Techie was forced to resign but it turned out to be a blessing: 2 months of paid holiday and 70% hike

What initially felt like an unfair professional setback eventually unfolded into a life-changing opportunity for one employee. Sharing the experience on the Indian Workplace subreddit, the individual described how an unexpected exit from a company ultimately led to far greater career growth.

The person had been employed as a Junior Quality Assurance professional for nearly three years. During that time, they independently handled automation responsibilities for an entire module consisting of approximately four applications. In contrast, other modules were supported by several senior QA professionals working together. Despite the heavier individual workload, they managed the responsibilities alone.

However, tensions gradually developed between the employee and their reporting manager. The two frequently disagreed during discussions, and the employee openly challenged the manager’s viewpoints in meetings on multiple occasions. At the time, the employee believed these professional disagreements would remain confined to work matters. In hindsight, they realized the manager may have taken those confrontations personally.


Complications escalated when a new project began involving integration with a third-party vendor. The employee and their newly assigned team lead were instructed to proceed with automation tasks even though the project requirements were unstable and the development code lacked consistency. As specifications repeatedly changed, the employee had to revise test cases numerous times to align with shifting expectations.

Without prior warning, the manager and a director scheduled a sudden discussion. During that conversation, they informed the employee that performance allegedly did not meet expectations and that the organization had decided to separate from them. There had been no earlier feedback suggesting dissatisfaction, nor was there any proposal for a Performance Improvement Plan. The notice period was declared effective immediately, and the employee was told there was no requirement to continue working, but instead could utilize the time to prepare for job interviews.

After reflecting on the situation, the employee chose to view the development as an opportunity. Having already considered changing companies, the unexpected notice period offered nearly two months of uninterrupted preparation time. A resignation letter was formally submitted.

In the weeks that followed, the outcome exceeded expectations. The employee secured multiple job offers, each presenting approximately a 70 percent salary increase. What initially seemed like a professional blow turned into a significant career advancement.

When the employee returned to the office to hand over the company laptop, colleagues expressed surprise upon learning the resignation had not been entirely voluntary. Interestingly, on the very same day the separation was announced, other team members with genuinely poor performance records were placed on formal improvement plans.

Adding a personal layer to the story, the employee mentioned that their mother had advised them not to visit the office that day. Had they gone in person, the confrontation might have unfolded more unpleasantly.

Another Reddit contributor shared a similar experience. After being asked to resign earlier in the year, they used their three-month notice period as a restorative break. Within months, they secured a new role offering an 85 percent salary increase, ultimately feeling grateful for the unexpected push toward a better opportunity.