No IIT-NIT, no job change: Techie shares how he went from Rs 12 LPA to Rs 24 LPA in two years
A young software professional, who graduated from a tier-3 engineering institution, recently shared his rapid career progression on the Developers India subreddit, detailing how his annual income doubled from Rs 12 lakh to more than Rs 24 lakh in under two years. His account highlighted how strategic moves, persistence, and direct outreach helped him accelerate his growth despite coming from a modest academic background.
He completed his Electrical Engineering degree in 2023 from a lower-ranked college that offered limited placement exposure. Rather than waiting for campus opportunities, he began gaining industry experience midway through his third academic year. At that stage, he joined a startup as a software development intern with a monthly stipend of Rs 25,000. Within five months, his contribution was recognized, and his pay was increased to Rs 35,000, giving him both confidence and practical exposure.
During his final year of college, he decided to explore better learning opportunities and shifted to another startup, again as an intern. This time, his monthly compensation rose to Rs 45,000, reflecting his growing skill set and hands-on experience. After spending six months in this role, the company offered him a full-time position with an annual package of Rs 12 lakh, marking a major turning point in his professional journey.
His growth did not stop there. After completing one year as a full-time employee, his salary increased to Rs 18 lakh per annum following a performance-based revision. A subsequent appraisal further boosted his compensation, taking his earnings beyond Rs 24 lakh annually. Notably, he emphasized that he changed organizations only once during his internship phase and chose to remain with the same company afterward, focusing on long-term impact rather than frequent job switches.
In an update added later, he explained his approach to landing internships and roles. Instead of relying solely on job portals, he proactively contacted founders of early-stage startups that had recently secured funding. He tracked such companies through startup-focused platforms and news sources, including directories associated with global startup accelerators. From there, he identified founders on LinkedIn and directly messaged them with his resume and a clear description of the role he was seeking. According to him, this targeted and personal outreach strategy proved highly effective in opening doors early in his career.
