Techie, earning Rs 12 LPA, reveals his struggles: 'Good pay but...'

A recent Reddit post by a young software engineer on the subreddit Indian Workplace has ignited a debate about how new employees are often left to fend for themselves in major tech companies. The anonymous poster, who began his first role as a developer in a reputed multinational corporation, described how the experience that once seemed like a dream quickly became mentally exhausting. Despite earning an impressive annual package of ₹12 lakh, he revealed that the lack of mentorship, unrealistic expectations, and relentless pressure had begun to take a toll on his mental health.

Thrown Into the Deep End

He explained that soon after joining, he was assigned multiple development tasks—referred to as “stories” in agile terminology—and was expected to figure everything out without assistance. The codebase, according to him, was enormous and poorly documented, making it almost impossible to understand without guidance. To make matters worse, his senior rarely responded promptly to queries, and when he finally did, he criticized the newcomer for depending too much on him. The engineer confessed that although he understood the need for independence, he often didn’t even know where to begin.

Unequal Treatment Among Peers

What made his situation harder was seeing his peers enjoying smoother onboarding experiences. Many of them had lighter workloads, friendlier teams, and adequate time to familiarize themselves with the code. In contrast, he was burdened with six development stories within a 12-day sprint cycle and was constantly reminded not to let any deadlines slip. The Scrum Master would lose patience if tasks were delayed, and his team lead dismissed his concerns, claiming the assignments were “simple enough.” The young professional shared that his workdays stretched from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., often longer, and even after logging off, he found himself obsessing over unfinished tasks.

Trapped Between Pressure and Responsibility

Despite feeling overwhelmed, quitting wasn’t an option for him. With family responsibilities and financial obligations weighing heavily, he felt trapped in a situation that was draining him both mentally and emotionally. His post resonated deeply with other young developers who admitted facing similar struggles—being expected to perform like experienced professionals without the training or structure needed to succeed.

Industry Voices and Community Advice

Seasoned tech workers in the thread offered both empathy and practical advice. Some bluntly stated that such challenges are an inevitable part of corporate life, emphasizing that companies expect high returns from every employee. Others shared that mentorship in the tech industry is often rare and that colleges fail to prepare students for real-world complexities. Meanwhile, a few users advised the young engineer to initiate an honest conversation with his senior about expectations, document goals clearly, and seek regular feedback to align better with team objectives.

The post became a mirror for countless fresh graduates, highlighting a growing concern in India’s tech landscape—that well-paying jobs may not always guarantee professional growth or mental well-being.