Feeling dumb about myself!

I work as a software engineer (Backend) at a startup ( valued over $200m). Most of my revolves around designing and building applications using python based frameworks (Django, flask, fast api). Integrating AI models to the backend, not so exciting but yeah I do. Also, deploying them in Google cloud and setting up the cloud infrastructure. Occasionally I do write load testing scripts using Gatling. At times I feel like I'm not doing any deep tech work and I'm bored. Most of the days I have zero motivation to do anything. How's the life of people doing deep tech at work? What am I missing? What should I focus on? I wonder if I'm underpaid at times (18 lpa) (exp - 4yrs). How should I move forward with regards to my career?

Having almost 6yrs experience with single digit salary 😭 every friend and colleague are making a killing every recruiter I speak to just offer x% over last CTC but not the amount I ask stating budget issue. This is taking a toll on my mental health unable to focus on up skilling / working in current org plz help not sure what to do.

Hi folks, I've total Experience of more than 3 years as of now having very low package , almost all my friends in my group earning atleast 10 LPA and this injects me a serious Trauma everytime everyday, I'm trying real hard to switch in this sh*tty job market , maybe it's my bad luck or time that I've decided to switch in 2024, all my friends switched back 2 years ago when market was good, so is this feeling normal i mean ik comparison is a stupid thing but still you don't have control over your mind sometimes, and i end up being unmotivated, what are your thoughts on this, did someone gone through this and how are they now. Please feel free to give suggestions.

Hi All, Hope you're having a great day. I am 25 years old working in q2b domain at 4LPA. It usually makes me feel dumb when i see people my age are getting 20+LPA while i am still struggling and confused with my career but at the same time motivates me to work harder to achieve my dreams. I have a really keen interest in equity research and recently i have also completed a course to get a position in the same domain but it isn't easy to get any response from HR. I have applied to 200+ positions with no response from the other side. I'd appreciate it if someone here could guide me and help me get into equity research. Thank you.

Let us post our salary and experience to seek some motivation. I’ll start first. YOE: 8 years Salary: 44LPA - 40(Fixed) + 4(Variable)

So went to tier 1/1.5 , EE branch , during placement I never really found interest in DSA. Thought I’ll do a simple job but now when I see my peers getting into big product companies , with great pay I feel so sad. I feel like I should have prepared better. And then after coming to Bangalore it feels even more sad because whenever I go on dates the other guy is always an IIT guy earning more than me 😅. Even among my friends I kinda envy them that they have chill wlb plus better pay . Is this how life is?

27 Male ,got an offer of 20.5 lpa. Most of the people I know here at grapevine are making way more and friends in my circle are making around 35-50 lpa. Now I am confused,I have a lot of questions in my head. Did I slack off? Or did I do okay?Cause I was avg in college(7.6 cgpa) tier -3 and started my job at non-dev role. I thought market was down hence I was happy with 20.5 lpa,but now I see folks making more money. My progression : 3 lpa to 5 lpa (Accenture for 2 years) service based S.A.P basis job. Drone tech startup: ML Engineer (2.3 yoe)[8-12 LPA] Now I will be joining an MNC : As Sr.MLE offer in hand (20.5 LPA) Overall I have 4.3 yoe. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I might be insecure,I cannot talk about this problem with my parents or friends (or anyone around me)

My current salary is 42LPA. I am from IIT, have 7 years of experience and work in product. Honestly, my value in the market is higher than what I’m being paid but I am very demotivated to optimise for that. When I do see less deserving people minting more money, I feel that I am doing injustice to myself and playing the wrong hand. More and more though, the thought of earning more money chokes me a bit. I have dreams of building something of my own - that gives me control to build something my way and freedom to live my life as per my terms. But the mindset of “zyada paisa pareshaani hai” doesn’t leave me. My family also is not dependent on me and whatever is needed from my side, I actively contribute to. I also lack any motivation to focus on my investments and see my money grow. I just have money sitting around in my bank account purely for nothing I also look at my lifestyle choices from time to time and go into existential debate of why we need the things that we do. This has come to a point where I really do not understand my relationship with money and why we earn and spend it. For me at this point, it’s just a show for the world. There’s very little that you need, and really no limit to what you want to show. And I just don’t see a point in it anymore.

I'm thinking that I haven't utilised my full potential and left behind from folks around me . Right now I'm 27 and earning 22LPA as an SDE. I'm constantly worried how can I earn better or make some skills which can bring some money too as IT industry is not stable. So what could be best for me to do : My strong point is if I focus on one thing I can put more efforts into that work. The options that I could think: 1. Work on my tech skills and get into High paying IT job . 2. Pick one Govt exam and get any govt job . I'm thinking of SEBI grade A exam . 3. Pick up any skills like video editing start freelancing. 4.Prepare for MBA that might help me in longer run in corporate . Guys can you suggest which one area should I select and why . As if I focus on more than one I won't be able to fullfill any.

Share your progress - the journey. - Where did you begin and where are you now? - What motivated you to go the extra mile? - Where do you see yourself in the next few years? - What did you do differently then the rest of the pack? This can serve as a motivation to those of us who wants to improve and as a appreciation for some of us who made themselves a stellar career. Eager to hear your stories. 🔥