A Dehradun-based engineer, Akshay Saini, has stirred up a storm on social media with his bold remarks on the corporate appraisal system prevalent in India.
In a candid post on X (formerly Twitter), which has now gained over 483,000 views, Saini expressed his dissatisfaction with the appraisal process, branding it as nothing but a joke.
He argued that internal promotions and salary increments in most Indian companies are disappointingly low, most often in single digits (%) and failing to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living.
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Saini’s advice was straightforward: switch jobs if you want substantial salary growth. He emphasised that even above-average engineers struggle to secure significant pay raises within their current roles, making job hopping the only viable option for financial progression.
“If you’re underpaid, it’s YOUR fault,” Saini asked users to remember.
He added another note at the end: “Only switch your job if you really are underpaid. Don’t be GREEDY. PS. Greed has no cure.”
INTERNET BACKS THE CLAIM
Saini’s post resonated with numerous professionals, especially those working in the IT sector. Social media platforms were flooded with comments from individuals sharing similar experiences of stagnant salaries and unfulfilled promises during appraisal cycles.
“At least every 2 years you should get interviewed and get an offer, this will help you to understand yourself and your skills demand at the current rate and ask your existing org to match. If they do, works for both,” said one user.
“A company is not your family. You have a transactional relationship with an organisation. Always remember that,” noted another.
“Ya and they offer a title raise but not a good appraisal, expecting you to stay solely for the title,” wrote another user.
“Appraisals are broken. I am surprised at how elaborate this exercise is in all organization where you end up being paid 5 percent and sometimes less than that,” stated another.
“True. I switched a job in 6 months. Reached 6.5LPA. Now, switching again after 45 days. Expecting 9.6LPA. God has been gracious,” commented another.
“Appraisal system in most companies is a joke. It is not objective. Most managers don’t even know how to “measure” performance objectively. They decide your career based on how they feel about you! It’s useless in most places,” wrote a user.
“Always keep upgrading yourself with your domain expertise spending personal time in reading etc. know your value in company and salary that u deserveâæ If current company not ready to pay it others will pay. Keep yourself updated with demand and supply scenario of your expertise,” another user said.
CAUTION ADVISED
While switching jobs may indeed lead to higher salaries, some of the users commenting on Akshay Saini’s post cautioned against hasty decisions. They advised careful consideration of the potential risks and stability implications associated with frequent job changes.
“It’s true that in some cases, switching jobs can lead to higher salaries, especially if internal appraisals or salary increases are limited. However, it’s also worth considering factors beyond just salary when deciding whether to switch jobs, such as job satisfaction, career growth opportunities, work-life balance, and overall job fit,” said one user.
“Additionally, some companies do offer competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement without the need to switch jobs frequently. It ultimately depends on individual circumstances and priorities,” the user added.
“Interviewed a candidate who had made 6 switches in 8 years. His knowledge level was hardly worth 4yrs. By switching too frequently, you lose out on real experience and deep knowledge,” noted another.
“True but there are other factors that needs to be balanced…as someone who has >25 years in the industry I can tell you like in technology in life there are no perfect solutions only a bunch of trade offs,” stated another.
“Just working is not important, you also have to upgrade yourself,” wrote a user.
Saini’s critique may prompt many professionals to reevaluate their career trajectories and salary expectations. While company loyalty may still be considered important in certain sectors, the average Indian employee seems to be of the opinion that switching jobs gives better monetary gains over time.
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