I came across this profile and found the trajectory crazy:

Civil Engineering → learned coding from scratch → Infosys → Blinkit → Microsoft → Google Switzerland (ML/AI).

Apparently, he started with little/no coding background.

For people in tech:

How realistic is this transition today?

Can an average person from a non-CS background reach Google through relentless self-learning and job-switching?

How much is hard work vs timing/luck/survivorship bias?

Was the service company → product company → FAANG route easier in 2018–22 than it is today?

Would love some brutally realistic perspectives from people who have actually made similar transitions.

Actually he is is my long distance relatives I know know him and but he doesn't know me as we never met. just heard their stroy from my family then I go on linkedin found their profile. For reference I attached their profile here. He is from middle family used to take loan for finance even btech.

I live in Pune, Maharashtra..I used to work in banking with the wishes of my parents but I just could not take its workload and quit my job whem I was nearing 2 years..I thought I would take 3 months off to prep myself & search for work but searching has now become close to a year. I am losing confidence & I think now nobody will hire me. Please help I am good in operations work and good at secretarial work and am willing to learn from work. Please hire me. Or give me guidance on how to be hire-able.

I will be 30 soon, and while I have always been confident about my salary for most part of my 20s, now that I see growing family expenses and hear people my age earning more, I wonder if I made a mistake selecting my domain or if I am not striving hard enough.

Please avoid idealistic comments. I know whether a salary is enough is subjective. I also know everyone has a different journey. I am looking for realistic benchmarks of how much others my age are earning right now.

Let me go first. I earn 10.5L an year. I live in Delhi on rent.

Gen Z is not being "disloyal" so much as they are refusing to participate in a broken economic arrangement. For decades, corporate loyalty was rewarded with pensions, steady career ladders, and wages that kept pace with the cost of living—a deal that was largely dismantled before Gen Z entered the workforce.

Instead of the material benefits their predecessors received, companies now offer abstract concepts like "family culture" and "mission statements." Gen Z has essentially done the math: they have observed that staying in one place often results in stagnant wages, while job hopping acts as a necessary tool for "price discovery" to ensure they are paid a market rate.

Source: https://youtu.be/0SAa5EP_wJ4?si=lyYyED-HIArU31ZQ

**Tell me what your experience says and what you think?**

​

I'm 23. I did my BCA and then my MCA in AI & Data Science, and I honestly feel like I wasted those years.

At 19, 20, and 21, I had plenty of job offers. I turned them all down, and now I keep thinking that if I had said yes, I'd have years of experience and be in a much better place today.

In July 2026 I finally got a job. Less than a month later, I was let go. Since then I've tried freelancing, but I'm not earning anything, and I'm tired. Some days I feel like giving up on it.

At 23, I feel like it's too late. I know that might sound dramatic, but that's honestly how it feels right now. If you've been through something like this (regretting past choices, an early-career layoff, or a slow start), how did you keep going? What helped?

Hey everyone, I'm 21 and honestly stuck on this one, so I'd really appreciate some outside opinions.

I have two offers right now.

Offer 1: Big firm, Hyderabad

₹73k/month

Shift is Afternoon to 11pm

Well-established MNC, and I've heard the culture is good

I'd have to move from Ahmedabad, find a flat/flatmates, and sort out tiffin service and everything else from scratch.

Offer 2: A job in Ahmedabad

₹45k/month

Shift is 4am to 1pm (yes, 4 in the morning)

I stay at home with family and friends

I live with my family in Ahmedabad. I give ₹15k to my mom every month, spend 5k on my own needs, ₹5k misc and 2k on petrol, and the rest is savings. That's about ₹18k saved per month right now.

For Hyderabad, I tried a rough budget: rent ₹8-12k, tiffin ₹6k, plus bills, commute and other stuff, so about ₹28k living costs. After still sending ₹15k home, I'd save around ₹30k+ a month. Setup costs (deposit, basics) would be about ₹40-50k upfront. I still need to confirm whether the ₹75k is in-hand or CTC.

What's pulling me both ways:

The big firm's brand name would help my career a lot long term.

But I'd be starting from zero in a new city, with no friends or family there.

The 4am shift in Ahmedabad sounds brutal for sleep and social life, but I'd be home.

Has anyone relocated alone this young for a job? Was it worth it, or did loneliness hit harder than expected? And if you've worked a 4am start for a long time, how did it affect you?

Thanks in advance, any advice helps.

I want to build a career with high earning potential and long-term growth.

For people earning ₹50 LPA or more:

What's your educational background? IIT/NIT or a regular college?

What field do you work in, and how many years did it take to reach this level?

What skills or career decisions helped you the most?

Is an MBA worth it for reaching this salary range? Does the college brand matter more than the degree itself?

With AI changing the job market, which careers will remain valuable and pay well over the next 10–15 years?

If you were starting your career today, would you pursue an MBA, focus on technical skills, or choose another path?

I'd appreciate honest experiences and practical advice. Thanks!

Hey folks,

We spend 4+ years getting degrees, learn specialized skills, and sit at desks for 10–12 hours a day... yet half the companies in India treat white-collar employees like modern laborers who are available 24/7.

Unpaid overtime, late-night Slack messages, ghosting after 5 interview rounds, and "lala-type" management have become the default standard in many startups and MNCs alike.

I recently started r/CorporateMazdoorParty to give employees across India a dedicated space to speak up, share authentic company reviews, call out toxic management practices, and highlight genuine green-flag employers.

We are building a platform focused on employee accountability, transparent hiring, and workplace respect.

Check out the original post below and drop your thoughts!

I have bsc maths degree. I dont have a laptop. Just an android tablet.

Every job profile I come across, users are saying the market is dead for freshers.

Job market is brutal, it will take extreme hard work and luck. Best thing to do now ig is dont stop and keep taking action. But what actions exactly?

Like what exactly am I supposed to work hard at? What exactly to grind? What skills exactly to develop? What tools to learn?

What exactly am I suppoed to work hard for? What process to engage in at this moment? What actions I am even supposed to be taking now?

I am willing to work hard but I dont want to end up working hard for something thats totally dead, like no job at all regardless of how much I upskill or chances are almost 0%.

Anything where chances arent a 0%?

I'm 20F, i did mech engineering which i love, i chose it because i love physics even though my parents were pushing me into CSE.

I'm in final year and I got a job at a huge automobile company, 6LPA and in the city i love (chennai, i used to live there it's nostalgia, don't come at me saying it's boring, for me i love that place). I didn't put much effort into college, i am naturally good at studies but let's just say I was lazing around and didn't do my best. I have an 8+ cgpa, lil extra curriculars, and honestly this is a decent offer for a fresher in mech. But i don't love the industry, i never thought i would work in automobiles, hell even though my family is middle class we never even owned a car (dad's company car with driver took us places or public transport). I always thought id work in clean energy sector or biomedical industry or space tech, cars were the LAST thing...

I just gave the test thinking I'll get to skip classes, got into the interview and I think I bombed it I knew like 80% of the answers only but well I still got in( didn't prep for it). I thought would give GATE and make it to an IIT honestly I didn't think I'll get placed at all, cuz there are really good people in my college and market is chopped rn. Im in a tier 1.5 college. Now the catch is according to my college rules i can't sit for anything less than 12lpa now, which is let's bfr rare in mech, only 6 companies offered that much this season.

I know I'm being ungrateful asf, but I'm really not happy idk how to deal with this, i have to leave the college soon and idts i was ready for this change. And getting this job makes me think maybe if I waited i could have bagged a 8lpa+ offer. I am completely derailed from my GATE prep now, honestly i just locked in after lazing around for so long.

Has anyone loved their subject/degree but got into a job they don't like... did you get to switch, was it easy? Im holding out hope that maybe I will end up liking the job, it's design and I do like that. But idk if im the best fit for the industry.

I recently got laid off from company, now planned to prepare for govt exam (ssc cgl) for full time. Do my decision is crct ? My age is 25, am i starting it late ???.... Give me your suggestions guys.

🥲TL;DR:

Finished a 4-year quant finance degree, torn between econ research and a corporate MBA/MiM. How do I decide?

I did a 4-year Bachelors in quant finance (7.9 CGPA) and want to work in economics, but I’m not sure research pays enough. I turned down a 6 LPA quant analyst offer because my dad didn’t want me leaving Bangalore, and now I’m in a 6-month internship at an IT startup with no certifications or network to show for my college years.

Academic path: I’d be happier, but it pays little and my profile isn’t stellar. I’m scared of ending up financially dependent on my parents. Corporate path (CAT/MBA or MiM): safer, but I’d drop my interests, and I don’t know what I’d say in interviews.

I’m prepping for CAT and GRE anyway, but I need help. How do I sort this out? . . .

✨The Essay ✨

I'm so lost. 22F, I am not sure what I want.

I finished a 4-year degree in Quantitative Finance. So, basically economics and finance with complex math.

I chose to do 4 years to have a shot at research opportunities or research masters. Later, I pivoted and decided I wanted to have work experience because I wasn't sure about career paths in economics - which is what I like doing. I may not be passionate, but I enjoy it a lot more.

My grades fluctuated a lot but I managed to get a 7.9 cgpa at the end.

While I did get a job opportunity, it started off as a 2-month internship with a 6 lpa fixed full time offer after that as a quant analyst at a small trading firm. Not the best, but we barely had placement offers at college to begin with.

This is where the issue begins: I let go of that opportunity because my dad felt I shouldn't leave Bangalore and focus on planning my masters. He made up all sorts of excuses saying this firm is small, they'll just extend your internship etc etc when it's a financial firm with barely any operational costs unlike other industries. "Waste of time" according to him. The truth is he just didn't want me to leave the city so that my mom wouldn't be alone (he works away and is home on weekends), and I get it. I got sentimental too, and willingly did let go.

Unfortunately I did not pursue any major certifications or network well on LinkedIn because I spent my entire time in college being indecisive, and could not get immediate better offers. I take full blame for this. So ultimately I ended up at an IT startup in their financial planning department, from connections - as an intern for 6 months for now.

My second issue with indecisiveness ultimately boils down to this: the low financial return that often comes with an academic path in your 20s. I am happy being self sufficient but my parents are getting old and my brother is yet to start earning well, and while my parents do have a sufficient retirement fund - they clearly expect us to earn extremely well.

My dad asks me what I want, and yeah sure, seems progressive in thought but he's out of touch with reality. He tells me to pursue any career that will give the best money, then he says he prefers if I do research as a "girl", then says I should be aiming at earning 6-8 lpa a month. The worst part of all this is dealing with him. He says I should pursue what I want, but he's rarely ever listened to me. I've told him that I liked economics and then he tells me I should do something in sustainable finance/Fintech/quantum finance or something AI related because of the money. When I was in 12th and considering IPMAT (joint BBA-MBA that IIMs offer), he just asked me to blindly follow whatever he said to have a good career. That didn't work out, clearly. There is no freedom even if he covers it up with "do what you like". Trust me, I have seen the hypocrisy. Now everyday he says my career is not shaping up well, and says I've lost time and should take next steps properly when I let go of a good and lucky learning opportunity that I could've used on my resume for his sake. The pressure and feeling of being incompetent he creates is unbearable.

My final issue is this: I'll be self satisfied if I pursue the academic path, but I'll be sacrificing a lot of milestones for later since it's not financially lucrative. Especially because my profile is not stellar. I'm also scared about potentially being dependent on my parents financially if there are any emergencies which is even more screwed up.

I feel I'll have better luck with the corporate path, but I'll have to let go of my interests and do the classical MBA or MiM. But I'm also scared about surviving in the current and upcoming future job market. I am preparing for CAT and GRE but I'm so scared I'll be unhappy with this, and I barely have a plan so even if I crack these exams what am I going to say in the interviews???

What I hate most about this is my sheer lack of decision making when it comes to my personal life. I blame my upbringing and overbearing dad for this but I can't keep blaming them forever and need to get a spine. But first, I've got to make a choice.

How do I sort this mess out? I know this is immature and I need to take more accountability but this really is a CRY FOR HELP.

Approx all group A services earning nearly 1-2lpm throughout the life (except ias, ips, is, ifs), how these

people will be able to buy their house in this economy in a decent society of worth. I know it is very difficult task to clear those exams ,but after their lots of hardwork still they are not able to build a house ,then what's point of clearing those exams with lots of hard work and sacrificing minimum 2-3 on a single exam

MBA or government exams? A lot of us get stuck between these two options, where one gives career growth, and the other gives job security. 

But honestly, this decision should not be based only on salary, stability or what other people consider a “good career.” 

If you genuinely want to work in management, marketing, finance or consulting, an MBA may make sense. But before committing, understand the real outcome for you. Which colleges can you realistically get into? What will the total cost be? What kind of roles open up? An MBA can open doors, but the college, your skills and the opportunities available matter a lot.

And if the primary goal is to get stability with some job security, then a government exam can be a great step. However, preparing for a government exam is a different story. It can take time. This path can be challenging because of high competition and limited seats.

If you are still confused, maybe start here:

• What kind of life do you wish to build for yourself in the long run?
• How much time and money can I realistically invest in this path?
• If things don't go as planned, what alternatives can I explore? 

Kuch log job ke saath preparation manage karte hain, while others prefer to focus on one path at a time. It really depends on their circumstances and how much time they can commit.

Would be interesting to hear from people is there anything you wish you would have considered before making that choice?

Hi everyone! I’m a 22F CMA(India) Final student with around 15 months of articleship at a CA firm, where my exposure was quite limited, and around 2 years of startup accounting experience. I’ve cleared Group 4 and will be appearing for Group 3 in June.

I have around 6–7 months left and want to become job-ready for roles in FP&A, corporate finance, financial modelling, or business finance. I’m not interested in traditional R2R/O2C roles.

My target is a package of ₹10–11 LPA after qualifying CMA. I have attempts in CMA Inter, and campus placements are highly competitive, so I want to focus on off-campus opportunities.

I’d appreciate advice on:

Which technical skills should I prioritise to become job-ready?

Which roles and companies should I target?

How can I compensate for my limited articleship exposure?

Realistically, what should I do over the next 6–7 months to maximise my chances of landing a ₹10–11 LPA package?

Would love to hear from qualified CMAs and finance professionals with relevant industry experience. Thanks!

Currently working at American Express as a Band 28, earning 8 LPA (band range: 5.5–9 LPA).
I have 2 years of total work experience and a postgraduate degree. I initially joined Amex at Band 28 through a referral because I was unemployed after graduation.

Now I’m planning to apply internally for Band 30 roles in Risk, Credit Risk, and Fraud in December. I’ve checked the eligibility requirements, and I meet or exceed the experience, education, and technical skill requirements.

The salary range for these Band 30 positions is 12–22 LPA, which I can see internally.

My questions:

Is asking for 20 LPA realistic, considering I’m currently at 8 LPA? I know it’s a 150% hike, but it’s within the new band’s range.

What’s the maximum I should negotiate for, and what’s the minimum I should realistically settle for?
If HR says “Your current CTC is only 8 LPA, we can’t offer such a huge hike” or “We don’t have the budget,” how do I negotiate without getting lowballed?

Does Amex have any internal salary hike caps when moving from Band 28 to Band 30, even when switching functions?

Would especially appreciate insights from people who’ve made internal band jumps at Amex or worked in HR/compensation.

So I'm 20M from Chennai pursuing B.E. Mech, in which I have zero interest and conceptual knowledge after coming into the 3rd year. I just have 1 year left to choose my career...
All these years I had thought of entering IT thru non-coding jobs such as UI/UX or something... But lately I had this issue with my eye and I hope I can't have a career with constantly infront of a monitor. Hence I can't choose IT as well as core for placement... Btw I'm building a startup in sideways that's highly risky and not a sure-shot hit. I have been interested in these YouTube channels (Think School, Aevy TV, Full Disclosure, and more similar types iykyk ) for a few years for their content ... Also I want it to be a more socializing environment (Since I wanna come out of my comfort zone) Ofc most importantly it should be a good and high paying career
So ik I have given my requirements like searching for a bride in a matrimony but yeah that's my case ... so suggest me w options (Which higher edu + what career after that) ... You are welcome to suggest something better than mine too

I need a job ASAP

I have previously worked in BPO for 7 months

I will be happy get any role apart from customer service

I have been trying to get one since april

I hold skills like excel, sql, power bi, python

But no luck

I'll have no money to survive after a few weeks

Please help

I have 15 years of corporate experience as an IT developer with multiple MNCs and a well-paying job. However, politics has been my passion for the past 12 years. I’ve worked on election campaigns for multiple political parties, managed social media teams, and developed campaign strategies.

Last week, I launched my website offering political intelligence and strategy services. I’m also building mobile apps to help political parties and candidates manage their campaigns.

Based in Bengaluru, I’m currently building this venture alone. I have connections with political leaders and parties, so I’m optimistic about the business potential, but leaving a stable career to pursue this full-time is a big decision.

I’ve started discussing the idea with a few friends and hope to find a like-minded co-founder who shares my passion for politics and technology.

I’d love advice from people who have built consulting businesses or political tech startups. Is this a viable career path in India, and how would you approach it?

Hi everyone!

I'm currently pursuing an MBA in HR and want to build my career in Human Resources. I already have internship experience in technical and non-technical hiring, including candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling, and follow-ups.

Now, I want to focus on getting a paid, full-time HR job rather than doing another internship, especially unpaid ones.

I'd appreciate advice on a few things:

- How can I improve my resume to get shortlisted for HR roles?

- Which entry-level HR positions should I apply for?

- Which skills or certifications would help me stand out?

- How can I find companies that hire freshers directly for full-time HR positions?

- Which HR career paths offer good growth and salary potential in the long run?

I'd love to hear from HR professionals or people who have recently started their careers. Any practical advice on how to prepare, apply, and land my first full-time role would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!