Left my job at TCS [8LPA], and today I got paid 11.5L from consulting startups

A year ago, I was working at TCS, making 12LPA(4 years workex) but something inside me felt unsatisfied with this. I was following job security, a “safe” career path but no good pay. I tried to switch jobs and I was not able to get even my resume shortlisted.

I remember when I told my friends I was leaving TCS to explore consulting with startups. I wanted to do consulting because I couldn't find a job and I knew I could sell myself pretty well because I had worked on good projects at TCS.

I realized that growth wasn't going to come from just clocking in my timesheet. I started by offering my services on freelancing platforms and reached out to friends in smaller startups. My first few gigs were very small, some I even worked for free, but they helped me build my portfolio and grow my confidence.

The income didn’t come instantly. My first few months were slow, but I kept pushing. I started getting more interesting projects, from designing scalable systems to improving app performance for growing companies. And with each project, I learned more about what I wanted to focus on, which clients I enjoyed working with, and how I could provide real value.

Finally, today I crossed my goal. I’ve made 11.5L in consulting income from a seed stage startup where the system I built saved them over 50L in 2 months. I finally get to work on interesting technologies, solve complex problems, and be my own boss.

Of course, it wasn’t easy. There were moments when I thought about returning to the safety of a full-time job. I used to get so much anxiety that I used to puke at night and my wife had to console me. My relatives still look down at me but this time when I got a Skoda Kushaq, they got really confused.

If you're feeling stuck or questioning whether the “safe” path is right for you, trust yourself.If you build your expertise, be patient, and put in the work, the opportunities will come. The money will follow, but more importantly, you’ll find work that you enjoy.