Hi everyone,
I've been grappling with some decisions I made early on in my career and would deeply appreciate honest feedback and guidance. Here's a snapshot of my journey so far:
I started my career at a startup company, first as an intern for six months and then as a full-time employee for a total of 1.7 years. Despite receiving a 200% salary hike in my first year, I decided to leave due to the toxic work environment. I planned to use my notice period for job hunting, but the company relieved me instantly. Regrettably, I couldn’t secure a new job in the subsequent two months.
During that period, my previous manager casually mentioned, “The door is always open for you.” Hoping for a better experience, I rejoined the company. However, conditions had deteriorated, leading me to leave again within 22 days.
Given the difficulty of explaining this brief tenure to prospective employers, and on a friend's ill advice, I misrepresented my continuous employment and submitted a falsified payslip. I understand this was unethical, but at that moment, I acted out of desperation.
Subsequently, I joined a product-based company and worked there for 1.6 years. I performed well and experienced no issues upon exit, receiving a proper relieving letter.
In search of a new challenge, I joined a very early-stage startup (with fewer than 15 people) with a 35+ LPA CTC and a "Lead" title. However, with no team to lead and all responsibilities falling on me, things did not work out.
Through a personal connection, I reached out to a hiring manager who was seeking an immediate joiner. I resigned from my current role and bought out my notice period to join quickly. Unfortunately, without a formal offer letter in hand, they grew skeptical of my intentions given my recent job switches and the drastic salary reduction.
Now I find myself at a crossroads. Despite having 3.5 years of experience, I perceive my career as unstable and marred by past indiscretions, which continues to trouble me. I've performed well when given the opportunity, but my earlier decisions, particularly the falsification of documents, weigh heavy on my conscience.
I'm seriously considering preparing for GATE or opting for higher studies as a means to start anew. However, I'm torn:
Is it too late to mend my professional reputation and continue in the industry?
Can I candidly explain my journey and still secure a position in a stable company?
Or should I take the academic route, prepare for GATE, and attempt to reset everything from scratch?
I would greatly value your perspectives, especially from anyone who has encountered similar circumstances or has advice on how to recover from early career missteps.
Thank you for reading.
I've been grappling with some decisions I made early on in my career and would deeply appreciate honest feedback and guidance. Here's a snapshot of my journey so far:
I started my career at a startup company, first as an intern for six months and then as a full-time employee for a total of 1.7 years. Despite receiving a 200% salary hike in my first year, I decided to leave due to the toxic work environment. I planned to use my notice period for job hunting, but the company relieved me instantly. Regrettably, I couldn’t secure a new job in the subsequent two months.
During that period, my previous manager casually mentioned, “The door is always open for you.” Hoping for a better experience, I rejoined the company. However, conditions had deteriorated, leading me to leave again within 22 days.
Given the difficulty of explaining this brief tenure to prospective employers, and on a friend's ill advice, I misrepresented my continuous employment and submitted a falsified payslip. I understand this was unethical, but at that moment, I acted out of desperation.
Subsequently, I joined a product-based company and worked there for 1.6 years. I performed well and experienced no issues upon exit, receiving a proper relieving letter.
In search of a new challenge, I joined a very early-stage startup (with fewer than 15 people) with a 35+ LPA CTC and a "Lead" title. However, with no team to lead and all responsibilities falling on me, things did not work out.
Through a personal connection, I reached out to a hiring manager who was seeking an immediate joiner. I resigned from my current role and bought out my notice period to join quickly. Unfortunately, without a formal offer letter in hand, they grew skeptical of my intentions given my recent job switches and the drastic salary reduction.
Now I find myself at a crossroads. Despite having 3.5 years of experience, I perceive my career as unstable and marred by past indiscretions, which continues to trouble me. I've performed well when given the opportunity, but my earlier decisions, particularly the falsification of documents, weigh heavy on my conscience.
I'm seriously considering preparing for GATE or opting for higher studies as a means to start anew. However, I'm torn:
Is it too late to mend my professional reputation and continue in the industry?
Can I candidly explain my journey and still secure a position in a stable company?
Or should I take the academic route, prepare for GATE, and attempt to reset everything from scratch?
I would greatly value your perspectives, especially from anyone who has encountered similar circumstances or has advice on how to recover from early career missteps.
Thank you for reading.