In a remarkable journey that could rival the plot twists of any Bollywood drama, a non-IIT engineer has proven that humble beginnings and relentless ridicule can change career growth. Today, after nine years of professional hustle, this once-mocked techie walks away with a salary package of Rs 92.5 lakh per annum. His starting salary was Rs 2.16 lakh. And yes, the infamous cousin who told him to work at the family shop is (perhaps fittingly) now seeking financial advice from him.
From Tier-3 to Trailblazer
The story begins in 2016, when a guy from a tier-3 college with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering landed his first job thanks to mass campus hiring. The starting salary was Rs 2.16 LPA, which elicited little more than snickers from family—especially a certain cousin, who suggested that hawking goods at the family store would be more lucrative. But, determined to prove that coding can be more profitable than cashiering, he stuck it out through Java training and the jibes.
Climbing with Calculated Moves
By 2017, he received a modest salary hike to Rs 3.35 LPA, following a pivotal shift to a product-based company, where his role (and pay—Rs 6.5 LPA) grew. Specializing in frontend work, he developed valuable technical skills but found interview processes daunting due to a somewhat limited skill set.
Year after year, he stuck to the grind and landed annual hikes—rising to Rs 12.5 LPA by 2020. Just as he hit this stride, COVID-19 brought a rude interruption: delayed perks and bonuses. Rather than sulk, he rolled up his sleeves, upskilled, and started prepping for new interviews.
Breakout & Breakneck Progress
His perseverance paid off with a game-changing offer from a fast-moving startup—Rs 25 LPA (including ESOPs). Running with a wider range of responsibilities, he faced the ups and downs of the startup world, including a shutdown. But rather than treating this as an obituary for his career, he banked the lessons—and the confidence—for his next role.
The payoff was dramatic: in 2021, he landed a Rs 51 LPA package. Subsequent moves nudged that number to Rs 52 LPA, then Rs 56.5, and up to Rs 60.8 LPA by 2024.
Even layoffs in his company couldn’t faze him; he simply took a short break, then came back swinging.
Living the Dream—And the Last Laugh
By 2025, his years of learning, calculated risk-taking, and a dash of good timing landed him a headline-worthy package: Rs 92.5 LPA (Rs 80L fixed, Rs 5L variable, plus ESOPs).
With deep expertise across domains and systems, he aced interviews. Today, he earns in a day what he once earned in a month—while his cousin, erstwhile critic, now uses his journey as a motivational tale for the next generation.
For the rest of us, perhaps it’s time to brush up on those Java tutorials—or rethink our retail ambitions.
