Landing a job after business school is not easy in the current market. One recent IIM graduate accepted an offer hoping to start a career, but soon realised the workplace was very different from what was expected.
The graduate has now shared the experience on Reddit, describing strict office rules, old-fashioned management and an uncomfortable work environment. The post has started a discussion about family-run companies and workplace culture.
The Employee Shared The Experience
The Reddit user said they completed an MBA in March 2026 from one of India’s top 10 IIMs. The graduate also shared having internships at JPMorgan and the Aditya Birla Group.
They added that they were a Director Merit Rank Holder at their IIM and completed their bachelor’s degree from one of Delhi University’s top three colleges.
Despite this background, the person joined a family-run MSME in Noida because of the difficult job market. According to the employee, the company has more than 200 workers but follows very strict and outdated rules.
Strict Rules And Workplace Complaints
The graduate claimed that even being five minutes late leads to a salary deduction. They also said employees are expected to dress very formally every day.
“They don’t know ANY professionalism, not even know slightest of English language and expect everyone to dress so FORMALLY. If you ever tried wearing denims, the trio will personally call and grill you,” the employee wrote.
The Reddit user also alleged that the management dislikes change and follows old working methods. The employee further claimed that the managing director’s daughter made insulting remarks during a meeting.
“The MDs daughter who is a BTech Grad (from a ghar ke piche wala college), mentioned ‘Are IIM grads even talented’, in a meeting that had me. She taunted and targeted me at least 5 times,” the post read.
IIM Grad stuck in a foolish LALA company
by
u/AgreeableMud1737 in
IndianWorkplace
Users Offered Advice
The post received several responses from people who either questioned the story or shared similar experiences. A person wrote, “I find this hard to believe. You just joined a company because you wanted to live in Noida (!!!) And then it turned out to be a lala company. Did you do any research? No offers from professionally managed companies?”
The original poster replied, “I never prepared for the interview, just got placed because they liked my candidature.”
Another user suggested, “Start looking out. Job hunt full-time and move out. That’s it. Why are you even worried?”
Someone else shared a similar experience, writing, “I was you last year. I graduated from an IIM in March 2025 and got placed in a lala company with the exact same shit like yours. They were allergic to change and were stagnant at 150cr revenue for the last 30 years. MD and his useless children were considered gods. On top of that, I was in Sales, which meant a large (nearly 50%) portion of my CTC was variable, but I never got it, even after working my ass off for 1 year and 10 days. I left this job in April.”
Another user advised, “I have worked in such a company for 5 months. My advice is to try to look for another job (as the market is cooked, don’t leave without getting another offer letter in hand). But please start looking. It’s not sustainable.”