provide me all the facilities possibly needed for me at that time.
Time passed and along with time I became better in shorthand. People say that you cannot learn shorthand without going to coaching. I did learn it, I compl3eate4d my basics from ‘Pitman’ book and started practicing dictations from ‘KC Magazines’ sometimes recording it by myself and sometimes taking help from several youtube channels like ‘Rakesh Sir’s – Likho Steno Academy’, Shorthand Dictation Legal Matters, Shorthand Dictations, etc. After that, I started preparing for SSC Steno 2022 Exam’ CBT. In the year 2022, there was vacancy on approx four thousand seats in SSC Steno Exam, largest number of vacancy in the history of SSC Steno, I guess. But, unfortunately, I was not able to apply for that exam because I was not completing the age criteria. I slipped the opportunity for just 1 month and 12 days. I was sad, but not so much hoping of applying for it the next year, but who knew, next year is going to the harsh one. While I was preparing for SSC steno 2023, in November 2022, DRDO steno vacancy was published. I applied for that but was not focusing on it seriously. Time passed and I sat in DRDO steno exam. While I was waiting for the result, in the meantime, EPFO Steno exam’s notification was released. I was in no mood to apply for that. 25th April 2023, the day when I was returning from my college after taking my 1st years UG examination and suddenly my friend called me on phone and told me that DRDO Steno Tier one result is out and I got selected for Tier two. I was so happy. When I reached home, my elder brother suggested me to apply for EPFO Steno exam regardless of the fact that very less number of seats are available because you never know what will happen in future and following his advice I applied. Now I started preparing for skill test of DRDO, in the meantime, EPFO Stage one exam was held on 1st August 2023 and after giving EPFO Steno Stage I exam I applied for SSC Steno 2023. So, I was preparing for written and skill both at the same time. After few days, exam EPFO stage 1 result was declared again I got selected. I was so happy that till now whichever exam I am sitting in, I am cracking it. which means SSC Steno will also be crack by me, but God had other plans. My preparation was at its peak and just before a week of my exam I got ill and diagnosed with dengue. I was like what? Why? Is this is real? 12th October 2023 my SSC steno exam day, the day which I will never forget, the day when I was supposed to get up and sit in the examination, I was not even able to sit on the bed on my own. Things were messed up. Everything was ended. All the practice, devotion, discipline, nothing mattered. I had not given the exam and I will not get selected. This was again and again rotating in my mind. The very next day, 13th October 2023, when I had not yet recovered, admit card of DRDO steno was released and my exam was to be held on 30th October 2023 and Centre was in New Delhi, which means, I had only 15 days left for the exam. I was in the bed rest for the past 10 days, still not recovered from dengue properly and I had to sit skill test of DRDO in the next 15 days. Forgetting everything which happened, I started preparing for skill test and finally sat in the examination and was hoping that my skill was so good and I will qualify it. After 2-3 days of giving the skill test of DRDO, admit card of skill test of EPFO was released and exam was on 17th November 2023.Again without taking any rest is started preparing for skill test, but the day when I reached examination hall on 17th November 2023, exam got cancelled due to unavoidable reasons I was so depressed at that time and went my village to refresh my mind.
23rd November 2023, when I was healing my pain, I got an email that my exam has been rescheduled and it will be held on 25th November 2024. I was a little scared but also happy that exam is being conducted so early after being cancelled. Sat in the exam and now no exams were ahead. It was time to wait for the result.
After a long wait of one month, on 25th December 2023, DRDO Steno final
result was declared and unfortunately, I was not selected. I was so sad, so
depressed. My father told me not to get worried, whatever is happening, it is
for a reason, just don't stop, always stay motivated and carry on your
preparation. SSC - didn't tempted, DRDO-failed, now it was time for EPFO’s
final result. After a long with of 2 months, on 26th February 2024, EPFO Steno final
result was declared and fortunately, my name was there in the merit list. I got
AIR 14. I still remember that day, my father was telling me to study properly
and work hard and suddenly I said “Ho Gaya, Job Ho Gaya”. And a small crystal
shaped drop of tear slipped out of my eye. My parents were so happy, I called
my elder brother, and told him that I made it. He was so happy. Everyone was so
happy. I was on cloud nine and feeling so blessed.
So, whoever is reading this journey of mine, I will give only one piece of advice that “Ho Jyega”. Don’t stop trying. If you are truly working hard, success is awaiting for you ahead. Only you have to do is, just keep moving ahead.
Thank you. This is Satyam Pandey, signing off…