I will sell bananas but never work at IT companies, engineer says after quiting Oracle

Soham Chakraborty had a corporate job at Oracle, an engineering degree and a stable career in Bengaluru. But three years into the job, he was already planning his exit. His resignation letter stayed on his computer for months before he finally left the company in 2016. The decision was driven by a simple realisation that he did not want to spend his career in IT.“Like a lot of typical engineers, I got sucked into IT,” Chakraborty told Moneycontrol. “A few years down the line, I realised that I don't quite fit in. I don't quite like what I do and I'm not very good at it either.”His next move was anything but conventional. Before leaving Oracle, Chakraborty had calculated how long his savings could support him, including his student loan and other expenses. He estimated that he could manage for about two years without a regular salary. He also told his father just how strongly he felt about leaving the industry.“I'll do anything. I'll sell bananas on the street if I have to, but I won't do this because this has to have more meaning in life,” he recalled. His father encouraged him to take the chance. Chakraborty was unmarried and had no children at the time, which made him feel that it was the right point in his life to experiment with a different career.He now earns more than his IT salaryAfter quitting Oracle, Chakraborty returned to Kolkata. For nearly a year, he drove an Uber while trying to work out what he wanted to do next. The experience unexpectedly became the starting point for his new career. Driving passengers took him into neighbourhoods he had rarely visited and introduced him to people and parts of Kolkata outside the usual tourist circuit. At the same time, his parents were running an Airbnb property in an older part of the city. Visitors staying there often wanted to experience Kolkata beyond its famous landmarks. One guest eventually asked Chakraborty to accompany them around the city. He agreed, and what began as a one-off walk gradually turned into a paid experience.Demand grew through customer reviews, and the tours eventually became the foundation for Calcutta Capsule, his tourism business. He also runs Airbnb properties with his parents. The transition took time. Chakraborty says it took around two years before he was financially independent without depending on his savings. His business has since grown substantially. While he has not disclosed an exact income, he says he now earns several times what he made in IT.“What I used to earn when I was working in IT, I am making almost four to five times of it annually,” he said.Chakraborty now handles most aspects of the venture himself, from conducting tours and creating videos to building websites and managing marketing. His engineering and technology experience, he says, has proved useful in running the business.“I like how my background in tech is fuelling my creative dreams now,” he said.His mother took years to become comfortable with his career choice. Customer feedback and media coverage eventually helped convince his family that the business was not simply a temporary experiment. Chakraborty has now hosted more than 4,000 guests, including over 2,000 foreign tourists. His advice to others considering a similar career switch is also cautious. He does not believe people should quit their jobs simply because they want to follow a passion.“Taking risks is important. But understanding what can actually pay back is important too,” he said.- Ends