From campus to corporate - everything you need for your first job. Navigate salary negotiations, relocation, probation, and career growth with confidence.
500+
Companies Reviewed
₹3-50 LPA
Fresher Salary Range
10+
City Guides
50+
Career Tips
Everything you need before, during, and after joining your first job
Complete guide to starting your career - what to expect, how to prepare, first 90 days roadmap.
Learn to negotiate your first salary confidently. Scripts, strategies, and what to avoid.
Understanding service bonds in IT companies - legal aspects, negotiation, and exits.
How notice periods work, buying out, negotiation strategies, and smooth transitions.
How to succeed during probation period - performance tips, relationship building, confirmation.
City-wise guides for Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi & more.
Salary data, culture reviews, interview experiences for 500+ companies.
Build an ATS-friendly resume that gets past filters and impresses recruiters.
What to focus on in your first three months
Setup & Onboarding
Learning & Observing
Contributing
Establishing Value
Know what each component means
40-50% of CTC. Base for PF, gratuity calculations.
💡 Higher basic = higher PF but lower take-home
40-50% of basic. Tax exempt if you live in rented house.
💡 Keep rent receipts for tax savings
Flexible component to balance CTC. Fully taxable.
💡 Often used to inflate CTC without PF contribution
12% of basic from employee, 12% from employer.
💡 Good for long-term savings but reduces take-home
10-30% of CTC based on performance. May be quarterly/annual.
💡 Not guaranteed - understand appraisal criteria
Company shares vesting over 3-4 years.
💡 High risk-reward. Paper value ≠ real money
Payable after 5 years. 15 days salary per year.
💡 Shows in CTC but you get it only after 5 years
Health insurance, life insurance for employee + family.
💡 Check coverage amount and parents inclusion
Monthly expenses comparison for freshers
| City | 1BHK Rent | 2BHK Rent | Food | Transport | Total/Month | Tech Hub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | ₹15-25K | ₹25-40K | ₹8-12K | ₹3-5K | ₹35-60K | |
| Hyderabad | ₹12-18K | ₹18-28K | ₹6-10K | ₹2-4K | ₹28-45K | |
| Pune | ₹12-20K | ₹20-32K | ₹7-11K | ₹2-4K | ₹30-50K | |
| Chennai | ₹10-16K | ₹16-25K | ₹6-9K | ₹2-3K | ₹25-40K | |
| Mumbai | ₹20-35K | ₹35-60K | ₹10-15K | ₹3-5K | ₹45-80K | |
| Delhi NCR | ₹12-22K | ₹20-35K | ₹8-12K | ₹3-5K | ₹32-55K | |
| Kolkata | ₹8-14K | ₹14-22K | ₹5-8K | ₹2-3K | ₹22-35K | - |
| Ahmedabad | ₹8-14K | ₹14-22K | ₹5-8K | ₹2-3K | ₹22-35K | - |
Wisdom from experienced professionals
Everyone has different backgrounds and negotiations. Focus on your growth, not others packages.
Stay neutral, dont gossip, focus on work. Observe politics but dont participate initially.
Keep records of achievements, learnings, feedback. Useful for appraisals and future jobs.
Network with people across teams. Good relationships open opportunities and make work enjoyable.
Dont sacrifice sleep and exercise for work. Long-term health affects career more than short-term gains.
Allocate time weekly for upskilling. First year is about learning, not just earning.
Over-communicate status updates. Let manager know blockers early. No surprises.
Save at least 20% of salary from first paycheck. Lifestyle inflation is real. Start SIP early.
Learn from others experiences
Stability in first job matters. Frequent job hops hurt resume. Wait at least 1-2 years.
First salary sets baseline for future. 10% more today compounds over career.
Understand bond clauses before joining. Some are enforceable, some are not.
Industry is different from academics. Stay humble, be willing to learn.
Pretending to know costs more than asking. No one expects freshers to know everything.
Different roles, companies, and negotiations. Focus on your own journey.
Technical skills get you hired, soft skills get you promoted. Work on communication.
Internal mobility is easier. Know people across teams for growth opportunities.
What to expect in different industries
Avg: ₹4-15 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Avg: ₹12-40 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Avg: ₹8-20 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Avg: ₹6-15 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Avg: ₹4-12 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Avg: ₹6-25 LPA
Tips:
Top Companies:
Useful utilities for freshers
Expect training, onboarding, meeting team members. Focus on learning company culture, processes, and tools. Dont expect to contribute significantly immediately. Ask questions freely and build relationships.
Research market rates, wait for company to make first offer, negotiate respectfully, consider total compensation not just base, ask for time to think. Dont accept immediately, dont share expected salary early.
Bonds with reasonable conditions (1-2 years, fair compensation) may be enforceable. Excessive bonds (5+ years, huge penalties) are less likely to be enforced. Consult legal expert for specific cases. Many freshers break bonds successfully.
Usually 1-3 months. Some companies have shorter notice during probation (1 month or even 15 days). Check offer letter carefully. Notice buy-out is sometimes possible.
Be punctual, meet deadlines, ask questions, seek feedback proactively, build relationships, document achievements. Most people clear probation - very few are terminated if they show genuine effort.
Bangalore has most tech jobs and startups but high cost. Hyderabad offers good jobs with lower costs. Pune is balanced. Choose based on job offers, not just city preference. Remote work is increasingly common.
Depends on situation. Service company experience is still valuable. If you have no offers, take what you get and prepare for switch. Dont stay unemployed waiting for dream company. Can always switch after 1-2 years.
Target 20-30% savings. Start SIP immediately. Create emergency fund of 3-6 months expenses. Avoid lifestyle inflation. First few years of savings compound heavily due to time value of money.
Ideally no, unless toxic environment or significantly better opportunity. Frequent job hops in initial career hurt resume. Aim for minimum 1-2 years in first job. Stability shows commitment.
Document all achievements throughout the year. Quantify impact where possible. Prepare examples of challenges overcome. Have growth plan ready. Be prepared to discuss areas of improvement honestly.
Give it time (6+ months) - initial adjustment takes time. Talk to manager about concerns. Focus on learning and building skills. Start preparing for switch quietly. Dont quit without another offer.
Document issues, try internal transfer first, talk to HR if serious issues. Build network for external opportunities. Dont suffer silently but also dont act impulsively. Mental health is priority.
You have all the resources you need. Now go out there and make your mark. Remember - everyone was a fresher once!
