Hi. I'm a Full Stack Software Engineer based out of Trivandrum. I have been working in my current company for 5 years. So I wanted to explore other opportunities and get a higher pay. So I did get a call from an Edutech Firm at Kochi for a position of Senior Software Developer for their edutech platform.
Interviews were done, Salary was negotiated and I got the role. Now the problem is my Company requires a 2 month notice period but there are cases where with the help of our manager we can leave early if there is no critical dependency. So I asked my Manager and he said yes but HR was just being plain ass and said no. Well after much discussions they gave me confirmation to leave on Nov 10th. But the new firm gave me an offer letter asking me to join by Oct 27th (THIS PART IS VERY IMPORTANT).
Now the highlight here is they asked me if I was ok with relocation and I said yes provided I get some time to plan my migration. So I was expected to relocate just like that without any time and planning. Well after much discussions I got the joining date to be in Nov 10th. So I felt all is good, yay.
Well all is NOT FREAKING GOOD. After about 4 or 5 days they called me and said they were restructuring their budget due to the new PF norms and found my Salary to be high and they wanted to reduce it. I was like, WTF bro? An offer letter is given after a budget has been determined if I'm not mistaken. This was a Red Flag no 1. After a long heated discussion, I got it slightly reduced down. Not too much. So after like 3 or 4 days, I didn't get any mail with confirmation of the new salary structure. I felt like if I don't ask for a confirmation now, they're gonna screw me and give me a lesser package during joining and will say I confirmed it. So to prevent that I asked the recruiter who called me for a confirmation.
Got the restructured salary mail, but the joining date was unchanged- Oct 27th. I called the recruiter asking for this and suddenly they're like they have an emergency now and they want me to join by Oct 27th. This call is happening on Thursday, Oct 22. I don't have a flat or accommodation sorted out yet, I don't have anything for a migration planned out yet and they expect me to be at the office on the 27th. I pleaded as much as I could till yesterday, i.e. Oct 24th. I kept telling them my office won't be able to let me go on 27th. Nov 6th is my last working day and I got that only after a lot of requests and also based on my manager's personal risk. By afternoon they were like no they want me to join by Oct 27th or they'll reject my offer. So I just said this:
"Ok. I ain't interested in joining your company. The amount of inconsideration and the after offer letter salary negotiation shows me how much of a professional firm you are. I am rejecting your offer. Good bye"
I just don't get it. Why is the Indian Hiring process so toxic and inconsiderate here? Like I didn't ask for a relocation bonus or anything and yet they expect me to do everything. I felt like if I agreed to this, then they'll feel like they can taunt me and get me to accept anything. I ain't doing that, no way.
I'd like to name and shame this firm. But I don't know if I can.
Sorry guys for this long rant, but this was going to be my first jump and it just got screwed. I was anxious and stressed the past few days. Now I kinda feel relaxed.
TLDR: An edutech firm gave me an offer letter, needed relocation, got the joining date changed to make relocation esy, firm tried to renegotiate salary after offer letter stating PF norm changes, then asked to join early after asking for salary confirmation stating immediate emergencies, I told them to go find someone else.