Getting a job at a well-known technology company is a dream for many young engineers in India. But what happens when a job that once felt like a dream slowly affects your confidence, happiness and interest in your profession? A former Zoho employee has shared a personal account of how his three-year experience at the company became one of the most difficult phases of his career.
Kewal Agrawal, who is now working in Bengaluru, recently opened up about his experience at Zoho through a LinkedIn post. He recalled feeling constantly stressed and anxious during his time at the Chennai-based software company. He also said that he gradually lost confidence in himself and even started hating coding.
Interestingly, Agrawal made it clear that he does not blame Zoho or its founder, Sridhar Vembu, for what happened. His story has now started a wider discussion about workplace pressure, career decisions and the importance of finding the right professional environment.
Techie Says His Three Years At Zoho Were The Worst Phase Of His Career
Kewal Agrawal joined Zoho in May 2015 as a Member of Technical Staff. At that time, getting a job at the company felt like a major achievement for him.
He was extremely happy when he received the opportunity and expected the experience to help him grow as a software professional.
However, his experience did not turn out the way he had imagined.
In his LinkedIn post, Agrawal described those three years as probably the worst period of his career. He said he was constantly stressed and anxious, and his confidence slowly started disappearing.
He also shared that he began disliking coding and eventually lost hope that he would achieve something meaningful in his professional life.
For someone who had once been excited about starting a career in technology, this was a difficult change.
He Worked On Zoho Books During His Three-Year Stint
Agrawal worked at Zoho between May 2015 and June 2018. During this period, he was involved in developing Zoho Books, the company’s accounting software.
His responsibilities included working on international versions of the product, including those for the United States, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He also worked on banking integrations and REST API development.
Despite being involved in important technical work, he said the overall experience affected his confidence and interest in programming.
His post did not identify a particular manager, colleague or incident as the reason behind his experience. Instead, he shared how he personally felt during that stage of his career.
This distinction is important because his account describes his individual experience and should not automatically be treated as a description of every employee’s experience at Zoho.
Why Did He Not Quit The Job Earlier?
One of the interesting parts of Agrawal’s account was his explanation of why he continued working despite feeling unhappy.
He said he was still at the beginning of his professional journey and was not in a position to take the risk of quitting.
Like many young professionals in India, he may have felt that leaving a stable job without another opportunity could create financial and career uncertainty.
He also admitted that he was not mature enough at that stage to make certain career decisions.
This is something many Indian employees can relate to. Fresh graduates often spend years preparing for campus placements, interviews and their first corporate job. Once they finally get selected, leaving that position can feel like a failure, even when the work environment is affecting their well-being.
Some employees also have family responsibilities, education loans, rent and other financial commitments. These factors can make changing jobs more difficult.
A Smaller Startup Helped Him Regain His Confidence
Agrawal’s career story took a positive turn after he joined MishiPay, a much smaller startup, in September 2020.
According to his account, he managed to regain the confidence he had lost in less than a year.
He pointed out that MishiPay was nowhere near the size or scale of Zoho. Yet, the experience helped him reconnect with his professional interests.
His story highlights an important point: a bigger company does not automatically mean a better working experience for every employee.
Some professionals perform better in smaller teams where they may get more opportunities to experiment, communicate directly and take ownership of their work.
For others, large organisations provide the structure, mentorship and resources they need. The right choice depends on an individual’s personality, expectations and career goals.
He Does Not Blame Zoho Or Sridhar Vembu
Despite describing his three years at Zoho as extremely difficult, Agrawal did not use his post to attack the company.
He specifically said that he never blamed Zoho for those years. He also expressed admiration for its founder, Sridhar Vembu, describing him as someone he looks up to.
Agrawal’s message was that sometimes a person and a workplace simply do not match.
He explained that someone could be working at an excellent organisation and still find that it is not the right place for them.
This was perhaps the most important part of his reflection. Instead of blaming an employer or himself, he looked back at the experience as a difficult period from which he eventually moved forward.
His message also shows why career decisions should not always be judged by a company’s reputation alone.
Where Is Kewal Agrawal Now?
After leaving Zoho, Agrawal’s career continued to develop.
He joined MishiPay in 2020 and later moved into product management. He also worked at Gameskraft and Flipkart before moving to Cleartrip.
As of the reports published on November 2, 2026, he is working as a Senior Product Manager at Cleartrip.
His professional journey shows that a difficult beginning does not have to decide the rest of someone’s career.
A person who once questioned their abilities can rebuild confidence, explore a different role and find a professional direction that suits them better.
Zoho’s Salary Hike Decision Also Under Discussion
Agrawal’s post has attracted attention at a time when Zoho is also facing discussion about employee compensation.
In October 2026, co-founder Sridhar Vembu announced that the company would not provide its usual annual salary increases this year.
Vembu explained that rising server prices, increasing AI-related expenses and the uncertain business environment had put pressure on the company’s costs.
He also said Zoho had reduced its marketing spending and was working to avoid mass layoffs. According to his statement, the company had not been increasing its employee count for around 18 months.
The announcement attracted mixed reactions online. While some people understood the company’s decision to control expenses, others raised concerns about the impact on employees.
However, Agrawal’s account relates to his experience between 2015 and 2018. It should not be confused with the company’s separate 2026 salary decision.
What Can Young IT Professionals Learn From His Story?
Agrawal’s experience offers an important lesson for freshers and experienced professionals working in India’s IT industry.
A prestigious company name, a good salary or a well-known job title cannot always guarantee personal satisfaction.
Employees should pay attention to their mental well-being, learning opportunities and long-term career development. If a job continuously affects confidence and interest in work, it may be worth exploring other opportunities.
At the same time, quitting immediately is not always practical. Financial responsibilities and career stability must also be considered. Speaking with trusted people, exploring internal role changes and preparing for a job switch can be more realistic steps.
Most importantly, employees should not assume that one difficult job defines their professional ability.
A Difficult Three Years Did Not Define His Career
Kewal Agrawal’s story has resonated with many professionals because it reflects a situation that is not uncommon in the corporate world.
He entered Zoho with excitement but later struggled with stress, anxiety and declining confidence. A move to a smaller startup helped him rediscover his interest and rebuild his professional journey.
His message was not about blaming a company or regretting every decision. It was about recognising that the right workplace can make a major difference in someone’s career.
For young Indians entering the IT industry, his experience carries a simple reminder: getting a job is important, but finding an environment where you can learn, grow and feel confident is equally important.