From Rs 6 lakh to Rs 18 lakh to Rs 0 salary in one month: Indian techie shares heartbreaking job loss story

Time of India

a day ago

In recent times, Reddit has become a popular place where people share real stories about their jobs. One such post by an Indian techie caught everyone's attention. He shared how his dream job at a US-based startup was taken away just days before he was supposed to start. His story is about hope, hard work, and an unexpected job loss.
This young full-stack developer was working at an Indian startup, earning Rs 6 lakh per year. After a lot of effort, he got an offer from a US company that promised to pay him Rs 18 lakh per year. It seemed like a dream come true—but sadly, things didn't go as planned.
From Rs 6 LPA to Rs 18 LPA: A huge salary jump
The developer said he had worked hard and learned a lot in his first job. When he received the US job offer, it felt like all his hard work was finally paying off.
'I was a full-stack dev earning Rs 6 LPA. After a lot of hard work, I got an offer from a US startup with Rs 18 LPA,' he wrote.
Excited about the opportunity, he resigned from his current job, completed all the joining steps for the new one, and served his notice period. But just before his joining date, things took a shocking turn.
Job offer cancelled at the last moment
Just as he was ready to begin the new role, the US startup informed him that they had to cancel the offer. They said it was due to changes in their company plans. But the techie believes they might have hired someone else instead.
'I saw a new person join their Slack group before I got the mail. I can't say for sure, but it felt like I was replaced,' he said.
This left him without a job or any backup plan.
15 days' pay offered, but the pain remains
The company gave him 15 days' pay as a kind gesture. But that didn't make things easier.
'Now I'm jobless. I've been applying non-stop, but getting no replies. It's been a hard fall—from a high to a low in just days,' he added.
Life in startups: Big learning, but no stability
The Indian techie had worked only with startups so far. While he learned a lot, he also realised that startup jobs can be risky.
'This would have been my third company. I want more stability now. A place where I can work for 2-3 years and grow,' he said.
He also mentioned that he is always ready to learn and improve, but this time he wants some job security too.
Here's the Reddit post
Reddit community offers support and advice
Many users on Reddit praised him for sharing his story. Some gave useful advice, while others related to his situation.
Top suggestions from the community:
'Make a post on linkedin regarding this and mention you are available to join next day. Nice post btw, didn't feel like you were crying or something.'
'This is a bad situation. Those companies should be sued, but the government is not doing enough.'
'Can you send me your resume on DM? We have some openings for SWE-1 in our org I can try and help'
'It's okay, you've got the necessary skills, so you'll make it. Don't worry!'
What can we learn from this?
This story is a wake-up call for many young professionals:
Don't resign until your new job is fully confirmed.
Always research new companies before joining, especially startups.
Keep some savings in case things go wrong.
Build a strong network on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Reddit for support.
Stay strong, stay prepared
Many Indian techies aim for better jobs abroad or in high-paying startups. But this story shows that it's important to be ready for surprises too. A good salary is great—but job security and peace of mind matter just as much.
If you're in a similar situation, don't lose hope. Keep applying, stay active on LinkedIn, talk to people in the industry, and most importantly, believe in yourself.
And if you can help someone like this techie—with a referral, a job lead, or just some kind words—do it. It could make a big difference.
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