A young software developer from a tier-3 college, with an electrical engineering degree, doubled his annual salary from 12 lakh to 24 lakh rupees in just two years without an IIT qualification or frequent job switches. His story, shared on Reddit, has inspired youth on social media. He achieved this by directly messaging startup founders on LinkedIn.
In today's competitive job market, many young people strive for better salaries, but some achieve quick success through smart strategies. One such example is a software developer who graduated with an electrical engineering degree from a tier-3 college. In his third year of college, he began working as a software developer intern at a startup, earning 25,000 rupees per month. His salary was increased after a few months.
Last year, he secured an internship at another startup for 45,000 rupees monthly. Six months later, the same company offered him a full-time position with an annual package of 12 lakh rupees. Within one year, his salary rose to 18 lakh annually, and following the next evaluation, it reached 24 lakh rupees. He noted that he changed companies only once during his internship period and stayed with the current one thereafter.
He shared his strategy for landing the internship: on LinkedIn, he directly messaged founders of early-stage startups, especially those that had recently secured funding. He followed startup news and sent his resume along with details about the role he sought. Despite this rapid success, he mentioned losing interest in his work and sought advice on Reddit to stay on track. Social media users praised his achievement, calling it highly inspirational. The story, reported from New Delhi on January 5, 2026, highlights opportunities in India's tech sector for non-elite graduates.