Getting a pay raise is always rewarding—it recognizes your hard work, reaffirms your worth, and increases motivation and income. But think about getting an incredible 700% raise in just one year, particularly in the current competitive employment market. Unbelievable? For one techie in Delhi, this was a dream come true recently.
Devesh, a technocrat, shared his incredible success story on X. He shared that he started his career with IBM for a salary package of Rs 5.5 lakh per year. Within a year, he received a new offer for a salary of Rs 45 lakh per year.
“I began my full-time profession a year ago at IBM with a CTC of Rs 5.5 lakh per year, and I now have an offer of more than Rs 45 LPA CTC in hand within a year,” he wrote in his update, terming it a “dream” fulfilled for anyone from the middle class.
His case attracted a lot of attention online, and users bombarded him with inquiries on how he had gained so much growth in such a short time. Answering the interest, Devesh explained his view on early life decisions. “I am not a seasoned individual to offer advice, but 1 advice I offer here is ‘in the beginning of your career, prioritize job over money. If you’re not receiving the good deal, simply go in low and work so so hard that you make a huge leap,'” he said.
Never mentioned it but tbh, I still sometimes think I am still in a dream, bcoz I started my full time career last year at IBM with just a CTC of 5.5 LPA, and now having an offer of over 45 LPA CTC in hand within an year, for a middle class guy like me, it’s still a dream❤️.
— Devesh (@theywayshhh) May 26, 2025
Allaying fears of suspicion regarding the huge jump in his salary, he explained, “For those who are wondering how to simply go from CTC, like Rs 5–6 LPA to Rs 45 LPA, the MAANG or FAANG companies set their base pay and CTC. So, it’s all the same. They will not assess you on the basis of what you are earning earlier.”
Those people who have a doubt like how is it possible to directly jump from CTC like 5-6 LPA to 45 LPA something, so basically the MAANG or FAANG (whatever) companies have their base pay and ctc preset, so it’s similar for everyone, they won’t judge you on your previous pays.
— Devesh (@theywayshhh) May 27, 2025
The post elicited a variety of responses on social media. While numerous others were impressed and congratulated him, some questioned the likelihood of such growth without powerful connections or insider backing.
One user said, “Inspirational. Congratulations to many more in the future.” Another said, “An impressive leap in such a short time. Your journey is a testament to what relentless focus and talent can achieve.”
However, others questioned whether the jump was realistic. “What have you done in particular to achieve high growth tbh? Don’t say hard work, dedication. What in skill-wise?” said one. Another commented, “This is not normal, and whatever is not normal is not possible.”
A questioning commentator added, “Within one year, no one can achieve a 700 per cent increase. Unrealistic.”
To put this into perspective, as per a report by Business Standard, the average salary increase anticipated in India for 2025 stands at about 9.4%, which makes Devesh’s jump that much more exceptional—and contentious.
