My Journey in IT: From Struggles to Success
Hello everyone, in this Blog, I want to share an important, short story with you. When I started, what was my salary, how much did I earn, and what was my experience transitioning into the IT field as a software engineer? Many of you might be freshers who are also making this jump, whether as software developers, testers, or any other role. My story will give you insight into how crucial struggle is in this journey.
Contents
The Beginning of My Journey
When I started, I had just finished my engineering in Electronics and Communication from a college in New Delhi. I had imagined working in electronics, maybe with Intel chips or microprocessors. But I had a slight interest in IT, so I decided to make the jump.
After completing my engineering, I couldn’t secure a job. Our college was a tier-three institution with very few companies coming for recruitment. The ones that did, hired only the toppers. So, I decided to go to Bengaluru, which was emerging as an IT hub.
The Struggles in Bengaluru
When I first arrived in Bengaluru, I stayed near Silk Board, a famous junction known for being a hotspot for freshers and strugglers. I had some money from home and started my journey in a small dormitory. The room was tiny, about 8×10 feet, with bunk beds. We were four people sharing the room, preparing for job interviews, focusing mainly on mathematics and puzzles.
Despite the recession in 2008, I applied for various jobs, including digital marketing, tech support, development, and software testing. It was a month of constant struggle. Weekdays were spent looking for openings, and weekends were for preparing for interviews.
I remember applying for almost a hundred jobs, facing rejections in almost all of them. I went through different types of interviews, from tech support to digital marketing. The struggle was real, and every rejection felt like a setback, but I didn’t give up.
The Breakthrough
Eventually, I got an opportunity to interview with Accenture in Mumbai. I took a costly flight, managed to secure the job, and my training started in Bengaluru. In the first month, we received basic training. My first salary was around INR 21,000, out of which INR 11,000 went into paying back the flight cost. Managing with the remaining amount was tough, but I did it.
During the training period, I was introduced to software testing. Initially, I thought it was better than tech support, so I decided to give it a try. As it turned out, software testing became my career path. I found it fascinating and challenging, and I started to enjoy it.
Lessons Learned
The key takeaway is that struggle is a part of the journey. Rejections will happen, but don’t let them deter you. I faced over twenty-seven rejections, and if you’re facing a few, it’s normal. Even now, I face rejections. Keep moving forward.
As a fresher, create a small savings account. During my initial job search, I didn’t ask for money from home. I knew they would ask me to return and search for jobs locally. Back then, there were no openings in Delhi NCR.
Moving Forward
Over the years, with continuous effort and learning, I’ve moved into a lead position with eleven years of experience, running an amazing YouTube channel with nearly 100,000 subscribers. The journey wasn’t easy, but every struggle and rejection taught me something valuable.
I hope my real-life example motivates you. If you’re a fresher struggling with manual testing, don’t lose heart. Keep pushing forward. Rejections are a part of life. Embrace them, learn from them, and move on to the next opportunity.
If you want to hear more about my journey, how I transitioned from software testing to automation, let me know in the comments. Join our new batch at https://sdet.live/become Use Code “PROMODE” for 10% OFF!” We’re starting a new batch soon. Like and subscribe if you found this Blog motivating. See you in the next one.
