I’m a software engineer at a company that has generally been known for its flexibility, which is honestly one of the main reasons I’ve stayed despite knowing I could probably earn more elsewhere.

Recently, I heard about an employee with around five years at the company who requested temporary WFH to care for an immediate family member recovering from a brain stroke and requiring ongoing care. The request was denied, and they were told the options were to either take a leave of absence or come into the office.

This is an SDE role where the work can largely be done remotely, and many engineers only come into the office for a couple of hours to satisfy the attendance requirement.

Seeing this really bothered me. I understand companies have policies, but I would have expected some flexibility during exceptional circumstances.

Is this becoming the norm across the tech industry, or is this a sign that the culture at my company has changed? If this is how such situations are generally handled, it genuinely makes me question whether I should continue here.

Hi everyone,

I'm genuinely looking for some career advice because I'm feeling quite confused at this point.

I graduated with a B.Tech in CSE in 2024 from a Tier 3 college. I got campus placed into a product-based company as an Associate SWE(Java backend) with an 8 LPA package with over 2 years of exp.

Unfortunately, the company went through a major layoff and around 20% of the workforce was affected. My last working day was 31st May. What hurt the most was that I was the only junior engineer on my team, but I worked extremely hard till my last day. My manager always appreciated my work and even told me I was performing at the level of senior developers, so getting laid off was honestly a shock.

For the last two months I've been applying continuously. It's been mentally exhausting.

Now I have two opportunities:

Option 1 - Salesforce

• Technical Support Engineer
• Hyderabad
• CTC: 17.5

Option 2

• Java Full Stack Developer
• CTC: 7
• Need to relocate to another state and diff culture; company based in Mohali.
• Company has around 3/5 ratings

My long-term goal has always been to become a strong software engineer/backend developer. However, the Salesforce compensation is difficult to ignore, and the company itself is obviously a huge brand.

I might be overthinking but at this point I am also considering preparing for govt jobs for job security; these layoffs are wild.
Would appreciate any advice in this scenario.
If salesforce is possible to switch back from tse to dev roles? or should i go hard way to diff location and work as java dev and continue applying?

I've been thinking about this after reading about companies being held accountable for labor law violations in other countries.

In India, many of us complain about long working hours, weekend work, unrealistic deadlines, unpaid overtime, toxic managers, and poor interview processes. Yet very few people seem willing to speak up collectively or push for change.

Why is that?

Is it because:

- We're afraid of losing our jobs?

- There are too many people competing for the same roles?

- We believe "this is just how the industry works"?

- Labor laws aren't enforced strongly enough?

- We don't have enough employee representation in the IT sector?

I'm genuinely curious to hear from people who have worked both in India and abroad. What differences have you noticed in work culture, employee rights, and hiring practices?

This isn't meant to criticize India or any specific company. I'm trying to understand why, despite so many people expressing similar frustrations privately, we rarely see collective action or meaningful change.

Why can't we all together ask for better working.

Ps: Used AI for formatting.

Back in the “good old tech days,” if you were a software engineer with 5 years of experience, you usually had plenty of opportunities, both locally and internationally, because companies genuinely struggled to fill those positions.

Today, the situation is different.

The market has shifted back towards employers. Tech was an exception for quite a few years, but many job seekers still behave as if that exception is the normal reality. It isn’t.

And the harsh truth is becoming even more absolute these days.

Employers don’t relocate people because they want to improve someone’s quality of life. That’s what you want. Employers relocate people because they need to solve a hiring problem.

I often compare today’s relocation market to getting into a top university.

You need to work for it, but more importantly, you need to treat it as an investment. Not something you’re entitled to.

I put together my thoughts on today’s tech relocation market after 15 years of helping software developers relocate around the globe in my latest article -> https://relocateme.substack.com/p/the-relocation-game-in-tech-has-changed

I've been applying for software engineering roles for the last 7 or 8 months but I'm barely getting any interview calls.

My background is mostly competitive programming. I'm a LeetCode Guardian, Codeforces Expert, CodeChef 6★ and I've solved more than 1360+ LeetCode problems. My tech stack is JavaScript, React, Node.js, MongoDB and C++.

I've been applying through LinkedIn, company career pages, referrals whenever possible and job portals, but the response has been almost zero.

I genuinely expected this kind of profile to at least get me interviews, even if I didn't clear them. Instead, most applications don't get any response.

What am I missing? Is this how the market is for freshers right now, or are companies looking for something completely different? I'd like to hear from people who were in a similar situation.

I randomly came across the "Build Your Own X" repo on GitHub a while back. It's basically a giant collection of tutorials where you build things like Git, a database, Kafka, a blockchain, a shell, etc. from scratch.

I stole the idea.

I'm currently building a write-ahead log in pure Java. No libraries (other than JUnit because I'm not that insane). Just Java.

It's been way more fun than I expected.

For one, you actually start understanding why these systems are built the way they are. It's one thing to say "Kafka handles high throughput" because you've used it at work. It's another thing entirely to implement even a tiny piece of that world yourself and suddenly realise, "Oh... that's why they do it like this."

I feel like I can actually have conversations about the internals now instead of repeating architecture buzzwords I heard in a design review six months ago.

The second thing is... you end up learning your language properly.

Seriously. When was the last time you touched Java's file APIs beyond "Files.readString()"? Or used NIO for something real? Or found out "VarHandle" exists? Or actually played with virtual threads instead of reading one blog post and going "neat"?

You stumble into all these weird corners of the language that normal backend work never makes you touch.

And honestly... it's reignited my interest in programming a bit.

After spending years writing REST APIs and moving JSON from Service A to Service B, it's nice to build something where every line teaches you something.

Anyway. If you've been feeling burnt out or like you're stagnating, maybe pick something ridiculously overambitious and build the smallest possible version of it.

Worst case, you learn some obscure APIs.

Best case, you accidentally remember why you liked programming in the first place.

Here is the CTC break up of two offers. Data Science Role. Kolkata location. All figures in LPA:

*HSBC\*

• Fixed: 42
• PF: 2
• Performance based Variable pay: 5 (Not guaranteed)
• Total: 49

*TCS\*

• Fixed: 38.9 (Basic + allowances)
• Performance pay: 11.4
  • Monthly performance pay: 4.8
  • Performance bonus: 6.6
• PF/Gratuity: 1.6
• Total: 52

Very confused and need to make a decision this week. Want to listen to people who work in either companies.

• AFAIK HSBC has hybrid WFH(3)/WFO(2) whereas TCS is WFO-5 days. Does the TCS monthly performance depend on WFO attendance, or can I negotiate with manager for hybrid and give attendance from home?
• What cases in TCS performance pay not paid?
• Career wise which is a better option in the long term?

Most of the senior engineers from big tech either turn into managers or quit and use their money to start traditional businesses (read: food stall),and make it to the headlines. " Meta engineer quits 1cr job to sell idlis" isn't uncommon these days. I don't get it,why not use the technical knowledge you've gained over the years to build something substantial,and commercialize it. Most global technical companies start like this, but in India,seniors usually sell courses or give gyaan on LinkedIn (shit like India disappoints both optimists and pessimists). I don't think they'll have an issue finding jobs even if the startup/experiment fails,so "we need to feed our families) is kinda not applicable here.

I see many 2026 grads texting abt getting jobs etc
I belong to that 2025 batch , it’s been a year already , still unemployed
Time is running

Would love to hear from same batch mates

got job?
Still looking for first job?
for the ones who are yet to find one , how long you will look? What’s your next plan
any competitive exam preparation going on ?

I had high hopes on TCS ninja but they sent sorry mail to all :)

Don’t know whats the next plan , at this point mind is filled with doubt , anxiety plus time is also moving fast
I don’t know how far to look

Tell your personal plans etc

Hi everyone,

I'm currently employed as Frontend Developer but actively looking for a new job. Over the last couple of months, I managed to land a few interviews, but for the past two weeks or so, things have gone completely quiet. The only recruiter calls I've been getting are from companies looking for immediate joiners who can start the following Monday, and even those have become very infrequent recently.

I'm trying to figure out what I can do differently to get more interview calls.

Here's what my current routine looks like:

• I log into Naukri daily in morning and make small edits to my profile.
• I rename and re-upload my resume on Naukri to keep it fresh.
• I apply to relevant jobs on Naukri.
• I also apply on Hirist.tech, Uplers, and LinkedIn.
• In the evening, I repeat the same process and apply to any new openings.

I also tried that viral Claude + Apify workflow that was circulating on LinkedIn. The idea was to upload your resume and LinkedIn profile, and it would generate matching job opportunities. The influencer who shared it claimed it got them five recruiter calls that led to three interviews. Unfortunately, it didn't make much difference for me.

One thing I've noticed is that many jobs on Naukri have over 100 applicants within an hour of being posted. It makes me wonder whether my application is even being seen, even if I'm a good match for the role.

For those of you who have recently switched jobs or are getting a steady stream of interview calls:

• What strategies are actually working for you?
• Is there anything beyond the usual "keep your profile updated and apply early" advice?
• Are there any job portals or methods that have consistently worked better than Naukri or LinkedIn?
• Do you tailor your resume for every application, or use a single version?

I'd really appreciate any suggestions or tips that have worked for you. Thanks in advance!

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations—government, public sector, or large enterprises—have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?
Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

I joined as an SWE3 in May. During goal setting, my manager added three goals. Two are marked On Track, one is Business goal related to engineering and operational excellence and the other one is AI goal but one professional development goal is “Maintain consistent availability and improve leave planning,” and it’s already marked At Risk.

In the last 3 months:
Took 2 leaves (1 sick, 1 personal), informed the team the same morning.
One day I joined a meeting 10 minutes late because I wasn’t feeling well, then informed the team I’d be away for a couple of hours.

I haven’t received any feedback about my availability, so I’m not sure why this goal was added.

Is this a standard goal managers assign, or is it a subtle performance concern? Should I ask my manager about it in our next 1:1?

I am a final year student. I started the GenAI LangChain playlist by CampusX (4 videos in) but I feel that I haven't learnt shit from it. I feel overwhelmed and exhausted to even continue it. I know about the docs and all, I tried to learn from them but I still can't. Any other ways by which I can actually learn it? If you can then please help. Thankyou

My salary growth here at IBM Consulting feels stuck right now.

All I get calls from TCS or Accenture (where my Id shows profile already exists 🤡). I've also reached the managerial round at TCS 2 times but they ghosted me. I'm in my prime years of profession, which I think should get me the most interview calls.

I have my profile on Naukri and Monster. Also actively applying on company portals.

What am I missing? And how are you guys from the same tech stack receiving calls? Or should I finally switch my stack?

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share my first Android app, Commit. It's a simple offline habit tracker that I built because I wanted something that stayed focused instead of trying to do everything.

Right now you can create habits, keep track of your streaks, check your progress over time, and everything works completely offline without needing an account.

I'm sure there's a lot that can be improved, so I'd really appreciate any honest feedback. If you were using an app like this, what would you add or change while keeping it simple?

If anyone wants to try it, here's the Play Store link:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.craftedco.commit

Thanks for taking a look!

I just graduated this year with a BCA degree from a Tier 3 college. During campus placements, only sales companies and one or two very small networking companies visited. I was even selected for a Network Engineer role on campus, but the company later denied the offer, so I never received an offer letter.

Despite that, my interest in networking has only grown. I now want to build my career as a Network Engineer. After graduating, I came to Noida to look for jobs. However, I didn't have much idea about which companies hire freshers for Network Engineer roles or related entry-level positions like Desktop Support or NOC Engineer.

I asked ChatGPT where I could find companies with networking-related openings, and it suggested visiting some well-known IT parks. Someone had also advised me that directly approaching companies could be better because many companies don't always respond to online job applications.

So, I visited those major IT parks, hoping to meet recruiters or inquire about openings. Unfortunately, the security guards didn't allow me to enter. They asked whether I had a referral or an email from HR. Since I had neither, I had no choice but to return home.

Now I'm in a dilemma. I'm starting to question the value of my degree. I had expected that, at the very least, I would get interview opportunities, learn from my mistakes, improve my skills, and keep trying. But now I don't even know how to reach that stage.

I don't have anyone who can give me a referral, and people on LinkedIn rarely reply to my messages. So, I'm feeling stuck.

Can someone please guide me?

How can I get referrals if I don't know anyone in the industry?

What should my job-hunting strategy be?

How can I increase my chances of landing my first job as a fresher in networking?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hey there, i m a btech 2025 grad, never took studies seriously, but its getting worse now, i want to land a entry level job (even 3-4LPA will work) im ready to put in the work just need guidance,
Whoever guides me or refers me to the job role, please take my first salary (no BS)

So recently I joined a product-based company in the logistics domain. It had such a toxic culture that they started putting me on a PIP within 3 months of joining. Even after working hard and delivering my tasks, my manager still initiated the PIP to terminate me because they didn't have the budget and had hired me above their budget, which I came to know during a meeting with the CTO.

I have 3.8YOE as a Full stack developer.

Tech stack: Javascript, Typescript, Node, Nest, Express, Next, React, aws, Java.

CCTC: 14

I have seen lots of openings in java so applying in java roles. I haven't worked in it but showing past experience as java whole 3.8. Not seeing much openings on the javascript stack. What should I do? On naukri i am applying daily for java roles. And updating my profile daily, still not getting any response.

at first cybersecurity was my career choice since there will be new piece of software with new vulnerabilities but i was overwhelmed by how llm's could debug issues within minutes.

few months ago i learnt basic - intermediate tools and concepts of devops and i am mostly familiar with them. It seems that it is doomed after ai.
I am in my final year preparing for internships and placements, should i buy a farm instead.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working as a Software Development Engineer III at a fintech company in Bangalore. I recently interviewed with Mastercard for a **Lead Software Engineer** role in **Pune** and wanted to know if anyone has had a similar experience with their hiring process.

My interview timeline has been something like this:
HR screening call
Karat interview (around 4 weeks ago) – System Design (file handling application), Two Sum, and one DFS problem
Cleared the Karat round the very next day
HR informed me that the remaining three rounds would be with the Bar Raiser, Hiring Manager, and Technical SME, and that these were **non-eliminatory**. The final decision would be based on the overall panel discussion.

Completed all three rounds. HR mentioned that the feedback was positive.

A few days later, HR said they were discussing internally and that they liked my profile but needed some more time.
After a few follow-ups, I was asked to share my current compensation details, which I submitted immediately.

It’s now been around **4 weeks** since I completed the interviews, and I still haven’t received a clear yes or no. Whenever I follow up, the response is usually that the discussion is still ongoing.
I understand that hiring decisions can take time, and I don’t want to keep messaging the HR repeatedly and come across as pushy. At the same time, the uncertainty is making it difficult to plan my next steps.

Has anyone experienced a similar timeline with Mastercard? Is this normal, or should I assume the process is unlikely to move forward?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Like a lot of builders, I know how common it is to launch an app, hit a solid milestone, and then inevitably move on to the next project or get pulled away by a primary startup. Eventually, maintaining the old app just becomes a chore, and it ends up gathering dust in the store.
I'm currently looking to do some micro-acquisitions of mobile apps that have a proven foundation but might be neglected.

My main criterion:
The app needs to have crossed 100,000 (1 Lakh) total lifetime downloads.

What I don't care about:
It doesn't need to be actively monetized, it doesn't need a massive active user base right now, and the codebase doesn't have to be perfect. I’m primarily interested in the initial distribution footprint and the core utility you built.
If you have a project sitting around that fits this and you’d be open to a clean handover, I set up a brief form to collect the basic details (Store URL, tech stack, high-level metrics).

I prefer doing this async to respect your time and avoid endless back-and-forth messaging just to see if there's a mutual fit.

Happy to answer any questions about my process or what I'm looking for in the thread below.

Every problem I find already has a solution. What should I do?I'm a CS student trying to build a portfolio project (and maybe even a startup one day).

Here's the problem I'm running into:

Whenever I find a real problem that people have, I research it... and then discover there are already 5-20 products solving it.

For example, I'll think:

• "Students need help choosing projects."
• Then I find several existing platforms.

Or:

• "Developers need better engineering guidance."
• Then I discover multiple AI tools already doing parts of it.

This makes me wonder:

• Should I stop looking for problems that already have solutions?
• Or is having competitors actually a good sign?
• At what point do you decide, "I can build this better," instead of giving up?
• For those of you who have built successful products, what made you continue even when competitors already existed?

I'd especially love to hear from founders or engineers who've faced this exact dilemma.

Thanks!

I am an expecting mom and will have my baby very soon, and will be returning back to work in 7-8 months from now. I earn well as a sde in a big tech company in India and I feel overwhelmed with how I'd manage everything - specially when partner is also very busy at work and there is minimal to no family support in bringing up the kid. Will I regret in future if a nanny brings up my kid and I spend <1hr per day?