You Don’t Need a FAANG Job to Grow With Big Tech

Imagine a young engineer in India, graduating from a modest college, with an average result, landing a job at ₹7.4 lakh a year in a service-based firm. Then, years later, he lands a role at a global tech giant with a salary around ₹60 lakh. It sounds like a dream story and yes, someone recently shared just that.

But here’s the twist: you don’t need to replicate that career leap to reap the benefits of big-tech growth. Because while a job at a tech giant (a “FAANG” company) is rare, owning shares in big tech is far more accessible. 

Let’s break this down with this blog by connecting the techie’s story, the rise of FAANG and Mag7, and what they mean for investors in India.

You’ll see how big-tech growth is accessible even without landing a FAANG job.

The Techie Story that is Inspiring Many

The viral post about the techie landing a FAANG job resonated because it was relatable: no Ivy League, no top marks in JEE, just persistence and a shot at opportunity. As the post said: “I scored 17 out of 360 in JEE Mains and 73% in 12th grade, at a Tier-3 college … got placed at ₹7.4 LPA … then a recruiter from Amazon reached out … and I made it.”

The reward? A life-changing jump. But, and this is important, this kind of jump is the exception, not the norm.

For most of us, the reality is: getting into one of the famed FAANG companies (Facebook/Meta Platforms, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google/Alphabet) is a difficult path. So the takeaway isn’t “You must aim only for the job.” It’s: “How else can you ride the big-tech wave?”

Investing in Big Tech: The Angle Indian Investors Miss

Here’s where the story shifts from career to career-plus-capital. If you can’t land that FAANG job, you can still own a piece of the growth engine of big tech by investing in their stocks from India.

Today Indian investors can access US stocks (through domestic brokers or via international investing platforms) and thereby participate in the growth of global technology companies. What you’re gaining is global diversification, exposure to innovation and scale that often outpaces Indian firms, and an edge in growth stories that are not confined to India.

So while the techie’s leap is inspiring on the career front, the investment lens is equally powerful. You don’t need to work at Apple to share in Apple’s growth. You just need to buy the shares.

What are FAANG Companies?

“FAANG” is a handy acronym created to capture five major U.S.‐listed tech firms: Facebook (now Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (Alphabet). These firms were for a long time the poster-children of the tech boom: massive growth, strong brand, dominant market share. In simple terms: if you had exposure to FAANG, you were getting exposure to “big tech.” But…

Why FAANG is Now Less Relevant, and The Shift to the Magnificent Seven

The tech story didn’t stop evolving. Analysts now favour a broader group of tech giants known as the Magnificent Seven or “Mag7”; which include Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, NVIDIA and Tesla.

Here’s why this shift matters for you as an investor:

• The Mag7 captures more than just internet services and media, they include cloud infrastructure, AI, semiconductors, and electric vehicles.
• They are more representative of where technology is heading (AI, autonomous systems, big data).
• So while FAANG remains meaningful, from a growth exposure viewpoint you might get better breadth via Mag7.

If You Had Invested US$100 Five Years Ago…

If you had invested in FAANG or rather FAANG + MAG 7 Stocks, here’s how that would look in value today:

Source: Google Finance

Note: Netflix is in FAANG but not in Mag7; Microsoft & Tesla is in Mag7 but not part of the original FAANG.

This shows the real power of owning big-tech equity. Even modest sums 5 years ago would have grown substantially (depending on the company). It’s also worth noting that these numbers exclude dividends and also don’t account for the currency boost Indian investors often get when the rupee slides against the dollar. 

Although the exact numbers are less important than the message: time + growth in global tech can work strongly for investors. 

Why Does This Matters for Indian Investors?

• Currency advantage & global diversification: Investing in US tech means you’re not just betting on the Indian economy; you’re tapping into global scale.
• Growth tilt: Many Indian mid-cap or large-cap tech names have potential, but the scale and global addressable market of Mag7 is enormous.
• Accessible path: Even if a FAANG job is out of reach, investing means you can participate in their growth story without relocating, without changing job roles.
• Mindset shift: The lesson from the viral techie’s story is mindset, growth, opportunity. The same mindset applies to investing: you can’t control whether you get the job, but you can control whether you get the stock.

Final Takeaway

So here’s the summarising thought: the techie’s leap into a FAANG job is inspiring because it shows what is possible. But your real takeaway isn’t “I must get a FAANG job” it’s “I can still aim for big-tech growth as an investor.”

By choosing to invest in companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA and others, you align yourself with large-scale, global innovation. You don’t need to punch into their offices; you can simply own their growth.

Start small, think long term, pick firms you believe will shape the next decade, and let compounding do its work. Because in tech, you don’t have to wear the badge to benefit from the boom. Grow with Big Tech and you’re already in the game.

Disclaimer:

The content is meant for education and general information purposes only. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. The securities quoted are exemplary and are not a recommendation. This in no way is to be construed as financial advice or a recommendation to invest in any specific stock or financial instrument. Readers are encouraged to verify the exact numbers and financial data from official sources such as company filings, earnings reports, and financial news platforms and to conduct their own research, and consult with a registered financial advisor before making any investment decisions. All disputes in relation to the content would not have access to an exchange investor redressal forum or arbitration mechanism. INDmoney Global (IFSC) Private Limited,Registered office address: Office No. 507, 5th Floor, Pragya II, Block 15-C1, Zone-1, Road No. 11, Processing Area, GIFT SEZ, GIFT City, Gandhinagar – 382355.