Does My Work Matter, or Just the Billing?
Life Experience
My Decade-Long Journey Through India’s IT Landscape
After a decade in the Indian IT scene, I’ve had a front-row seat to the whole spectacle, and I have to say, it’s a wild ride. I’ve felt the difference first-hand, and I’ve come to one conclusion: the game changes completely as the company grows.
I started my journey at a tiny 4-person bootstrapped start-up. We were hungry, passionate, and every single line of code mattered. Then I moved to a small, funded start-up, and then a 100-person service-based MNC. The work was the core of everything. Our appreciation was measured by the quality of our work, and every new idea, every innovative thought, was not just welcomed, but celebrated. My skills grew exponentially because I was constantly challenged and encouraged to learn.
Then, about a year ago, I made the jump to a MNC with over 10,000 employees. And now, I’m at an even bigger one with almost 400,000. And honestly, the difference is night and day.
The focus shifted.
It’s no longer about the work. It’s all about the client. The billing.
Suddenly, you’re not just a developer or an engineer; you’re a resource tied to a billing number. Your leaves get rejected, not because the project is in a critical phase, but because a day of your absence means a day of lost billing. Innovation and new ideas? They’re great for the quarterly town hall presentations, but try to implement one, and you’ll be told to stick to the plan – the plan the client approved. Even if you know it’s going to cause issues down the line, you’re expected to just nod and say yes.
I hear you. “Big companies have bigger clients and more complex applications.”
I get it. I’m not questioning the complexity of the work. What I’m questioning is the mindset. I’m capable of understanding the difference between a minor tweak and a breaking change. But in this environment, it’s not about what’s right; it’s about what keeps the client happy and the billing uninterrupted.
Before I joined these big players, I was a little intimidated. I thought they would have these super-complex processes and super-talented people. I was scared I wouldn’t fit in. But the reality is quite different. The processes are there, sure, but they often feel like a lot of noise. Hundreds of reports – WSR, MSR, MBR, QBR, and all the jargon you can imagine. It often feels like we’re spending more time documenting the work than actually doing it.
And the appreciation?
It’s not for a well-written code or a brilliant solution. It’s for being a ‘yes man.’ For saying yes to everything, no matter how unreasonable the ask. I came here hoping to learn from the best, to be pushed to my limits, and to have my skills recognized. But so far, I haven’t found that.
It’s a strange place to be. You’re part of this huge, global machine, yet you can feel so disconnected. The work you do feels less like a craft and more like a cog-in-a-machine task.
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https://rajsm139.medium.com/from-code-to-command-569909bb4a92https://rajsm139.medium.com/from-code-to-command-569909bb4a92
I write practical guides to simplify coding and cloud adventures — perfect for curious minds. But that’s not all. Here, I also reflect on life’s experiences, sharing stories that inspire & connect us on a deeper level. Let’s learn, grow, and inspire — together! 💡
https://rajsm139.medium.com/from-code-to-command-569909bb4a92