From IIT reject to ₹1.2 Cr Microsoft role: 6 years to finish a 4-year degree, failed startups and setbacks along the way

A Reddit user has shared a personal account of an unconventional career path leading to a job at Microsoft, highlighting years of setbacks, career shifts and gradual progress before reaching the milestone. The individual said they will be joining the company next month with a total compensation exceeding ₹1.2 crore.

Early struggles and academic delays

The user said they took a drop year after Class 12 to prepare for IIT but ended up with a worse rank. They later enrolled in a tier-2 engineering college, where they struggled with backlogs and lack of direction, eventually taking six years to complete a four-year degree. After graduation, they spent two years attempting startups that did not succeed before returning to clear pending academic requirements.

Career shifts and missed opportunities

They began their professional journey in a sales role at a startup, followed by a tier-2 MBA. A move into product roles came at a Middle East-based company, though the experience was described as difficult due to workplace conditions. Plans to pursue a PhD in the United States were disrupted by the Covid pandemic, forcing a return to India.

Gradual growth amid challenges

The user later joined a startup with a salary of ₹11 lakh to enter the product field. After 1.5 years, they moved to another startup with a ₹22 lakh package but cited a toxic work environment and personal challenges. A subsequent move to Bengaluru brought a role at ₹27 lakh, where they worked for two years, earned a promotion to senior product manager and saw their salary rise to ₹50 lakh.

Final breakthrough

The turning point came when Microsoft offered a role with a significantly higher compensation package. Reflecting on the journey, the user described the experience as one of persistence rather than immediate success, noting that earlier setbacks did not prevent eventual progress.