I had scored well in my state level cet exams and had a free seat in both medicine and engineering. I chose engineering and eventually been lucky to have had opportunities to experience a lot of ra...

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I had scored well in my state level cet exams and had a free seat in both medicine and engineering. I chose engineering and eventually been lucky to have had opportunities to experience a lot of random things in life and at the right time got into startup’s. In hindsight I’m very glad I didn’t choose medicine, not because of the years of study but just because my current path was way more enlightening, knowledgeable and satisfying as a whole. 

Engineering gave me the generalist skill set to explore many things to eventually work on things I loved. I don’t think medicine would have provided me that.

Medicine vs Engineering

Consultant

Medicine vs Engineering- Grapevine

Welcome to Ask Grapeviners's Private Community

Life is hard, and plans don't always turn out the way they should. 
But when we look back over our lives, we realize that some decisions really changed the course of our lives for the better.

What decision in life worked out well for you?

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

with all the learning and experience that you've currently, if you were to redo it, how differently would you do it? what would you choose to do and why? (consider it after that mid college crisis and how it helped you in directing where you were headed) 

what you do currently
yoe
what could've been diff 
if you were to enter the industry in 2025, what would you pick now and why

Weekend braining post

Always had a fascination for flying objects as a kid. 

If this held true, I would really love to work in the aerospace domain. Building insane drones or UAVs would be awesome, especially after a decent stint in software.

Was reading about this company called Zipline which works in autonomous aerial delivery. Quite insane how they supply medical supplies in Rwanda using gliding drones that are launched across the country.

Stories like these inspire an entire generation to take up engineering and change the world.

What about you all?

[Thread] If all jobs paid the same and qualifications were no issue, what career would you choose instead of your current role?

Product Manager

Welcome to Product Managers's Private Community

Sharing some reflections on this:

1. Product is not a function with a large hierarchy / multiple levels in the ladder. Managerial responsibility comes in very late in the product career and the spans are typically small (relative to other functions like engineering, sales, operations). This also means a steeper funnel to the top and only a handful VP Product roles in the industry.

2. Product is centered around technology and digital consumer trends, both of which are fast changing. This requires constant unlearning and relearning. But more critically, this also means that previous knowledge/experience hits a plateau on marginal value beyond a basic threshold (where you have developed some essential product semse and skills).

3. Product managers are also much higher-paid vs other functional peers, at comparable years of experience. This means that a PM gets to a very high salary (say, 1+ crore) by the age of 40 (15-20y into their career). Tech functions in non-tech companies (like FMCG, banking) cannot offer that kind of pay, meaning salary growth beyond a point is limited to tech-first companies / limiting addressable market for lateral moves.

All of these considererd, how should PMs think about the longevity of their careers? Unlike traditional roles, this does not seem like a "retire at 60" job. What would be the realistic age one should plan for, at which career growth and salary growth will stagnate? What are ways in which a 80%ile PM can extend their career (eg: also taking up engineering management or P&L responsibility or growth function etc., to increase scope)?

PS: this post is not for the top 5-10% PMs. They will always find roles at VP level etc, this is for the 50-90%ile bucket of PM talent.

Longevity of a product career

Will commend you on a very well written and well articulated post. 
  
 Options for the future will be apparent at ~40.  Most peak roles will be achieved between 45-50. 
  
 Possible exits: 
  
 1. Running Category roles at companies which have a broad canvas, multiple product categories. 
 2. Deputing for and eventually running a P&L or a LoB. 
 3. Sales or more critically Customer Success.  Don't shy away from revenue responsibilities. 
  
 Engineering is a sharp left turn imo.  It's not an overlapping skillset at best and don't see how that is part of a PMs likely roadmap.

Sales Manager

Investor

I found an old form from 2013, my father had sent details
Annual Income - 8L
Education expense - 2.5L

He is retired govt empl so couldn't lie on numbers

I was in top autonomous institute, and my brother in good private school in Delhi

It hits me now, how I wasted my life 'enjoying college' and thereafter
Falling in and out of love

Parents never say anything on practical topics, just regular wake up early, eat vegetables rant

I fucked my life and how

Dying in guilt

There’s a lot of time for you too do what you wish to do. Guilt and regret are temporary, your actions are kinda more important. 
  
 We will always disappoint our people as every person is different. You did what you felt gave you happiness at that point. Don’t be hard on yourself. 
  
 Your parents will eventually be the happiest when they see you chasing your dreams and goals. Don’t regret anything. Just take it one day at a time and do what feels right. 
  
 Cheer!

Brand Communication Manager

I blame parents for this. Not that coaching centres are saints, they suck the life out of students by making them study 24/7 but the reason that child is in coaching centre is because parents put him/her there.

And every suicide letter I have read from students mentions that they couldn't fulfil parents expectations.

They are the reason their child is in that condition, just because they want to brag and seek validation  from so called society that their child is a prodigy (and want to establish that they are the creator of this prodigy) who went to medical/IIT. And if the child doesn't act acc. to their expectations, they start gaslighting them "We gave you birth" "Maa baap bhagwan ka roop hote hai how dare you blame us Or don't listen to us" 
I once watched a movie (don't remember the name) where actress says "As parent we determine if our child needs tuition classes but at same time we fail to know if he/she needs therapy"

Who do you think is to be blamed? 

Also parents on GV don't push your child if he doesn't want to fly, thinking he has wings, he may fall to death.

The Court was hearing a PIL filed by a Mumbai-based doctor Aniruddha Narayan Malpani who blamed coaching institutes for driving students to death

SC blames parents for Kota suicides, refuses to rein in coaching centres

Who do think is responsible for stress? Parents or coaching mafia?

The root cause of all this is overpopulation and a shortage of jobs. Coaching centers and tough parenting only exist as a consequence of this

Software Engineer

Product Owner

This is mostly for people who have spent 10+ years in the industry. I’m sure we all can agree that the hiring and salary boom that we witnessed in 2021-22 is mostly over now. Now it’s more about surviving the job market rather than printing asymmetrical amount of money

But how has it turned out for people who’ve been in the game for too long. I know some people who switched jobs too quickly and are at a higher package but still not content. At the same time, I know a few seniors who’re still in my first company and are happier than ever with the work.

I understand that in Tier-1 cities, the expense itself is more and you’re sometimes forced to switch just to stay afloat. But what would you recommend new joiners based on your experience? Does chasing money in early years help later or only focusing on skills?

Chasing money or skills? What paid off at the end?

Should alter the choice during switches. 
  
 If a switch is taken for money then next switch should be for skill or promotion and so on

Software Developer

for me. i spent college studying for grades and 20s making money in a job I don't like, but never got to make the memories I should've with all my friends. I regret doing all of that

what is your worst mistake professionally?

If we are spiralling, let's spiral right

1. Focused solely on grades in colleges
2. Thought Campus placements were ultimate goal
3. Spent 3 years in a company with 5% increment (once), because it was comfortable
4. Scared to ask even minimum budget while negotiating salary
5. Overthinking every step, still not taking actions to correct or fuck up anything
6. Major major regret - not taking risk of starting own. It also has to do with parenting, but lets not blame.
7. Ran away from public sharing - speaking, athletics, all extracurricular activities for that matter. Kids grow up with zero confidence and looking fat & ugly. (I'm not fat shaming, some fat people look 🤌)

I'll add more, there will be more for sure 😂

I have three younger cousins. They don't want to code. They have their clarity. They don't want to pursue any particular engineering stream as well. 

They want to get a decent paying job. Let's say 6-8 lpa start with a path to 15-20 lpa in 4-5 years. 

I tried advising them to not invest a lot of money and four years of time in engineering. Their family is average middle class financially. I told them that I'll advise you what all to learn like content writing, seo, data analytics etc. So do a simple course, save money and rather invest in something that matters for job. 

They did listen but did not get confidence to act. 
All three went for engineering stream. These are private colleges with tier 3ish names. Now they don't get time to put a lot of time because 8-4 is usually college time. Unlike tier 1,2 college where you get campus and a lot of freedom, the colleges usually have a lot of classes and compulsory 80% type attendance. 

Did you face similar situation? What did you advise? Do you think I was giving them right decision?

Did you try advising your cousins not to pursue engineering if they don't want to code?

Your advice is misleading. You don't become a best in class data analyst if you can't code. SEO is a shady business and there isn't growth. Even a PU graduate can do content writing or SEO. Engineering is like a passport. You use the degree to make your career. The number of people earning 20L with 5 yoe with a non engg degree is pretty low. I empathize with the 8-4 struggle. I have seen such people, but they are still better off by doing engineering than anything else. There are other core engineering career options in non-software industry, but you will have to be competitive to secure a decent job even there. There are banking, insurance etc. Even these require people to be competitive. There is no free lunch. May be in European nations, but these won't last long.

Analyst

Welcome to Business Roles's Private Community

I am from a Tier 1 engineering college. Have done multiple stints in education and ed tech and am now at a VP position at a mid size edu company. Earning 50 LPA post 8 years of Work Ex. I can keep going at this rate and will have a comfortable life and also be in leadership positions which I enjoy. However I have been tempted to start up to have a shot at exponential gains in life- whether that is growth, money or influence over others. But then sanity also says most startups fail and why you want to spoil a good path. Anyone else faced this constant oscillation and how do you think about it or go about addressing it

To startup or not

Management Consulting

Just want to know career prospects and how it helped in long term from career perspective.

People who did Mtech. Was it worth it ?

Hi Everyone,
I'm trying for a job in bangalore for over 6 months now, was suffering from anxiety attacks so started taking medicine. People laid off way later than me have started with their new jobs and are happy yet I'm still struggling here looking for a job, they are getting hikes and I'm just looking to get hired.
Is it time that I should give up engineering and pursue other domains??
Because Engineering used to excite me and how my luck has treated me and how much unnecessary problems I'm facing, I'm doubting if I should give up now.

I want to know the honest opinion. I ve been upskilling and coding , but not getting any interview

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17QsEHqFySTsYyu7ML_sNpykeWuHNFsPk/view?usp=sharing

my resume

When should I give up Software Engineering

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

Disclaimer: I have nothing against high earners in this group who are doing exceptionally well and earning big bucks at young age. You have my admiration. 

Target audience of this post: Everyone else who is doing okay in their job, earning an average salary for their age. 

Why have I posted it?: To not feel I am the only one who is a normal regular person doing just average in his life in this hyper competitive rat race. 

My thoughts: I clearly remember the moment, it was April 2007, I had barely completed the board exams of class 10th and joined class 11th. It was my first week into class 11th when a fine looking gentleman walked into our class to make us think of our future career path. He was from a coaching institute for IIT JEE and AIEEE. He told us about all the high salary packages at these premier institutes. I excitedly told my parents about it. 

Like any middle class parents, they dreamt of their son cracking the exam and securing good placements from IITs/NITs. They enrolled me in coaching. I worked hard for those 2 years, 11th and 12th. But what was harder was the constant stress and pressure I was put in, both intentionally and unintentionally. These ideas that 'I must crack JEE to have a good future', 'if you don't get through JEE then you are a waste' etc, were hammered into my mind day in and day out. 

I didn't crack JEE but got into a well reputed private engineering college of India.. Fast forward 4 years, did my MBA from  tier 2 college only to join a service company at salary that would be considered too low for most of the folks here who compare salary like a plague. Recently joined a product company with good jump. Realised all that pressure I was put under in high school wasn't necessary. I am doing ok in life. 

 I think it's okay to be earning an average salary, everyone of us is on his own journey of growth and comparing ourselves on basis of packages seems myopic

Too much gyaan? Getting a perspective on late Saturday night!!!

It's okay to be normal and ordinary

Specifically a question to all the t1 tech clg grads (mainly software engineers) earning 1l+ pm out of clg with a lot of scope for growth. Post mba avg salary is 1.5l per month. 

I can understand ppl desperate for a career change and non tech ppl who are underpaid and don't really have ab option but it baffles me why well paid folks would shell out 30lakhs kr take the burden of loan just to learn how to appear smarter than you actually are instead of investing it for a meagre salary increase that can be achieved by job switches.

I'd love to  hear any insights about ppl who've already been in the space. Why u did, salary PRE post sector etc

Why the heck do people do an MBA?

I can share, I was working abroad post my T1 engineering. So you can imagine it must be > 1L.  
  
 Like all those confused 20+ engineers, I asked one of my skip levels that how should one plan the career path. He gave me a simple framework, “Look at your boss or bosses boss. If you are ok living that life, you’re on the right path else time to think more”.  
  
 I got my answers, maybe try finding yours rather than seeking majority “votes” :)

Account Manager

I hate working 9 to 5. I simply hate it. I loathe it. I worked so hard all my effing life to get here and I hate it. I learnt DP and what not. It’s been 1.5 years since I started working full time as a software engineer and it just keeps getting worse. 
I make upwards of 15 lpa.
It’s not that I have a bad work environment, it’s great. It’s just that I feel absolutely rotten working a 9 to 5 as a software engineer.

Ideally, I would like to own a small business of my own. Despite watching hours of content on how to do that, I haven’t been able to come up with anything that seems like it’s gonna work, you know…

Thinking of doing an MBA but that’s BS too, right?

It feels like very soon I’m just gonna quit and be broke. 🤷🏼‍♀️
It feels like my life is over at 23. Kill me now.

My question to you is first, am I alone?,  second, can I help you in your business in any possible way?, third, should I do an MBA?

What do I do with my life?

Hi, I am currently 22, graduated recently from a tier 2 institute and currently working at a US based startup earning 18lpa ( almost all base ) + rsu's, lately my family have been nagging me to do a postgrad, I am confused weather I should do an MBA, MS or not do a postgrad at all considering the years I will miss in workex. 

What should be my best course of action considering ROI in the next 10-15 years ?? 

P.S. Currently I am not sure what my interest lies in, but just try to excel at whatever comes my way.

What should be my next steps ?

Hello everyone,I am 2021 CS graduate.I was preparing for GATE  exam for my mtech.But I couldn't perform well enough to get good college.I will probably get around 4000 rank this year.(I know this not good rank for general category and I won't get my desired college/course)I have very good conceptual understanding of CSE subjects like DS, algorithms, databases,and operating systems.But I haven't done any programming and any practical implementation of these.(I only have good btech project on my resume)I have decided to take upcoming TCS NQT to get my first job in IT field.

So my main questions are :-
1)what should be my further direction from here ?

2)Should I take job or give GATE another attempt (along with job)?

3)Also please suggest how can I land my first job  after gap of 1.5 years.?

Need help for deciding further path(CSE graduate with 1.5 years of gap due to competative exam)

It's been 3 years ever since I got to know about all the things that I could've done other than choosing engineering. Surely I didn't have balls back then and I told myself that I would explore all the possible domains be it tech/des/marketing/finance/operations. It's been two years in uni now and I really don't know what I can count on. I know a bunch of things but don't know a thing enough to make something out of it.

I moved to blr thinking that I would get the city exposure but I am usually caught up in uni things(it's an excuse, I am barely studying). Days are just passing by and everyday this thought bugs me at the back of my mind that even though I am capable enough of doing it, why haven't I done it yet? It's not that I'm chilling or partying, I am just caught up in this vicious cycle where I want to get started working on something fulfilling yet haven't found a way yet to do so. 

I can go on with the usual engineering path and sit for placements and get that avg or little more than that package but I think that CTC doesn't move me, rather doing something fulfilling and meaningful does. I wish that I could really mean it when I say that I want to do something where I enjoy the process, the daily-to-do-tasks and not the end goal/ paycheck. 

I've had this idea of working at startups and exploring different domains/departments and figuring out what is the right thing for me; a domain where I bring the best out of me and feel fulfilled as well. Now I certainly cannot do this by signing up for courses that I will never complete, I would rather prefer to work under someone and learn things as I do them.
Haven't mailed/reached out any founders yet. Help me in navigating a bit and I will forever be indebted to you. 

Have summer break next month, July-Aug. Lmk if you've got anything to say or to direct so that I do something about what has been bothering me in the next month. 

 that's the limit? come on grapevine

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