Hey. I graduated from a tier 4 uni with a non-engg degree (3 years).
Including a breakdown of compensation to show what’s possible, apologies for the humble brag.
Year 1: 12 lakh Year 3: 36 lakh + 15 lakh SOPs Year 6: 50 lakh + 5 lakh SOPs Year 8: 75 lakh + 30 lakh SOPs Year 10: 110 lakh + 60 lakh SOPs
I’ve worked in increasingly larger companies, latest is a decacorn+.
AMA!
How did you do your second switch to 4 times your salary in 3 years? If you can expand on it. Rest seems inline with that one pivot. And how did you bag 10lpa when 3ngg degree guys not get that. That too 10 yrs ago being from tier ? And thanks for doing this. Makes me go into hustle mode to do better.
tier 4^
I started by consulting a super-early stage startup. When they raised funding, I was the natural choice to build and maintain their systems, so getting 12 lakhs was easy, negotiated over one evening and started the next day.
With the second company, the founder really liked me and knew the founders of my first company. I had a lot of leverage and I used it well.
+1 on the hustle. I know of people who make 20CR+ by climbing up the ranks steadily. That’s where I’d like to be in 5 years.
What is your net-worth and how do you manage it/invest?
Net worth is about 3CR. I’d say I’d save about 60-70% of post-tax income.
40% in index funds
30% in cash or cash equivalents (like CRED Mint)
5% long-term debt (EPF and the like)
20% vested equity in past startups
5% angel investments
Your networth is way too low for your claimed income and savings percentage. Numbers don't tally
What did you start off as? Does your YOE include non-PM YOE?
Also, would love to hear about what companies you've worked for to understand your trajectory to where you are today.
I started as an engineer, self-taught.
YOE includes non-PM experience. 6 as engineer, 4 as PM.
I’ve worked for ~4 companies so far, excl an entrepreneurial stint (no funding, no exit).
2 stints at series A startups (one b2b and one b2c) and 2 stints at decacorns (both b2c).
I switched jobs roughly every 2-2.5 years. I wanted to stay longer but it just didn’t work out. Most of my comp increases came from switching.
Thank you for your thoughtful and well-articulated responses. Read through the whole thread, and it gave me some good perspective.
I'm a PM with a total of ~7 YOE joining a seed stage firm at ~40LPA. Hoping to get to your level some day!
How do you see PM as career evolve in this decade and so on?
What does a Typical Day of yours look like?
The toughest part about your job? Hours you work now?
Mistakes you would have avoided during the course of your career.
Thanks for doing this. Cheers ! :)
6 years as non-PM. PM career has evolved quite randomly. I’m doing more IC now than I was 2 years ago (maybe attributable to hiring freeze and not being able to hire reports).
It’s 99% WFH, so I have a lot of flexibility baked into my day. I workout with a personal trainer in the mornings, start my day around 10:30/11, take a few calls, maybe an afternoon nap. 3-5 is the most important part of the day with lots of calls. I spend a couple of hours after 5 to write documents and PRDs (if I’m behind, which is once every 2 weeks). I’d say I have a relatively balanced life. Weekends are chill with no work pressure or calls.
Peer pressure and politics. I’m always competing with my peers for promotions and raises and visibility. That sometimes takes precedence over good product work.
I’ve made mistakes, but I can’t just imagine undoing a mistake without undoing the good stuff. Gun to my head, I’d try and stay in one company for longer. My stints have been short and I really enjoyed knowing everyone in the company (v. starting over every 2 years).
That was really informative. Thank you!
Which company?
Don’t want to dox myself, but it’s a well-known consumer company worth >10BN.
I don’t have the time to search through hundreds of employees, see their experience and match it with your profile and then identify you. This thing is easy to do in small start ups, not mid or high level companies. Anyways, your choice if you don’t want to reveal
What was your first ever CTC and what's your current CTC with YoE?
I'll start - 1.6 to 9.8 in 4 years.
This post is intended to give hope to freshers and motivation to experienced folks.
1 lakh 80 thousand per year Now 1 lakh 85 thousand per month Years taken 11
Hi,
I have been working in the Software Industry for the past 9 years. I feel like I have made a good use of my time and money and maybe some of my lessons can help you folks as well. Recently did a calculation for my NW and I am happ...
I see a lot of similar questions and I'll try to answer them here. >>>>>>CTC Progression<<<< My current CTC is 1.3C...
Lets discuss here our current CTC and YoE along with Designation. More experience people will tell us if need to switch. Mine is 13.1 LPA with 6 Years and 4 months of experience.
VP, Design CTC: 90LPA YoE: 9
