From 11 backlogs, Rs 8,000/month to Rs 50 lakh: How this engineer changed his career

A Reddit user detailed how he moved from 11 backlogs to a Senior Engineer role at a US-based company. He said the journey showed that setbacks, low pay and wrong turns need not define a career. From 11 backlogs and Rs 8,000/month to Rs 50 lakh package: How this engineer changed his career (AI generated image)A Reddit user has shared his career journey from graduating from a tier-3 college with 11 backlogs to becoming a Senior Engineer at a US-based company with a package of around 50 lakh.The engineer said he graduated from a tier-3 college and had 11 backlogs by his final year. Instead of allowing his academic record to define his career, he decided to focus on clearing his exams while gaining industry experience.In his final semester, he cleared six backlogs. After graduation, he joined a small startup in Lucknow as an Embedded Developer for a salary of 8,000 per month.His priority at the time, he said, was experience and learning rather than money. While working full-time, he continued preparing for his remaining exams and cleared all five backlogs within six months, finally receiving his degree in 2022. The Reddit post. BUILDING EXPERIENCE IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMSDuring his 11 months at the startup, he worked on embedded systems, including device drivers, Yocto, customised OS development, and device flashing.His first major switch took him to a reputed company in Hyderabad, where he earned around 6 lakh per annum. Although he was hired for an embedded role, project and client constraints eventually led him towards cybersecurity. However, his interest remained in Embedded Systems and Linux.MULTIPLE SWITCHES, BIGGER OPPORTUNITIESHe then moved to Bengaluru and joined a leading global technology company working in the TV and gaming console domain at around 8 lakh per annum.Over the next 3.5 years, he continued learning and solving engineering problems. With experience and hikes, his compensation rose to around 12 lakh.He later moved back to Hyderabad and joined an Indian MNC at 20 lakh, working with a Korean automotive company. After a few months, he felt the role did not offer the technical growth he wanted and switched again after four months.This time, he joined a US-based company on its payroll as a Senior Engineer, with a package of around 50 lakh.'STARTING POINT DOESN'T DECIDE YOUR DESTINATION'Looking back, the engineer said his journey taught him that academic failures, a low starting salary or a wrong career turn do not have to determine someone's future.“Your starting point doesn't decide your destination,” he wrote, emphasising the importance of learning, hard work, calculated risks and continuous improvement.(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)- EndsPublished By: Karan YadavPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 13:09 IST