u/Acrobatic_Union_6555

I graduated in 2011, so it’s been about 15 years since undergrad.
But if I actually count the years I professionally worked as a software engineer, it’s only around 8 years.
In between, I did a master’s, spent around four years trying to build a YouTube career, had gaps, changed directions, and worked on different R&D projects. Eventually, I reached Senior Software Engineer.
For probably the last 8 years, though, I’ve been almost obsessively interested in systems programming. I just keep studying it and going deeper. Even when I fail interviews, my reaction is basically to go back, figure out what I didn’t know, study it, build something around it, and try again.
For whatever reason, I haven’t gotten tired of it. I’m still sticking with systems programming and still want to see how far I can take it.
But sometimes I look at people who graduated around the same time as me and wonder where I stand.
A lot of people from the 2011 batch now have 14–15 years of continuous experience. Some are Staff Engineers, Principal Engineers, Architects, Engineering Managers, etc.
Meanwhile, 15 years have passed for me, but I only have around 8 years of actual professional software experience.
So I’m genuinely curious:

Am I slow compared to people in my age group?
I’m not really looking for the standard “everyone has their own journey” answer. I’m curious how experienced engineers actually see this.
Has anyone here lost several years to a master’s, trying a completely different career, starting a business, unemployment, career gaps, family stuff, or just making questionable career decisions?
Did those missing years actually hurt you long term?
Or once you become genuinely good at a technical specialization, does anyone even care that someone your age has 8 years of professional experience while another person has 15?
Especially interested in hearing from people who went deep into systems/low-level engineering later in their careers.

Last drawn CTC - 80 lakhs per annum outside India.

I have around 8 years of overall software engineering experience [ 5 years out of 8 are international], mostly working on actual products rather than only service/support projects.

I’m currently trying to move deeper into C/C++ / Linux / systems programming roles, where I have roughly 3 years of relevant professional C/C++ experience.

The problem is that I have about a 2.5-year gap on my resume.

Because of the gap, I’ve received an offer for around ₹12 LPA, and I’m wondering whether I should just accept the salary hit to get back into the industry.

What bothers me is that ₹12 LPA feels quite low for someone with 8 years of overall development experience. At the same time, I understand that recruiters may discount my experience because of the gap and because only around 3 years of my experience is directly in C/C++.

For people who have been in a similar situation:

• Does a 2–3 year gap really justify taking such a large salary cut?
• Would you accept ₹12 LPA, work for 6–12 months and then switch?
• Or would you keep interviewing and wait for something in the ₹18–20+ LPA range?
• Once I get back into a C/C++ role, will companies still care much about the gap after another year or two of experience?

I’m especially interested in opinions from C++ / embedded / Linux / systems engineers and hiring managers in India.

Would appreciate some perspective from people who have dealt with career gaps or re-entered the industry after a break.

I am 36 and honestly feel like I have failed professionally.

I spent nearly 10 years in Canada, completed a master’s degree, became a Canadian citizen and worked in software. But today, I have only around ₹20 lakhs in liquid savings and a scattered career.

My timeline:

• 2007–2011: B.Tech in Information Technology in India
• 2011–2014: Mainframe developer at a company with hundreds of thousands of employees
• 2014–2016: Master’s in Computer Science in Canada
• 2016-2018: Tried my own startup and failed.
• 2019: iOS developer at a large multinational company
• 2019–2020: C++ and Perl developer at a small telecom company
• 2021: C# developer at a company with several thousand employees
• 2021–2023: Python, Linux at a startup in Canada
• 2024–2026: More than two years of unemployment and self-directed learning

During the gap, I studied modern C++ but did not use this time to the fullest.

However, I never practised LeetCode consistently. I kept switching between C++, Python, C#, iOS, kernel development, networking and embedded systems instead of becoming exceptional in one area.

My current options are:

1. [confirmed] ₹13 lakhs for a robotics, defence and embedded-systems role in Pune. The offer is confirmed. If I sign tomorrow, I will have a three-month notice period. The salary feels very low for my age.
2. [not yet confirmed] ₹16–18 lakhs at a large engineering-services company This may provide better salary, stability and brand value, but the actual project and technical ownership are uncertain.
3. [not yet confirmed] Around ₹20 lakhs at a large IT-services company, working for a European industrial client This is still in progress and not guaranteed. It pays more, but I may lose the confirmed robotics offer while waiting.
4. Reject everything and wait for something better This could lead to a better opportunity, but I am worried about extending an already long career gap.

My long-term goal is to rebuild myself as a strong C++ systems, embedded or robotics engineer.

I understand that Canadian citizenship gives me options and that ₹20 lakhs is not nothing. But after spending a decade abroad, I feel ashamed that my savings and career progression are not better.

I am currently sitting in my room, unable to make a decision.

What would you do if you were 36, had this scattered work history, ₹20 lakhs in savings, Canadian citizenship and a strong desire to rebuild your career in C++ systems?

Would you accept the confirmed ₹13-lakh robotics offer tomorrow, despite the three-month notice period, or risk waiting for the better-paying opportunities?

Please be brutally honest, but constructive.

I’m trying to decide between three C++ opportunities in India. I am 34 years old. My plan is to work here for no more than 1–1.5 years, then move to Germany or the US as soon as the right opportunity comes along.
I’m optimizing for long-term career growth and international opportunities rather than just the highest salary.

My options are:
1. Robotics startup (Pune)
Senior C++ Developer
Working on drones, defense robots, and autonomous robotic systems
₹95,000/month
2. HCLTech
C++ Developer
₹1,30,000/month
3. Larsen & Toubro Technology Services (LTTS)
C++ Developer
~₹1,10,000/month
If your goal was to build the strongest profile for moving abroad within the next 1–1.5 years, which option would you choose?
Would you prioritize:
Hands-on experience building drones, defense robots, and autonomous systems at a robotics startup?
Higher salary and the stability of HCL?
LTTS for brand value and project exposure?
I’d especially like to hear from engineers who have moved to Germany or the US after working in India. Which path do you think would make me the most attractive candidate internationally?

I am based in India and have approximately eight years of professional software engineering experience. My last full-time employment ended in December 2023.
I left because the working environment had seriously affected my mental health, and I needed time to recover. During this career break, I:
Studied modern C plus plus and systems programming.
Built projects involving Linux, networking, concurrency, and low-level programming.
Started a second master’s degree.
Completed a technical internship.
Supported my family after a close relative suffered a serious fire accident, remained in intensive care for an extended period, and later passed away.
Faced significant family responsibilities and financial difficulties following the loss.
I am now actively applying for C plus plus and systems engineering positions in India.
How should I explain this career gap honestly and professionally on my résumé and during interviews?
Should I mention that I took time to recover from mental-health difficulties, or describe it more generally as a planned career break involving recovery, technical learning, higher education, an internship, and serious family circumstances?
I would appreciate advice from recruiters, hiring managers, and engineers in India who have returned to the industry after a long career break.