recent things that impacted me the most.

In my job experience, in financial IT domain, I had observed the following trends that are coming by.

1. If I work very hard, the increment that I get is less than 4% and if I work just hard enough to get by, the increment is less than 3%. So sacrificing some thing important, for job, does not feel justified. [How i reacted to this factor: Use my spare time, to look for second source of income as the recognition of extra efforts is not there. Well, this is a mirage. You should not look for second source of income as this does not leave you with any energy to cope with the pressure situations that your job throws at you at regular intervals. Besides, you need to be always learning, to just survive -- that also needs energy and time.]
2. People who manage, got promotions and people who do remarkable things on technical front in the team, are left where they were, because they do not get opportunities to sell what they have done. [My reaction: Okay, let me take on management position, rather than focusing on only technical side of my job]
3. People who wish to work as team, and try to present a unified team face are superseded by those who claim, "I can do and I have done this". So effectively, it does not matter if you are a team person. If you can claim strongly "I" and show confidence, you are treated the next person in line for growth and responsibility. [My reaction: start demonstrating the environment preferred behavior]
4. Your visibility matters. [Do things that make you more visible. Take part in extra curricular activities, like parties and organizing things for the team.]
5. If you rely on discussions to take the team along, so everyone gets the feeling of "being involved", you are seen as a weak person, who needs to have a discussion to take a decision.[Take decisions and take a leadership role rather than looking for team consensus.]
6. You need to take less help, so no one can lay claim that you needed help from  them, when you claim, you have done something. [Focus on learning and sharpening skills so that I do not have to rely on assistance from others.]
7. HR will claim that eventually you will get 13 months of salary, but I have never seen that one month salary come by.[Do not give in to HR during negotiations on this account.]
8. There is a constant tussle to lay claim to more and more work. [Accept the rat race to be part of survival need and be a rat.]
9. Networking matters a lot. [Always form formal and informal networks. Do not hesitate to approach anyone for help. State the cause and focus only on the cause.]

On the positive side, i have following observations.

1. This forces you to be at your best.
2. You are forced to take decisions on your own, allowing you to become more independent.
3. Makes you think in pressure situations.
4. Allows you to take ownership.
5. Forces you to be on your toes, always striving to learn and grow both on technical, business and personal front.
6. You improve your personal and personnel skills.
7. You strive for efficiency in your days.