r2i forum

Friends,
As always again I am seeking help from you guys to make a very important career decision. I have 10 years of IT (.Net C#) exp predominantly in financial sector. I have R2Ied just 4 months back.

Here is my dilemma which option to chose?:

Option 1: Currently I work in A multinational Financial firm not well known in India but fortune 500 in US. They have offered me a PM position and I have been working with them for past 4 months. For one reason or the other (Project delays) I still don’t have any team of my own, I still do a support kind of role. There is politics here and seems like it will be a while when I will get a managerial responsibility. My US team manager is very happy with me and now I am kind of indispensable for them (but as an individual contributor). The salary I am getting is 16L pa.

Option 2: I have been offered a position of Sr. PM in a small sized consultancy company (Like Satyam etc). The company is growing and I can play important role in their growth. I will have 1 or more team of mine who will be working in US/Europe based projects. They value my 7 years of US exp. The company is based out of Nagpur. The salary they offer is 12.5L pa. It can very well be a learning ground for me.

Now I am not very sure which option do I chose. Here are my considerations:

What if I don’t like Company in Nagpur, How easy will it be to move back to Hyd/Blore/Delhi etc? Will companies in these bigger cities entertain me.

I don’t have a house in Hyd, but I can easily afford a house in Nagpur. Even domestic help like “Aaya” for my daughter and cook etc will be easily available.

Life will be less stressful in Nagpur

Other Career options do not exist in Nagpur

I will be tagged with a lower CTC of 12.5 Lakhs, If I move to bigger city will they start from 12.5 L or translate it to its equivalent and then start negotiation

I will have to move out of I Banking/Finance domain to a general kind of service delivery.

We are unable to get any domestic help here in Hyd and that is stressing us out.

Guys please help me out here, I have to make a decision in next 12 hours or so, else I will loose the Nagpur opportunity.

Thanks a ton in advance,
DKS

Boss, this is what I would do. I think it is most important to first and foremost feel that you are making progress in your career. It is not very good to vile away your talents and time just like that. The company in nagpur is valuring your experience. You will make bigger impact. You will have a better quality of life, a house, a aya. The money difference will not devalue your quality of life in Nagpur as (i am guessing) the buying power will be more in Nagpur. If you are from that region, all that much better. Companies in BLR/NCR/HYD will look at your experience and if the Nagpur experience is richer, then it will be more valuable. You will be a big fish in a small pond there. Of course, you will not start from the Nagpur salary. You can tell them (and show salary slips) that you had a higher salary in Hyd. You will start negotiationg from the local market point of view. But look at this way, if you like it in Nagpur, you may never leave!!!

IMO, you should make the decision on the city you are comfortable with. A guy from Hyderabad may feel more comfortable in Silicon Valley rather than Nagpur and vice versa. India is a single country according to text books but an agglomeration of multitudes of countries based on culture, language and mores.

Do not base the decision on cost of living differences.

Most take a pay cut when they return to india. The assumption is that the loss of earnings will be compensated by the proximity to things you love - family, culture, food etc.

Thanks spsss and VWBuggy. Suggestions/opinions like this really helps.

I am neither from Hyd or Nagpur but from a smaller city in North India.

Tonight (In India) I have to discuss this with my wife and decide as I just got a confirm offer few hours back.

Please pour in more thoughts. By hearing your views I am getting broader perspectives, even ones which I may tend to overlook in day to day chores.

Cheers,
DKS

I am not from Nagpur. I have spent time in Nagpur and Hyderabad too. I would say that NAGPUR Is an excellent place to be in.

If being close to the northern city is not really that important, i would choose nagpur. however i would make sure that the position is really good.

WHICH city r u in right now ? do u think u can negotiate ur salary at nagpur ?

ok i figured, u r in hyd. i wouldnt worry abt the salary and go to nagpur because quality of life is much better and u will feel closer to north india.

I've been to nagpur once last november and I liked it. I think things are changing rapidly in all parts of India and nagpur is also undergoing a lot of change. If you think you will miss your friends/relatives and fear getting socially isolated, I think then nagpur may not be the place for you.

I would stick to Hyd for now and Its definetly not for the money. I would stick in a major city (If I can't get to my hometown) and if I had R2I'ed recently. It would be easier to jump ship and join a company or position of choice in Hyd. More opportunities tend to open-up.

I would say even if the present position is not-satisfactory stick here as it would be easier to interview for future suitable openings nearby.

Yes! finding help would be an issue.. thats a call you have to make and see if you can get help from hometown.

Even I would feel Nagpur is a very nice sized city, except the hot weather I dont see much of problem. I dont think I can negotiate much in Salary.

My only question which I am still debating is, will my career take a back seat by doing so?. I just dont want to get stuck in NGP. I would'nt mind settling in NGP but only if I like the job. But what if I dont?.

How much brand name matter? Do companies in India look at the skill one has or is it that half the battle is won if you have a solid brand name.

Any ideas? The senior professionals in this forum? would you hire a professional like me with 1 average brand name Indian company, 1 regional small sized US company, and 1 big US company but less known in India and a small sized less known company from NGP? Lets say total of 10 - 12 yrs exp.
I also have part time MBA from top 20 B School in US

Vs

A person who has worked in companies like Infy, Accenture, Wipro, Deloitte etc.

Assuming both of us are level in other aspects.

-DKS