5 years in my first job (28M//18LPA) and got an offer for 68LPA

Saw my first job offer letter today after 5 years of working at IBM because I wanted to show my nephew who is starting college how it looked(he had asked for it). The blue logo, weirdly reminded me of a time when everyone around me was jumping ships for quick hikes, while I chose a different path.

My friends would usually say something along the lines of:

1. "You're wasting your potential."
2. " Pranav from our batch is already at 25 LPA"
3. "Big companies will make you slow"

But I saw something they didn't.

When seniors in my team were solving problems that affected enterprise users, I chose to be the quiet guy understanding how things work and ;positioned myself in the most technical roles possible. When my batchmates were updating their job titles every 8 months, I got various opportunities to publish patents in USPTO which IBM rewards with financial rewards. While others chased startup money, I wanted to build the right narrative for my career.

Honestly?

From a naive fresher to someone who now leads critical projects was actually very chill. It was built in silent moments and hard work. Two instances really jump out to me:

1. Those late night debugging sessions with my first manager.
2. The embarrassing mistakes in early client meetings that taught me more than any course.

The salary grew from 6LPA to 18 LPA in big jumps, but I still feel it did not match my real growth. Each increment felt earned, not negotiated. Today, when freshers join our team and look at me with the same eyes I once had, I see myself in them. When clients specifically ask for "that IBM guy who built this library," I realize stability wasn't a weakness, it was my biggest strength.

After 5 years, I got an unexpected call from a FAANG recruiter. Initial conversations led to interviews, and then I received an offer for 68 LPA. I want to tell you something nobody talks about the power of being patient and building deep expertise.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - there's no "right" path. Some of my friends who jumped jobs earlier are doing incredibly well too. But if you're someone who's feeling the pressure to switch jobs just because "everyone else is doing it", DONT. Build your story. Make it compelling. The money will follow.