Notice period is the silent dealbreaker — negotiate 30 days upfront

Indian IT services contracts default to a 60–90 day notice period. Product companies and GCCs typically expect 30 days. This mismatch is one of the most common reasons offers fall through right at the end of the funnel.

The scenario plays out repeatedly: a senior engineer at TCS or Infosys clears five interview rounds at a product company, gets the offer, then the hiring manager asks when you can join. "Three months from now." The product team needs the seat filled in six weeks. The offer quietly evaporates.

Three tactical moves.

(1) Negotiate notice period when you join, not when you leave. Most contracts allow "30 days notice from either side" with an explicit clause. Push for it before signing your current role. It's the single highest-leverage clause in an employment contract for your future career.

(2) If you're already in a 90-day role, talk to your manager early about "buyout" provisions — many companies will let you compensate for the unserved notice period in exchange for an earlier exit. It costs one month's gross pay, typically. Worth it for the right offer.

(3) When negotiating with the new employer, propose a phased exit: serve 30 days at current role, work the next 30 days at the new company on weekends or as a consultant. Many product hiring managers will accept this if you're senior.