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How many interviews does it take to land a corporate job in today’s market? For a long time, the answer for an experienced software professional was anywhere between three to five. Today? The numbers are staggering, and a recent viral post has perfectly captured the grim reality of the current Indian IT job market.

A techie recently took to social media to share their exhausting job-hunting journey, revealing that it took them exactly 36 interviews to finally secure a job offer. The role? Based in Hyderabad. The compensation? A respectable Rs 30 Lakhs Per Annum (LPA). The catch? It barely counted as a salary hike.

Here is a deep dive into what this story tells us about the current state of the tech industry, and what job seekers can learn from it.

The Grind: What Does 36 Interviews Actually Look Like?

Getting through 36 interviews isn’t just a numbers game; it is a test of extreme mental endurance. For the uninitiated, a single “interview” in the tech world often means a multi-round process.

To reach 36 individual interview rounds, this professional likely had to:

• Clear initial HR screening calls.
• Survive multiple technical assessment rounds (DSA, System Design, Frontend/Backend specific).
• Complete take-home coding assignments.
• Sit through multiple “managerial fit” and director-level discussions.
• Repeat this cycle across dozens of different companies.

When you factor in the preparation, the rejections, the ghosting by recruiters, and the agonizing wait times between rounds, this is a journey that spans several months of relentless grind.

The Twist: A Great Salary, But No Real Hike

The most striking part of this story isn’t just the number of interviews—it’s the financial outcome.

For many mid-level professionals, a Rs 30 LPA package is a milestone. However, the techie pointed out a harsh truth: they didn’t get much of a hike from their previous employer. In a healthy, growing market, switching jobs after years of experience traditionally yielded a 30% to 50% salary bump. Today, companies are leveraging the surplus of talent in the market to keep salaries stagnant.

They are offering “lateral moves” rather than rewarding the effort of switching. You get the title, you get the massive CTC number, but your in-hand take-home salary barely moves.

The Bigger Picture: What’s Happening in the IT Sector?

This story is not an isolated incident. It is a mirror reflecting the post-pandemic correction in the global tech landscape.

• The Talent Surplus: Following the massive layoffs of 2023 and early 2024, the market is flooded with highly experienced talent.
• Cautious Hiring: Companies in tech hubs like Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Pune are extremely cautious. They have the budget to hire, but they are holding out for the “perfect” candidate at the lowest possible cost.
• Extended Interview Processes: To filter through the massive applicant pools, companies have stretched their interview processes from 2-3 rounds to 5-7 rounds, making the 36-interview metric a new normal for active job seekers.

Lessons for Job Seekers

If you are currently navigating the tech job market, this Hyderabad techie’s journey offers a few crucial takeaways:

1. Manage Your Expectations: The era of massive salary hikes through job hopping is temporarily paused. Focus on getting a role that offers stability, good learning, and decent work-life balance rather than just chasing a massive CTC jump.
2. Build Mental Resilience: Rejection is no longer a reflection of your skills; it is a byproduct of a broken hiring pipeline. You will be ghosted. You will be rejected after 4 rounds. Keep going.
3. Focus on Upskilling: With companies being incredibly picky, knowing just the basics isn’t enough. Deepen your knowledge in niche areas—whether that’s AI integration, cloud architecture, or advanced system design.
4. Network Aggressively: Applying through LinkedIn Easy Apply is a black hole. Referrals are what get you to the front of the line, saving you from doing 36 interviews across 15 companies.

The Bottom Line

Landing a Rs 30 LPA job is an achievement, and the techie in question deserves immense credit for not giving up after interview number 10, or 20, or 30. However, their story is a wake-up call for the Indian IT sector.

As the market continues to correct itself, both companies and candidates need to find a middle ground. Until then, job seekers will have to lace up their boots, prepare their system design concepts, and gear up for the long haul.