A software professional currently working at Microsoft sparked an online conversation after sharing his experience of how staying at one company for a long time affected his salary growth.
In a video posted on Instagram, Sailesh Gurung reflected on his early career decisions, calling “loyalty” the “biggest mistake” when it comes to financial advancement.
“The biggest mistake that delayed my pay rise by four years was loyalty,” he said in the video.
Early career at TCS
Gurung said he started his professional journey with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) where he worked for almost four years. During this period, he said he remained consistent, focused on his work and expected growth to follow over time.
However, he noted that the results did not meet his expectations.
“The increments were small, the growth was slow,” he said, adding that the experience led him to reevaluate his understanding of career progression.
Watch the viral video here:
“Comfort zone” and career growth
In the caption accompanying his video, Gurung clarified that he remains grateful to TCS for providing him with a solid foundation, discipline and skills early in his career. At the same time, he said that staying in the comfort zone may have limited his growth.
“For the longest time I thought staying longer automatically meant growing more,” he wrote.
Read also | Oracle begins layoffs in California, 700 to be laid off by June — Details
He added that the turning point came when he became more intentional about building skills and discovering new opportunities.
“The real shift came when I started to invest more intentionally in my growth, built the right skills, and finally stepped outside of what I thought was safe,” Gurung said.
Career Transition And Growth
Gurung outlined his career path, which included moving from TCS to Deloitte and finally to Microsoft. He identified this transition as a key factor in accelerating its growth.
“That one decision changed everything: TCS – Deloitte – Microsoft,” he said.
He also emphasized that growth is not just about changing jobs, but recognizing when it’s time to move outside familiar environments.
Read also | The Claude AI outage will affect thousands of people worldwide before it is fully restored
“Growth isn’t always about leaving. It’s about recognizing when you’ve outgrown the version of yourself you’re comfortable with,” he added.
Online response
The post drew mixed reactions from social media users, with many sharing their own experiences and perspectives on career growth and loyalty.
One user wrote: “He did the same thing for 6 years… later realized it’s not loyalty but laziness.”
Another commented: “I joined Deloitte as a freshman… looking to transition to FAANG by 2027. You are an inspiration.”
Some users offered alternative views, suggesting that factors such as location and opportunity also play a role in salary growth.
Read also | PCOS, the rise of hormonal problems in women under 30: What the experts say
“Your salary has gone up because you’ve moved… not just because of a job change,” read one comment.
Others responded with words of encouragement, urging continued growth and perseverance.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
