Returning to India with 8 Years of IT Experience: What Should I Expect in Salary and Work Culture?

I have 8 years of IT experience with an MCA degree, currently in the UAE. I would like to come back to India. I want to know:

1. How much salary can I expect?
2. How is the work culture?
3. How to get an offer and come back?

Thanks and Regards,
Abid4Friends

You want to come back and have a good experience, which implies that you are familiar with the culture and working style here in India, and you are from India, right? Well, you have a really good experience, but if you want to come back to India, you have to get a job offer. It might not be good to leave your current stable job and life there. Why are you willing to come back?

And if you are planning to come back to India for the rest of your life, you can come here first and later apply for jobs on your own. I'm sure you will get a good job soon, but we can't say how much you will get because the location you are residing in now, the culture, working style, and life are much different, and you also know this. So in that case, it's totally up to you what you want to do.

You need to decide what you want. Do you want to reside back in India or just come here with the expectation of getting more and higher earnings? You need to realize this first and then decide what you want to do.

Hope you find this appropriate and will understand my point.

Dear Anil Arora, Thanks for your quick reply. Right now, I am in the UAE, holding a government job as a system admin/engineer with a current CTC of 18 lakhs Indian rupees. I feel like I am not growing, and it's challenging to save much, especially with family. I have observed that my friends in India are earning well and saving, which is not the case here with a family. I have spent almost 7 years here.

I am closely monitoring India's progress across all fields, and I aspire to return and contribute to this development. I understand there will be a significant difference in my salary, but I want to be prepared mentally before my return. I would like to secure a job offer before coming back so that I can transition smoothly into Indian life without facing unemployment upon landing.

This is my plan. Please provide me with your feedback. I am concerned about how to secure an offer while still working here. This thought is bothering me.

Thank you.

Hmm, well, in that case, you need to apply for jobs through online applications. But one thing to keep in mind is that you will have to attend interviews, and your physical presence will be expected. You cannot have an interview in India while residing there.

Secondly, dear, it is not true that you will not find a good job soon. You have valuable experience and a strong candidacy. You can come here and easily execute your plans. Since you are willing to return with your family, as you mentioned earlier, and you may have some relatives here who can assist you. Therefore, when you have firmly decided on this option and want to return permanently with your entire family, I would suggest you do so and try to search for a job from here.

You can also apply for jobs from there through job portals if you genuinely believe it would be the easiest way. However, I would recommend you think about it once more.

I won't say that you cannot receive a job offer by applying from your current location because technology has made our vast world very small. We can now apply and receive job offers from anywhere in the world at any time. Moreover, there are numerous employers constantly seeking good profiles, candidatures, and experiences, hiring people from outside India and around the world with just a click!

I hope you now have an idea of what to do and where to go. Best of luck.

I understand your concern because I have also encountered this in the past and would like to offer you some suggestions.

Hi, it's not like you can't give an interview while being in the UAE. One of my friends relocated from the USA to India with a job offer in hand. He had online and telephonic interviews, received an offer, and even had his ticket expenses covered by the company. Now, he is enjoying his life and job in India.

Therefore, I suggest that you start applying for jobs and attending interviews. You will definitely secure a job in India. Then, without any tension, you can move to India with a job offer in hand. However, for this, you need to be patient and put in efforts to land a job here.

Good luck to you.

Regards,
Vaidehi

As Vaidehi has suggested, try searching for and applying to suitable jobs while you are still in the UAE. You can negotiate to have a telephone interview or even use Skype so they can see you and you can see them.  The world has shrunk; anything is possible now. It all comes down to someone needing the skills and experience you have and being willing to go the extra mile to get you on board. Given the distance, etc., you also need to go the extra mile by having a top-notch resume and selling yourself well to prospective employers. Hope that helps.

Thank you, Vaidehirasal and John. I really appreciate your efforts and kind advice. I have started working hard and am daily posting my resumes on Monster as well as on Naukri.com.

Every day, I receive emails from consultants. I don't know who is genuine and who is not. When I send my resume to them, they never care to inform me if my resume wasn't shortlisted.

Any more suggestions are welcome.

Thanks and Regards,
Abid4Friends

With my limited knowledge of the IT sector, there are very few companies that opt for telephonic or video conferencing interviews for candidates with 8 years of experience. Typically, such opportunities are available for senior individuals rather than middle-level professionals like yourself. You may need to attend in-person interviews, though I am uncertain whether travel expenses will be covered. Securing an 18L CTC for 8 years of experience may be challenging here, not to mention your current tax-free earnings in your current location. Please note that this is just my opinion and may not accurately reflect the current scenario in the IT sector.

Regards,
Pon

Hi Pon, thanks for your comment. I truly appreciate it. I am ready to come back even if I get 10-12 lakhs, but I want to return with an offer in hand. As you know, relocation incurs many expenses and takes time to settle. If we start working immediately, there will be cash in hand, and I hope to adjust slowly.

Thanks once again, and I am expecting a quick reply from all seniors.

Wishing you luck with your job search in India. It's a good thought of returning home. Seniors have advised very well on how you can go about it. My suggestions are:

- Target which industry within IT you want to explore; don't be desperate for any job that pays well.
- Research what kind of skill sets are in demand and whether you have them. If not, seek to acquire them.
- Draft a robust CV highlighting your work experience and your future aspirations. Arrange and scan your documents, keep them in your email for ready access. Keep your testimonials and references ready, preferably in India.
- Draft an interesting cover email presenting your cause. Be honest, express your passion towards returning to India. Don't complain about the UAE or your current employer.
- Research a list of companies that meet your criteria (location, size of the company, nature, etc.).
- Streamline your approach towards companies, decide how you want to apply (email, job posting, telephone call, fax, etc.). If possible, use your contacts in India. Get HR's, Hiring Manager's, Senior Employee's contact numbers and forward your application. Don't get too pushy, be smart, and patient.
- Network smartly on professional websites, make relevant friends, be genuine, and don't be shrewd.
- Plan your vacations to India properly (Avoid Monsoons). Shortlist companies you want to visit as walk-in applications. Network, coordinate, communicate with relevant people from targeted companies and strike a meeting, official or informal.
- Prepare your mindset for salary negotiations, set your priorities right (India, Salary, or Job Profile). You can't get everything on one plate.
- Prepare mentally for a change in lifestyle, inflation, workload, office politics, etc. Remember, "The grass looks greener on the other side."
- Your growth is in your hands, take self-initiative to acquire skills and qualifications. Don't get stagnant, especially as you are in the technology field.
- Use various sources to apply and keep track of your applications. Prefer to get real human contact when you apply, as compared to bulk forwarding your CV.
- Research top consultants: Adecco, Mafoi, Manpower, Kelly, etc.

Wishing you all the best.

It is very heartening to see qualified, experienced Indians returning after working outside the country for a while. I agree with the posts above, which encourage you to apply online while you are still in the UAE. Job portals will give your CV maximum exposure, though your concern about the genuineness of consultants is also valid. You will need to do some due diligence about the consultant or wait for direct contacts from companies. You can also actively start applying to companies directly (through the portals or their own websites' career sections).

You should also definitely look at R2ICLUB - Articles Front Page, which has a number of blog posts, groups, and forums for NRIs wanting to return to India. You can read other NRIs' experiences and ask questions to those who have already gone through the process of returning. Good luck with your job search.

Regards,

Thank you for your valuable suggestions. I respect each and every point you mentioned. Inshallah, I will start working on this. Since I am outside India, I want to get advice from seniors on which industry I should target, as I don't know much about that. I will start working on my vision, and I will update you all.

Thanks a lot.
Regards.