MBA Selection Process – HCL Technologies

By
Arpit Srivastava
-
102
8845

Total number of applicants (Marketing, Finance, Systems and HR) – 350 +

Number of applicants in Marketing only – 288

Total number of Selections – 11

Selections in Marketing – 3

That boils down to a hit ratio of 288 : 3 for Marketing

The selection process comprised of a GD and two rounds of PI – one Technical and other HR. Being a non engineer I was wondering what would be in store for me in the technical interview ofcourse if I clear the GD.

The Group Discussion

28 GD groups were made in all. There were 5 moderators in 5 rooms.

I was in the 2nd Marketing GD group which turned out to be the very first for the moderator in my room. The guy was a South Indian… it looked like he was searching for intellect…

As soon as our group of 12 people entered the room, he asked us to be comfortable and surprisingly he started appointing tasks to the group members. One guy was allotted the task of time keeping – he was told that the GD is going to last for 20 mins out of which 5 mins will be given for thinking process and 15 mins for the GD and he was the one to keep track of the time.

Another girl in the group was given the task of summarizing the GD even before the GD started.

I didn’t get either of the tasks and felt like I have lost it here itself. I was just like the rest 10 people in the group….

The topic was thrown – Consumer is the king in India.

The timekeeper started his task… and obviously he was the one to start the GD coz he was the only one to announce the end of 5 mins. He took full advantage of it and began with his points in favour of the topic.

Gradually others started entering the GD – most of them in favour of the topic. and all were ready to eat each other. I somehow entered the GD after about 3.5 mins of discussion and there was something different – I was against the topic.

Couple of more speakers came up against the topic. There was a 3:9 ratio (against the topic : for the topic). The 9 people started hounding the points of the other 3. The GD got very messed up and the moderator was hardly able to make out anything.

One guy in the GD took the initiative and convinced people to speak one by one so as to make some sense rather than making a fish market. I lost it here again coz I was not the one to display the leadership quality.

Now starting from one end the people started speaking. I was number 6 and my turn came in the middle.

I knew this was the only chance to showcase everything I had…

I started my points which included various red tapes laid by the Indian Government and the Monopoly in few sectors. I got around 2-3 minutes to speak. Following me the rest also spoke up and the GD got over.

Everyone was waiting for the results and I was the sure the guy who brought things under control will definitely proceed to the PI round. But the results said something different – I was the only one from the entire group who cleared the GD.

The Technical Interview

Interviewer – Hi Arpit (I didnt even reach upto him)

Me – Good Afternoon Sir

Interviewer – So Arpit I has just going through your CV and I see you have done quite a lot. But when I see your marks I am disappointed 80% in 10th, 85% in 12th, 75% in graduation and just 68% in PGDM. Are you on a downturn now ?

Me – Not at all Sir. As you can see Sir. I am involved in a lot more things than just academics.

Interviewer – Ya I can see that you are the President of the Student Council but I dont give a shit. You came here to study… that was the only thing expected out of you and that task is undone.

Me – Sir I have been the most regular student in the college and have imbibed all what an MBA should but after sometime I realised that its not only the academics part that matters for an MBA. Its more of a blend between knowledge and skills. I kept up with the knowledge as well as enhanced my skills though various activities of the college.

Interviewer – But still, 68% marks is nothing – Its holy shit..

Me – (He was stuck at this point so I decided to agree with him) I agree that its not much.

Interviewer – So you didnt do what you came here for ?

Me – No wont say that but I could have done better. I will try to pull back in the upcoming exams.

Interviewer – I see you have done a lot of things on the internet.. a couple of websites to your name.. I would rather like to offer you a developers profile.

Me – Sir, as I am not an engineer, I might not fit into the developers profile. Neither I would be able to deliver nor you will be statisfied.

Interviewer – But there are a large number of vacancies in that profile. If you agree you are definitly selected.

Me – Sorry Sir. I am here for a Management Trainee – Pre Sales job.

Interviewer – But I have only the developers profile for you.

Me – Thank you Sir but then I don’t want the job.

Interviewer – I am delighted… Good. So you want Pre Sales. What can you do there ?

Me – If I am convinced with the proposition I can convince others too.

Interviewer – Don’t talk out of the book. Come on sell this to me (pointed at a glass of water)

Me – OK. Sir 70 % of your body is water….(before I could go ahead)

Interviewer – Again bookish…

Me – Sorry Sir

Interviewer – Why cant you simply say that I am interviewing 40 students today. I will be thirsty continuously speaking. I would need water and thats why I should buy that. Keep it short and simple.

Me – Yes Sir

Interviewer – What are your hobbies ?

Me – I am very fond of the internet. Exploring new services. And collecting e-books. I have around 20,000 ebooks in my library.

Interviewer – So did you ever read them or just collect.

Me – Its more of a collection but I read few bestsellers.

Interviewer – What have you read so far ?

Me – I recently read – Made in America, Alvin Tofler’s Powershift, The third Wave and Future Shock

Interviewer – These Alvin Tofler books are too old.. may be published way back in 1970s.

Me – Yes Sir… but that time he predicted the future and the future is now. So it finds great relevence with whats going on now.

Interviewer – OK Arpit. It was wonderful talking to you.

Me – Same here Sir.

(There were many other instances in the interview which I cannot recall. The interview lasted for around 18 mins)

After a very long wait the results were out and 10 out of 40 Marketing students moved to the next level.

The HR Interview

The HR interview was different. It was a structured interview with the same set of 4-5 questions to all the candidates.

The duration of this interview for every candidate was not more than 3 minutes.

Interviewer – Hi Arpit. How are you ?

Me – Fine Ma’am thank you.

Interviewer – Are you aware of all the locations where HCL Tech is and do you have any preferences of location ?

Me – To my knowledge HCL Tech has major operations in Noida, Gurgoan, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. I know there must be many more but it hardly matters for me as I am free to relocate anywhere. Though I will prefer a North region.

Interviewer – Why North ?

Me – I just want that the language should not act as a barrier in my growth.

Interviewer – Language will never be a problem as everywhere in HCL Tech we speak English.

Me – Its fine for me. I am free to move anywhere.

Interviewer – What are you future plans ?

Me – Short term or long term

Interviewer – Tell me both.

Me – Initially I want to learn nuances of business by working in the corporate for atleast 10-12 yrs and after that I would implement the same in my own venture when I put up. In the short term, I want to  scale up and get promoted in the shortest specified time to subsequent positions of the company.

Interviewer – Do you want to ask us something ?

Me – Yes Mam. I wanted to know, whats there in HCL Tech apart from work ?

Interviewer – At HCL Tech, for fun, we work more.

Me – OK. But you said you follow ‘Employee First’ policy what do you make them do apart from work ?

Interviewer – We have sports clubs, literature club and various such activities where you can participate.

Me – Ya, thats what I wanted to know.

Interviewer – OK. Thank you Arpit.

Me – Thank you Mam.

The final results were out and a total of 3 students were selected from Marketing and I was one.

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102 COMMENTS

  1. Hi arpit, i found this page when i searched for HCL selection process. This i searched because i was selected by HCL for marketing( I cleared all the rounds of interview) before one month, but still they din’t intimate any information regarding the offer(they told we ll call u). But, still i its not happened. Am waiting for this so, please say when they ll call or they wont?.. i want to know when they provided offer for you after the selection. thank you.

    • Hi Vijay,
      Please specify which HCL are you referring to – HCL Tech, HCL Infosystems or HCL Comnet.
      Well I cant tell about Infosystems and Comnet but for HCL Tech I would say that you should not worry because HCLT takes time to dispatch letter. They do it only once they are done with all the recruitment of the season..
      In my case I was selected for the company in November and I received the letter in April.
      Its just been one month in your case… So you can relax I guess..

      • hi arpit,

        First i say thanks for your reply.Ya sure, i am relaxed. Then i got selected in HCL Tech, so i have to wait for some more days i think right? thank you for your valuable information.
        thank you so much..
        all the best have a nice moments…

  3. sir i am having campus recruitment for hcl on 9 sept 2011….i want to know how will the technical interview will be,…i dont have written test…i have only technical interview and hr…will the technical be in general basic or very detailed one

  5. hi, Ur post is very much useful. u told about the procedure followed for students from mba marketing specialization. but u didn t mention about other specializations. Whether the same procedure is being followed or any aptitude rounds r also conducted.

    • Hi Naresh,
      Apart from Marketing, there were no aptitude rounds for Finance, HR and Systems as well. It was more or less a similar procedure with one GD and 2 rounds of interview.
      The major difference was only in the Technical Interview where panels specific to the respective fields were there for different specializations.

    • Priya,

      Please let me know whether you are referring to MBA or Engineering graduates. There is slight difference in the two.

      For MBA campus recruits, the offer letter is dispatched only when All India recruitment is done. For me it came after 4-4.5 months. There is not such process of the same. The HRs mail the offer letter to you respective TPOs in colleges. You are asked to take a print, sign and send back the same. After that you are asked to enter your details on a website specified by HCL. You are supposed to carry a copy of the letter when you report at the place of joining.

      For engineering graduates, I think this website detail entry is done first. Rest timelines more or less the same.

  7. i got selected in hcl technologies in campus recruitment in the mail from hcl tech they have stated that students with arrears in the fina year are not allowed……i am in my final year 8th semester i have a arrear in final year 7th semester……so i cant join the hcl technologies ah

  8. i got selected in hcl technologies in campus recruitment , in the mail from hcl tech they have stated that students with arrears in the final year are not allowed to join ……i am in my final year 8th semester i have a arrear in final year 7th semester……so i cant join the hcl technologies ah

  9. what does the statement Candidates with arrears in the final year will not be allowed to join.
    Does it mean that while joining the company we shouldnt have any standing arrears or it means there shouldn’t be any history of arrears in final year

    • Daksha,
      I am not into HR and therefore wont comment on this. Probably you should get in touch with the team which undertook recruitment in your campus.

  10. hi arpit, I am Naman Jain doing Btech IT . I got placement in HCL tech through campus placement .drive on sept 19 2012. i wanted to ask you where are you currently working and whats your salary.
    Well I have just recieved a single confirmation mail Since sept 2011. And I have read lots of negative comments about HCL, but wanted to ask you how do you like HCL tech

    • I am currently in Corporate Marketing in HCL Tech. As I told you, there is difference in Management and Engineering hiring therefore I wont be able to put down exact time lines.
      Till now I have found HCLT cool.
      What kind of negative comments have you come across ?

      • Salary is less ; No monetary benefits, Employees are made to work for long hours, unimpressive leadership, No one cares if u want out coz of salary, Employee first is a farce; Salary not commensurate with Skill/experience; Govt Culture
        Low Compensation compared to others
        People are not competent enough.
        Salary is pathetic, you will be Demoralized and demotivated towards works once you get the meager salary.Whatever work they give you ,the salary is simply Sarcastic or Ironic(Depends on your Outlook). no recognition to the employees for all the hard work at the end of the day. Salary hike is less when compared to other IT firms. They need to pay more attention when they hire new resourcces.Lot of poltics.
        Lot of dependency.
        Management is not responsive to employee concers.
        Managers have attitude problems.
        Manger dependent work culture.

  12. Hi my friend got selected in HCL Technologies in campus interview and 6 of my college students are also placed. My friend didn’t get any mail from HCL technologies but rest of others got mail from HCl…… My friend is in so upset and don’t know where to intimate this…. Can u please tell where to approach this….. thanks

  13. hi friends……any one reply plz……i am selected thru campus in sep..2011. they told about 3 step joining process.i got 2 before 1 and half months…when i get step 3? to enter into hcl..tech..

  14. Hello Arpit, can u plz tell me that after these rounds, have u faced any round on phone?
    And in how many u got the joining?
    how ur joining has been informed to u, by mail or by phone?

    Plz do reply, i need ur help, as my joining is still not came in HCL.

    • Priyanka, there wasn’t any call to me but the company was in touch with my training and placement officer. Finally I was asked to file my details on a portal.

      There is some difference in Management and Engineering hiring. I was from a Management campus.

      • hi Arpit, HCL is coming to our college campus next month. so what all the subjects, i need to prepare and what abt the written test….

    • HCL Infrastructure Division is now a part of HCL Technologies only.. So their process will be same as HCL Tech.
      For engineers : A online aptitude test, followed by an interview.
      For MBAs : Similar to the post above….

  19. Hi,
    I got placed in HCL Technologies in sep,2012. I didn’t receive confirmation mail yet. All the students who are placed in HCL Comnet have received their confirmation mail. When will I get confirmation mail from HCL tech.?

  20. Thank u…Arpit….for ur kind information.I’m diploma students of electronics….selected for hcl imphosis campusing.I try my level best of ur advice.

  21. Hii Arpit, How are you.. I have done MBA in HR. I went for the interview at HCL Tchnologies (HCL Bserv) for HR Generalist.. In the final round interview, manager told right now we cant tell the final results as we have to interview lot of candidates.. so whatever is the answer we will let you know.

    My interview was on 27th and it went really good, and its been 5 days now but there is no reply from that side.. Even the Number mentioned on the Job Website is a toll free number which no body picks it up.. Dont know whom to ask..

    On the other hand people who came for legal analyst they were give the results yes or no on the spot. I dont know why they are taking time to decide for HR.

    I mean there should be some professionalism if its a no then also they should inform through email etc..

    But right now i am thinking still positive as my interview went good. Can you please guide me till when these people decide and email.. or they never inform?..

    • Hi Sneha

      Have you received any kind of intimation. My close is very much close to you even i am waiting from more than one month. I have also asked a question from Arpit. But, he hasn’t replied yet.

      “I am having more than 3 years of experience in .Net Technology. I appeared for Interview on 27th Apr 2013 at sector-125, Noida(.Net Developer). After Clearing all technical & HR rounds, i was told that next process will take 1 or 2 week to issue the offer letter. Now, more than month has gone, but, I have not got any mail from their side.
      Once i contacted HR then they told me about approval is awaited from certain departments and it will take 2 or 3 days. They have given me this TAT more than twice. But, no resolution yet.

      Can anybody tell me how much time this usually take? Or this is nothing more than consolation? Or this will ever get approved or not?..

      Please answer ASAP.”

      • Dear Sneha and Nishant…
        Thanks for dropping in on my blog..

        To bring to your notice, I dont have much clue about the lateral hiring process flow at HCL Tech…

        Morever, I have moved on from the company or else I could have dug this out for you guys.

        Happy reading !!!

  24. Hi Arpit,

    I am having more than 3 years of experience in .Net Technology. I appeared for Interview on 27th Apr 2013 at sector-125, Noida(.Net Developer). After Clearing all technical & HR rounds, i was told that next process will take 1 or 2 week to issue the offer letter. Now, more than month has gone, but, I have not got any mail from their side.
    Once i contacted HR then they told me about approval is awaited from certain departments and it will take 2 or 3 days. They have given me this TAT more than twice. But, no resolution yet.

    Can anybody tell me how much time this usually take? Or this is nothing more than consolation? Or this will ever get approved or not?..

    Please answer ASAP.

  25. Hi Arpit,
    I am a college student and I am working on my HR project for which I need to know the selection,recruitment and induction process of HCL technologies so could you help me in the concerned matter.
    Thanking you
    Regards,
    Bhakti D.

  27. hi arpit,
    i gonna attend the interview for hcl infosystems, i would like to know the selection process and also the written test details like format

  28. Hi Arpit ,

    I have recently given an interview in Kolkata for Chennai location On C#/window application on Saturday HR told me that “we ll call you on Monday “but still i its not happened. Am waiting for this so, please say when they ll call or they wont?..

  29. HI Team,

    i was selected by HCL technologies for technical support, I have cleared all the rounds of interviews before one month June 1st week , they asking send all documents for HR formalities, i sent but still they din’t intimate any information regarding the offer. But, still i its not happened. Am waiting for this so, please say when they ll call or they wont?.. i want to know when they provided offer for you after the selection.

    thank you.

  30. HI Team,

    i was selected by HCL technologies for technical support, I have cleared all the rounds of interviews before one month June 1st week , they asking send all documents for HR formalities, i sent but still they din’t intimate any information regarding the offer. But, still i its not happened. Am waiting for this so, please say when they ll call or they wont?.. i want to know when they provided offer for you after the selection.

    thank you.

  31. HI Arpit
    I got selected in HCL tech …and i received a mail tht i m selected …thy gve me a link mycampus.hcl.com …where i had to upload all my details nd the guarantor details…..do hcl ask for a surity amount …???? is the link which thy had given is correct….??? in the link thy hd attached a sample f service agreement too…..there are many fake recruitment going on everywhere…so i would lke to know whether al these r correct …so tht i can proceed with the link…thk for the useful info u hd given above
    thk you .

    • Dear Rahul,

      Thats HCL’s official way to go about campus recruitment. However, they did not ask for any amount during my time, just a gurantor and a service agreement – which said that I am liable to pay some amount if I leave early than the period mentioned (no payment in advance).

      Hope that helps.

      Arpit

  32. hello arpit sir, i appeared for an off campus recently & gave my hr interview for hcl technology on 1st aug 2014 & was told dt u all are selected & oficialy results will b declared within 10-15 days, but it has been around month bt no response came yet.. can u plz tell dt how long it takes for the offer letter & date of joining to come?? i belong to an engineering stream.

  33. Hi,
    i am MBA graduates and i attend the off campus interview in HCL on 18 sep’14. They told to me, you are selected and tomorrow you have document verification. i am also done in document verification and they said “we will call you on Monday but i can’t got it. they are not sent single confirmation mail to me. So,plz tell me how days to take they sent confirmation mail and they give offer letter.

  34. Hello Arpit,

    I had attended a pool drive for hcl tech on 16th and 17th sept 2014 in b’lore. Later i was sent a mail that i got selected (engineering domain) on the 26th of sept. I also filled all my personal details in their company website. Then they sent me my service agreement and said they will send the stamp paper once they’ve finalized the joining date (which they haven’t done yet). The only thing that worries me a liiilttle bit RIGHT NOW is when will i get my joining date. It’s been almost 2 weeks since the results came out. I know u might think that it’s too early for me to be little worried about the joining date. However, I’d really like to know when approximately they will send us the joining date and location. It’s not that easy to stay calm when we don’t get any updates from the hcl team for around 2 weeks. Thank you.

    If anybody else also has any idea i would be really thankful if u could respond.

  35. sir i got a mail, saying that i selected in a off campus drive which is completed in gkm engineering college, chennai on 06-11-14. they told me me fill the complete details given in the link , i successfully completed my details and submitted on 11-11-14. they say that you will receive stamp papers but i did not receive any stamp papers to my address can you help me please
    if you have any information please mail at mbalaji437@gmail.com.

    thanks

    • Hi Arpit,
      Actually I gave interview in HCl bangalore and the drive was for hcltech.It was at 2 august 2014.First iinterview was f2f then one telephonic interview was scheduled just after few days.Interview was cleared I think so and after the interview he discussed CTC also including hr round questions stating that her team will untimate me.it almost 3 months got over and I dint get any update regarding my result.Please guide me what should I do in this situation.
      Thanks
      Rohit Mishra

      • Dear Rohit,

        In case you have the email address of the guy interviewing you, you should write to him/her asking about the application status.
        Also, even if you know the name, you may ask someone working in HCl to atleast fetch his/her email ID.

        Apart from this, I am afraid to state that there is not much you can do about it.

        Regards

    • You can mail to the HR asking for the papers.
      If I remember correctly, there is a dedicated generic email adrress for all campus recruites. I think campus@hcl.com.

      Write an email and ask for papers. They also send you soft copy of the papers which you can print at your end.

  36. hello . i am selected but the form which they want me to be filled causing problem .now what should i do .because i have sent them request but no reply from them.

  37. Hi Arpit
    i got selected in hcl technologies, i did’nt got the stamp paper yet…. could you tell me to which address they will send it . i am now at my present adress and my permanent address is other one

    • Dear Vishnu,
      They generally send it to the permanent address. If not, you can ask for a soft copy of the agreement (in MS Word format) and get it printed on the prescribed stamp paper at your end as well.
      Good Luck.

  38. Hi Arpit,

    My induction process got over yesterday but still now I did not received my SAP id… I have triggered an Email to my recruiter but there is no response from them.Please advice how to proceed??

  41. sir
    got selected in hcl comnet(isd division ) thru campus placement .worried about working shifts
    as you come from hcl family can you disclose pros and cons of this division of hcl .

    regards
    abhishek shrivastava

  42. Hi,

    I have applied for an opportunity in HCL. It is for software development. Can you please tell me about the process and how tough the technical round is. Is there any written test also conducted?

  43. Guys can I have contact number of any HR executive of HCL bserve?

    I am unable to find any contact number of any HR person of HCL BServe, I have many questions regarding opening for the post of Implementation analyst in HCL Sec 60 Noida. The helpline number they have given is toll free and you wont believe I waited in the queue for more than 90 minutes but nobody took the call. It is really very disappointing and frustrating. Please please Help me.

  44. Hi arpit sir,
    i got selected in hcl tech via off campus on feb 2015.they sent LOI on feb 2015 and service agreement on march 2015. But still i didn’t get my date of joining sir. when will they send it .

  45. I was selected for this company by campus interview.and I send my appointment document s.but I don’t receive any inviting information.what can I do…?

  47. I attended interview on 5th Sep 201finished all levels of interview. Finally, they said you are shortlisted you received mail on Monday. But, I didn’t receive any mail.
    Please I want to know I’m selected or not??
    And me…..

  48. I attended interview on 5th Sep 2015 for healthcare nonvoice process… finished all levels of interview. Finally, they said you are shortlisted you received mail on Monday. But, I didn’t receive any mail.
    Please I want to know I’m selected or not??
    Ans me…..

  49. sir I m doing my BE final year ECE Nw only my placement coordinates said that we hv HCl placement within few days frankly saying I don’t know anything about HCl pls give me some tips about how to prepare myself for placement

  50. sir I m doing my BE final year ECE Nw only my placement coordinaters said that we hv HCl placement within few days frankly saying I don’t know anything about HCl pls give me some tips about how to prepare myself for placement

    • Dear Vithyavani,
      Reading about HCL from their corporate website should be more than enough for a fresher interview. The recruiters will evaluate you more on your quantitative ability, communication skills and subject knowledge and not on knowledge about HCL.
      Good Luck.

      • Am completed my b.e mechanical with 63%.shall I eligible for HCl bserve…
        What are the necessary things to update myself for the interview..

      • Sir, i have no joining date yet…i cleared my interview on 18th march 2016 and before a week i uploded my documents for HCL infra. Would you help me to gathering the information related to joining date

      • hey arpit.
        I am selected for hcl technologies referLdrive in june 2016 .and filled the candidate details.they said in the maol that they would send the link to upload documents in 3-4 days.but its been a week.will this link also reaches late or what not getting.
        I have also mailed to the website which theu had given to ask any queries .but no reply frm it.how long it would take for a link to come?

  52. hi…sir. ..my name is Raoof ..
    I was selected for this company by staffing cunsultant interview appeard at HCL 60 Noida there was 2 round i was in selected..in Services desk for chennai location.they told you have to come on monday …i got call on from hcl dend all document i have submitt …they told me we will call you after …13 day i got a call from hcl chennai…they told me you are selected for chennai…nd send me your update profile….but i did not get mail id
    till now i did not get call…or offet letter
    what should i do???

  53. hello sir, i got a mail from HCL that i hv been selected, bt all my friends got mail for document upload, but only me did not get a link for uploading document? what shld i do?

    • hi suma, did u attend interview on june9 in Bangalore. on june 24 , I got a greeting of selection and I have sent them candidate details.but waiting for the link to upload the documents.did u get that

  54. hello sir
    I got a campus placement and after that they had asked me to upload certain document.since at the time of placement i was in final year i could not upload my final semester mark sheets but now when i am trying to upload the documents the link doesn’t work and they have not even intimated anything about the joining date.kindly help me for uploading of documents if you would know any solution to it.

  55. Hello sir i am from chandigarh having a experience of 5 years in IT..
    I attended interview 2 weeks before in Noida .The whole interview process took 1 day and cleared all rounds. But still no update regarding my interview..if they are not having requirements,why they are conducting drives.
    Is any one have answer please reply me..
    Can anybody tell me how much time this usually take?

  57. Hai sir I got selected in hcl refferel drive and I also got boarding mail to upload the documents and I did, nearly 18 days over when will I get the joinig date.

  58. Hi sir i have uploaded my resume in HCL technologies official website for IT and received a “resume shortlisted” email from careers@hcl.com and i was asked to contact the recruiter that will get in touch with me for any queries. i have received this email on nov 23 2016, its been 20 days already but i didn’t get any email from hcl still.. should i wait for some more days or could i be able to contact any recruiter from hcl through email.. thank you in advance, hope you’ll reply me as soon as possible.

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