Senior Product Manager [ Fintech | Trading | Brokerage Platform]

Cracking a PM role in India is not that easy

The reality is that many PM courses are overpriced and lack credibility, the role is glamorized but requires hard skills and grit, most online content isn’t tailored to the Indian context, people don’t realize how much firefighting is involved.

tl;dr: Gen-Z with pedigree have zero work ethics

I’m not trying to romanticize burnout or act like overworking is the goal - no one’s asking for 80-hour weeks or to be glued to a desk. It’s just about showing up and really putting in the work during the hours you're actually there. Get through the day, put in the grind for the 8-9 hours, instead of always finding little workarounds or boundaries like work’s this huge burden. With some folks, especially Gen-Z? It’s like they’re expecting applause just for clocking in. Honestly, the entitlement sometimes is hard to understand. Wanting work-life balance? Totally fair, makes sense. But there’s still a basic commitment that comes with a job. Every time there’s a project with a bit of grit, it feels like there’s this immediate instinct to push back, sidestep the tough parts, and look for the smoothest route. Nobody’s above rolling up their sleeves, you know? But some of these guys, they treat working hard like it’s an outdated concept, like giving full effort is optional. And for those with the big names on their degrees? Sometimes it feels like they think that alone should mean they’re past the heavy lifting. They want the titles and perks, but without really showing the effort. On the other hand, working with folks who didn’t have all those privileges? Whole different story. They’re here ready to prove something, fully leaning into whatever task’s in front of them. They don’t get caught up in endless boundary-setting or second-guessing feedback - they’re putting in the work, seeing it as a chance, not a chore. And they don’t expect shortcuts; they’re in for the real effort. It’s not about glorifying long hours - it’s about being fully present for the hours you’re on the clock. Seeing some of this avoidance around commitment, it’s like somewhere along the line, the understanding got lost that success is built in the small, daily grind - the stuff that doesn’t come with instant validation.

Don't settle for less!

I wanted to share my journey where I ended up joining Microsoft after 1 year of preparation and struggle. I was working at a big MNC (tier 2) for over 3 years on the same project solving similar issues and was feeling stuck. My dream was to join a tier1 level company at that time. It was during this time that I wanted to make a career switch so I started studying at the start of 2024. I applied to a number of companies, applied for over 200+ positions and received an interview call for 6 of them. Whatever be the thing I couldn't clear the rounds of most of the companies and was feeling rejected. At this point of time I cleared interview of a mid sized startup for data engineering role. I accepted solely because I wanted to leave my current company despite the fact that I wasn't getting a lot of hike. I was happy but not satisfied! I joined the company and within a few months i realised that this is not something I want. I started preparing again, this time with more will and grit. I understood why i failed the earlier interviews and what I was missing. This gave me the confidence to appear well in my next set of interview. This confidence and hard work helped me get into Microsoft. So if you are struggling in your current job or are not feeling it's right just keep working hard 💪 DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!