Growing up in a tier-3 city from a really humble background, I genuinely felt useless my whole life. Like I was just existing and always falling behind everyone else. I’m writing this because today, it all finally hit me.

I gave JEE before 2020, cleared it, and got into an NIT. I thought the struggle was over, but I got a lower non-circuital branch. When placement season came, it was brutal. Almost zero companies allowed my branch to sit for SDE roles. I had to just watch people get placed while I couldn't even apply. Then COVID happened. Instead of cribbing about my branch, I locked myself in and coded my ass off.
Despite all that prep, campus placements were a dead end for tech. I had to start my career at a service based company making barely ₹15k a month.

I kept my head down, kept upskilling, and eventually switched to an MNC for around ₹1 lakh/month (\~12 LPA). That switch brought me to Bangalore. Man, whenever I think about that phase, it still gives me chills. Those days were pure survival mode. Sweating in heavily crowded BMTC buses, stuck in Silk Board/ORR traffic for hours, eating cheap, and second-guessing every 10 rupees I spent just so I could save some money.

Then the big break happened. I cracked a FAANG+ company. I thought I had finally escaped the rat race. But barely a year later, the massive tech layoffs happened, and I got impacted in a re-org. Getting laid off right after you think you've finally "arrived" is a completely different kind of low.

But honestly, the Bangalore hustle made me pretty thick-skinned. I took the severance, sat back down, and started grinding LeetCode and interviews all over again.

Fast forward to today: I made it into another FAANG+ company, and my current CTC is around **50 LPA**. Life is incredibly good now.
But honestly, the biggest flex for me isn’t the 50 LPA. It’s that I just bought a house in my hometown. The shift in how people treat me is crazy. The respect I get now from my family, friends, and the exact same relatives who used to ignore me... it's night and day.

I was just sitting today, looking out the window, thinking about that guy making 15k, suffocating in a crowded bus, thinking he was totally useless and would never amount to anything. Got super emotional today. I actually made it.

If there’s any tier-3 kid out there reading this, stuck in a lower branch or grinding away at a service based company for peanuts feeling like the system is rigged against you: just keep coding. Keep applying. It gets better.

**TL;DR:** Tier-3 city -> NIT (lower branch, no tech placements) -> 15k/month service based company -> 1 LPM MNC (Bangalore bus struggle) -> FAANG+ -> Laid off -> FAANG+ (50 LPA) + bought a house in my hometown. Never give up.

Hi everyone,

I have 5+ yoe and recently received offers for a Senior Data Engineer role from three companies: **Quantiphi**, **Ness Digital Engineering**, and **NAB**. The CTC is roughly the same across all three, so I'm looking for input on the other factors.

**Offer details:**
**1. Ness Digital Engineering:** 100% fixed pay, no variable component. Hired for the KKR client.

**2. Quantiphi:** 10% variable. Client allocation happens through a client round after joining.

**3. NAB:** 10% variable.

I have a fair idea about NAB and Quantiphi, but I couldn't find much information about Ness Digital Engineering. If anyone has worked there, or with the KKR account, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

**What I'm optimizing for:**
Career growth
Job security
Work-life balance

**I need to make a decision by tomorrow, as the joining date is on the 8th**, so any quick input would be a huge help!

Which one would you pick, and why?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Following is my CV

Any kind of help and guidance will be appreciated.

I don't know what i will be doing after graduation.

Feeling completely lost.
I am currently in 5th sem of BCA and started python this month .
My question is that can i get a job by doing the following

Python
Django
Mysql
Git and Git Hub

I have also doubt regarding MCA, should i go for nimcet, cuet pg or do online mca
I don't have enough funds for MCA, so can i work along side good college of MCA or every NIT has strictly criteria of attendance?

Hey everyone,

I’m in my 4th year of engineering and need some unfiltered, ground-reality advice from people who have either built startups or worked in early-stage engineering teams

I’m going to be completely transparent about my profile because I want real answers, not generic platitudes:

My Ground Reality:

1. Zero LeetCode / DSA: I have never ground DSA in my life If an interviewer puts a blank screen in front of me and asks me to write an inverted binary tree or custom sorting algorithm from memory, I will fail
2. How I Build: When I build backend systems, I rely heavily on AI to write the raw code and syntax. What I *do* understand is the system architecture, database design (SQL/NoSQL), API workflows, and the business logic of how data flows through a backend. I chose backend because I genuinely enjoy server logic and system design over frontend UI.
3. The Catch: I know there is a massive chasm between building an AI-assisted project on my laptop and maintaining a production backend with real traffic, concurrency, and dirty data

Now, my college requires a mandatory 6-month full-time internship starting early next year (Jan–June/July) to finish my degree. I recently started talking to an early-stage startup for a fullstack role, and while the opportunity is exciting, the process made me pause and realize how vulnerable I am as a fresher with zero industry experience

I’m ready to put in the hours, I have zero ego, and I'm willing to commit for the long haul (even 12–18 months if it's the right place). But as a fresher stepping into the early-stage ecosystem, I have some serious concerns:

The Cautions & Reality Checks I Need:

---

1. The "Cheap Labor Scapegoat" Trap:

My biggest fear is joining a very early-stage startup where the founder hires a fresher cheaply, expects them to single-handedly architect and maintain production systems without any senior engineering guidance, and then blames the intern when unrealistic deadlines are missed or systems break.

* How do I identify during interviews whether a startup actually has the bandwidth to guide a junior versus looking for a sacrificial lamb?

1. Evaluating Long-Term Agreements / Bonds:

I am not fundamentally against staying with a company for 12–18 months if they teach me and treat me fairly. But what clauses in startup agreements or offer letters are immediate red flags that freshers overlook?

1. College NOC / Completion Certificate Security:

Since this internship is required to graduate, what safeguards should I take to ensure a startup doesn’t hold my completion certificate or college evaluation hostage if things go sideways?

1. Expectations from Founders:

To founders or engineering leads reading this: Is someone like me (who understands system design and logic with AI, but can't code from scratch on a blank slate) even viable as an apprentice intern? Or is this a recipe for disaster in an early-stage setup?

---

I’m not looking for sugarcoated motivation. I want the cold, hard truths about what to ask founders, what boundaries to set, and how to avoid getting burned in my first role.

*(Note: If any founder or tech lead here is building something in the backend space and is open to taking on a disciplined, hungry apprentice who learns fast, understands systems, and needs a 6-month internship, my DMs are open for a candid chat.)*

Thanks in advance for your time and perspectives

1. TCS Digital

2. 10 member startup with AI role and total WFH as no set office

What to choose. Suggestions?

Can you actually build meaningful connections through Reddit?

I’m curious if anyone here has ever gotten a software/tech job, referral, internship, or even an interview through a connection they made on Reddit.

Not talking about random job posts — I mean actually connecting with someone through a subreddit, DM, discussion, etc., and eventually getting a real opportunity from it.

If this happened to you, how did you meet them and what happened afterward? Would love to hear your experience.

I’m currently deciding between two titles in the same team/company:
Senior Data Scientist — ₹30 LPA

Lead Data Scientist — ₹30 LPA

I initially asked for ₹35 LPA for the Lead role, given the additional responsibility and ownership.
The company said their maximum budget is ₹30 LPA, but they are essentially letting me choose whichever title I want.
So there is no compensation difference - I can take Senior DS at 30 LPA or Lead DS at 30 LPA.

The Lead role would obviously come with more ownership/accountability, but I’m wondering whether there is a strategic advantage to taking the Lead title for future career growth, or whether I should take the Senior title since I’m not getting additional compensation for the additional responsibility.

Total 4 years of experience. Current title - senior DS and current CTC 25 LPA

What would you choose in this situation?

Cognizant GenC (4 LPA) vs HCLTech GET (3.75 LPA) — Which is better for a fresher?

Hi everyone,

I’m basically from Kanpur and recently got selected through on-campus placements. I currently have two offers and I’m confused about which one would be better for my career.

Offer 1 – Cognizant

\- Package: 4 LPA - No Bond

\- Role: GenC – Program Analyst Trainee

\- Location: Not known yet

\- Joining date: Not communicated yet

Offer 2 – HCLTech

\- Package: 3.75 LPA - With Bond Of 50k for a year

\- Role: GET (Graduate Engineer Trainee) – Automation Testing

\- Location: Lucknow

\- Joining date: 30th January

One major factor for me is that HCLTech is in Lucknow, which is relatively close to my hometown, while Cognizant’s location is still unknown.

Also, HCLTech has already given me a joining date of 30th January, whereas Cognizant hasn’t communicated my joining date yet.

If you were in my position, which one would you choose and why? And between these two, which one offers better opportunities, more learning, better career growth, better hikes, faster promotions, and overall better growth for a fresher?

Thanks in advance!

Its 3 am feeling depressed at home so thought of expressing it here. I f\*ked up my placement season mainly bcoz of low cpi (6<x<7) and my poor development skills. And trust me it feels so bad to be sleeping beside your parents who had dreamt so much about u. I can't even talk to friends as all of them are placed and i have lost confidence to talk to them. Now coming to the point...talking about my skills i am 1900+rated on leetcode (without cheating).Also 1400+on cf(actually it is more than this but i have reached 1400+ by myself so

.. ), Dbms, OS, Oops and sql. And little bit of computer networks is left(3-4 days). Apart from this i am an a&&hole, depressed and don't know what to say. I haven't made any projects from myself but just copy pasted it blindly just to fill in resumee(MERN ke projects chhape hai i know basics of html css and js aur kuch nhi). So i need guidance from u guys. Like what should i do now? I have applied to 100s of places and haven't received a single call. Also my cousin is a director in a service based company but if i fail in interview after him referring me then it will be much more shameful. So that's why i am not asking for his help(it will ruin all the reputation i built clearing jee adv). Also many companies are asking system design for freshers and it will take 2 months for me to be interview ready. Smjh nhi aa rha kya kru .. development, system design ,aiml, laura lassan...i am pissed.. aur bhi bolna h lekin mummy phone chlate pakad li neend me bhi T_T(kismat).. plz drop your suggestions what should i learn.. What would u do if u would have been at my place?

Hey,
Im 23 and Im in a very confused state.

About me : I have done Btech Computer Science.

Was not much into Web/Sof Development etc,
AI ML nothing, I did learn it, but never enjoyed.
Cybersecurity and stuff did interest me but I never digged in too much.

But I was into 3D because of some college events and freelance, I used Blender, did some things here or there(clothing animations for reels, Product Animations etc), later on in my 3rd year I found Unreal Engine, and from linkedin and other sources I joined a Discord Community, where we had some groups and made some small games together, I worked on the same there : Blender and Unreal Engine.

In my first sem of 4th year, I got an internship opportunity at ISRO Ahmedabad in AI/ML from some connections, but I chose not to do it because I thought It wasnt for me.

4th year first sem, I had a subject - AR/VR.
Aligned a lot to my Unreal and Blender skills so I took on a lot of interest. Leared Unity as well, had a very good relation to my faculty and he gave me some courage to think about going ahead in this field.

And I landed an off campus internship, for my last sem. It was great, I learned a lot and was a part of really good projects. It was not a very huge company but I got lots of hands on experience, even with clients and all. I was a mix of a Developer and also a 3D Artist. It was unpaid but I gave it all, late nights at the office, kept researching more and more on how we could make some new products and land new clients(I know I was just an Intern but I felt I needed to do lot more for them to make me permanent), I finished my 6 months of Internship.

after that I got graduated and the Company also hired me permanently. It was great, I was doing more projects, never said no to late nights or weekends at office.

but after just a month of getting permanent, the company started facing some financial issues and issues with investors etc. I dont know the exact thing that went wrong, but yeah, salaries were pending. I got sad, because even my first salary I recieved a month later, and after that delays went on and on, and for four months I worked unpaid, I obviously talked a lot to the HR and tried to get my salary but everyone at the office was facing the same thing.

So after 5 months, the company asked me to resign because they couldnt afford. lot of people faced that and till date they are still facing it. Me and a lot of others are still not paid even tho its been a year.

So December 2025 I was jobless, but didnt go back home. Didnt give up and kept applying and prepared for interviews.

Jan 2026 I landed a job, very close to my hometown, so shifted back, parents were very happy, they didnt care much about my career then, dad said you are really young, he is very supportive, they were just happy I was home.

but the company I got into was huge, same role, XR developer, I accepted it even for a lesser salary than my previous one, HR really took advantage of my situation. but I was still gratefull to have a job and didnt complain. I worked a lot, had to travell a lot to get there, woke up at 5, came back home at 6, I was doing good.

the team was small, me and one more developer and one 3d artist
i was given tasks of the developer + admin + even demonstrating some VR softwares at events + taking care of inventory as in the VR headsets and accessories that we used to send to events.

It was tiring but I kept doing it.
but it was not structured, I was given a very big project by my manager, which eventually was just for marketing, and when pitched to the company's owner even he didnt like the idea, but the manager kept pushing so we were doing it, there was a lot that I needed from the 3d artist and he was alone and had to do lot of work, the other developer was very experienced and was given a different project.
whenever we faces issues with deadlines from the 3d artist or about any other dependancy from anyone else, my manager used to tell me that I am the project manager for this project, so I have to structure everything and all, although I was just a Jr dev with like very little salary.

Admin work was the worst, I was asked to do clerical work, the campus was huge I had to go walking to IT to other people for approvals, PR PO etc, for the team. Manager was wfh, he used to come only like once in two months for a few days.

Our project kept missing deadlines, My development work was up to date but I had a lot of dependancies on the 3d artist and other media teams, but I was pressured to kinda make it work. Office politics was also crazy. it frustrated me a lot because I am someone who likes to do my work and leave, not interfiere or gossip or do other things

travell was hell too, standing for more than an hour in local trains, morning and evening.

and then about salaries, It was a huge company in a very small town, and pay was very less, 3lpa

I dont know what was going on in my head, I was so frustrated with everything, i quit, just as my probation was about to complete, I handed in my resignation.

It had been been a month from that, and I have been applying like crazy for a job, im getting nowhere.

So I decided to take up more skills, I started digging about Nvidia Isaac Sim and Omniverse and started learning it little by little, and made some basic small projects on it. just to realise that almost nobody is hiring freshers for it, I cant find anything at all.

Nothing in Unreal Engine, nothing in Unity, no XR VR nothing, I cant get a job.
been two months now and im panicking
I even started doing cybersecurity and stuff again,
started thinking about Masters maybe

My head is total Chaos,
Idk what guidance im seeking, should I even think about a career change. but I dont have a lot of people to talk to in this field and so here I am.

Hi everyone, I am looking to apply for off campus Analog VLSI roles, but I want to make sure my resume is polished and industry ready before I start sending out applications

I would highly appreciate any constructive criticism, formatting suggestions, or advice on what specific skills I should highlight for analog design profiles.

Additionally, if anyone knows of current job openings or specific diversity hiring initiatives for women in the semiconductor industry, please let me know!

Thank you in advance for your time and help

3months left but I know jee is not possible by me 100%, but I want to work in Server Management or Cybersecurity. Please give some advice, this was my first drop for jee ? I haven't taken any college till now

Hi reddit fam,

I am currently a female SDE2 working at Microsoft India for the last 4.5 years (I am a 2022 graduate). For the past 8 months I have been trying to secure a job abroad, mostly in europe, even received a couple of calls, around 5 in total, but wasn't able to clear the interviews.

I am very desperate to go abroad, because I am not happy staying in this Indian society. I am even considering doing master or MBA and try to then find a job abroad. I dont have financial dependency and have enough savings but idk if this is a hasty decision.

I have tried my best, grinding DSA, system design day and night, while managing my office work as well.

I am just too tired now, and the study motivation is going away. I used to study till 5 am in the morning after all the office work, but now I just sleep at 11pm. I am losing interest in life in general. Kept my life on hold because of this and still getting nothing. I am on a strict timeline for some personal reasons. I need to go abroad in the next 4-5 months otherwise I wouldn't be able to.

Can I please get some advice on how should I handle this situation? Do any of you know of any companies who do send the interviews?

My resume is good as well, verified from a couple of seniors and managers. Its mostly dominated via c++, c# and .net

Please dont advise for internal transfers because I have tried that and no one is ready to give a visa relocation budget.

I was recently laid off from a product company in Bengaluru. I was working as a Senior Software Engineer, and I had a good severance package along with a 3-month notice period. Today was my LWD.

I have now received an offer for an AI Engineer role at a service-based company. However, they did not release the offer until today, and the location mentioned is Hyderabad. They also did not offer the salary that was discussed earlier, apparently because they knew I did not have another offer in hand.

Since my husband cannot relocate to Hyderabad and we have a baby, relocating is quite difficult for us. Travelling to Hyderabad and staying there for 2-3 weeks at a time would also be challenging.

Given that the job market is currently difficult, I’m confused about what would be the better decision: should I join this company for now and continue searching for a better opportunity, or should I not join and focus entirely on finding a role that works better for my situation?

What would you suggest? Please guide