Product or Service Company

[Grishma Dube]

Hi Ranchers,

I need some guidance from all of you urgently.
I am having 5+ yrs of experience in java/j2ee and currently working with service company as Sr. Software Engineer with package of Rs.5.5/-lacs p.a. For past 1.5 months I am on bench and dont know how long this situation will continue because most of the java resources here in hyd center are on bench since more than 6+ months.

I have got 2 offers in hand. Both the companies are good and offering me a satisfactory package. Big product company in hyd paying me Rs. 8.5/- lacs p.a. but they do not have typical hierarchy where i can be a team lead. I dont mind continuing my work in technical side, though i am looking out for a formal 'Team Lead' designation, which I might not get in that product company. There they have different hierarchies where upto 7+ yrs of experince you will still be in software engineering band and after that you will be moved to team lead band. But over all the offer is good.
Another offer is from service company in hyd which is paying me 8/- lacs p.a with a Team Lead position.

I would like to know, what are your views on this. If you were in my place, what would be your preferences - product company or service company,
team lead position or senior software engineer. PAckage difference is not matter of worry for me at this moment.

Thanks,
Grishma

[ankur rathi]

Go for '8 Lacs' one.
[ January 23, 2008: Message edited by: ankur rathi ]

[Pradeep bhatt]

Most of companies in India value leadership, documentation skills rather than technical skills. So better to go for team lead. IMHO, it is difficult to become team lead/manger in product dev. companies than in services company. The wait could be long. You could shift later to a product company as tech lead/manager.

[Grishma Dube]

Hi,

That product company sent me final offer letter for Rs.9.5/- lacs without variable component. Variable is not part of the package and it is seperate one. The position they have offered me, though it is not 'team lead' but satisfactory one. so thinking of taking up this offer.

I needed one more advice from all of you. I have around 5+ yrs experience and in this 5.3 yrs, I changed 2 companies and working for 3 rd company. I actually do not want to leave my current company but the bench people count is increasing rapidly and dont know when it will come down and again the pay package is very less. The situation is forcing me to change this company. I am thinking of joining this product company, keeping a very short term view in mind, say 2 yrs. Then I want to go back to my hometown Mumbai from Hyderabad.

Do you think, changing companies in 2-3 yrs span will reflect badly on CV or is it 2-3 yrs is sufficient span in IT?

Thanks,
Grishma

[Anamika Singh]

Well I wasnt too happy working for long in a product company. Downside is you mostly end up doing the same kind of work for months or years maybe. Very little or no onsite if you are interested. Services was more exciting for me, usually new technical stuff every few months.

[Kalyan Anand]

Grishma check your PM and drop me a PM please.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Anamika Singh:
Well I wasnt too happy working for long in a product company. Downside is you mostly end up doing the same kind of work for months or years maybe. Very little or no onsite if you are interested. Services was more exciting for me, usually new technical stuff every few months.

How long can one work on technical stuff in service company? They have to do management stuff soon.

[Arjun Shastry]

I agree.Services companies in India staff lot of people.Managing the people with project successfully is project management.This task though not technical its not easy as eating cake.Many times you will see project managers working 15/16 hours a day.Working in one technology in years with 3/4 people is different and answering client over telephone daily,managing team of 25 people and driving the project till end(keeping in mind attrition rate!!) is different.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Arjun Shastry:
I agree.Services companies in India staff lot of people.Managing the people with project successfully is project management.This task though not technical its not easy as eating cake.Many times you will see project managers working 15/16 hours a day.Working in one technology in years with 3/4 people is different and answering client over telephone daily,managing team of 25 people and driving the project till end(keeping in mind attrition rate!!) is different.

Every one in IT thinks that he is working and others are enjoying. Thanks for sharing your project management experience with others.