Why I Left my $70k Job for a “Boring” Life?
Certain decisions may change your life in a way you may never have imagined. But are you ready for some hard steps ?
My only dream after getting into one of the most prestigious institutes in India, IIT Delhi, was to get a high paying job after 4 years of my undergrad. Rather, most of the students who aspire to get into IITs always discuss the huge job offers ($122k) that grads get, and so really, one’s mind just focusses on it, rather than what the university has to offer academically. Funnily but not strangely, while taking admission, the No.1 thing students and parents check is the placement history of the college.
Earning money is engraved so deeply during the college years, that even competitions attract students using “prize money” rather than something more exciting and beneficial for students. For instance, in my sophomore year, I took part and won a prize money in a App Development competition organized by one of the biggest tech giants — I won’t take their name. The app I had developed was an assistive technology for patients who have lost their voice. Honestly, instead of a prize money, I would have been much more pumped up if I was taken to the Microsoft (oops I took their name !) campus and shown how further I can use their technologies to make and nurture my product idea to benefit the needy.
Time to “L”earn
Moving to my third year, everyone became desperate to get the most highly paid internship, no matter in what field or what they learn. Not to hide, I was also a rat in the race, and luckily enough I got to do an internship in one of the largest FMCGs of India and got a huge, I mean really huge stipend ! I never knew what I would do with that much money, because I had never seen such a sum in my bank account. And I also enjoyed the praise I got from my friends and relatives on getting the internship, and there was not a single friend who didn’t ask me for a party in the following days. About my internship, it was not that bad. But definitely I had expected to learn much more in my domain, which I hardly could from the kind of work I was given. But I was, “maybe” satisfied, because I spent my summers learning a little and earning a lot.
After I returned from my internship, another race started for campus placements to get the mysterious, magical, much hyped and far from ground reality, 1 crore package ($130k).
While the race was going on, this time, somehow I remained unaffected by it. I focused most of my time on working on my thesis project, and the work opened my mind to pursue a PhD. I started preparing for GRE, doing PhD applications at several universities. But, at the same time, that does not mean I did not sit for the job placement tests, I just went unprepared. I still remember I somehow got selected for a job interview at one of the reputed multi-national consultancy companies which had come to our campus. The interviewer was probably a very senior person who asked me a case study question, to which I replied after thinking for 3 minutes — “Sir, can I please leave the interview. I do not think this job is for me, and I do not have a keen interest in this role”. I still laugh when I think or tell someone of that incident and how I walked out wearing a blazer and tie. Then I got an interview at a big Japanese tech company, and by mistake, but technically deservingly got selected for the role — I didn’t want to be selected, but I happened to give a perfect technical interview. They offered me a handsome $70k salary with amazing added benefits and yummy Indian food at work in its Tokyo office. Oh I forgot, a multi-screen desktop and the latest iPhone as well, haha.
At this point, I was confused. I was very determined to do a “boring” PhD, however the “cool and sexy” perks and that huge salary used to sneak into my mind and make me rethink. To top that, many of my batchmates suggested that you should take the job, work for a few years and then you can still do a PhD. And that is when I got the best piece of advice, from a friend, a very dear friend whom everyone has — EXPERIENCE. I took a breath, recalled my internship experience and thought for a moment,
What if I miss something diamond to learn, in pursuit of gold to earn?
I had finally decided, I wanted to do a PhD.
Though I wish my lab had looked as amazing as in the picture, I really could not be more proud and joyful to have made the decision to choose, what many people call “a boring life”. Candidly speaking, it’s far from boring. I get to learn things what most people won’t be able to learn in their lifetime. I get to express my ideas openly and prove them to the research community. It’s as fun as building a startup with your name, come up with ideas, make them work and get known in the research community for your contribution.
“It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy.” ~ George Lorimer
Note, I am not comparing jobs vs Phd, rather trying to highlight whatever you do, do not be a rat in the race. Have a strong motive and drive behind it, and take a step back and think for a while “Is my drive only earning money right now?”. If your decision aligns with your motive, and exploits your potentials to the fullest — then you might have made a decision “right for you”.
My tips
To conclude, though it would sound very objective, I would like to share 3 simple checks which can be helpful before deciding to take a life-changing decision.
1. Why do you want to do it (and how would it help you in the long term) ? — I think we all should ask this before anything we want to do
Don’t decide to do what your peers are doing. I am not saying they are wrong or what they are pursuing is less credible, but the other road maybe just more apt for you.
2. Would it sadden you if you see being temporarily held back (financially or otherwise) compared to your peers ?
The decision you take may not immediately bring you the fruits you desire, so you must not get depressed seeing your peers buy a car or go on a world tour, where you might be struggling to save a few hundred dollars. Take a step back and think, would you still be able to do justice to your decision ?
3. What if it fails ? — Do you have enough learnings and a strong comeback attitude
“Don’t hurt yourself — physically or mentally with your decision” because you know what, depression can lead to disasters. If you think you have the attitude to fail and try again, but this time more wisely, you can definitely check this off your list.
I hope you enjoyed reading this. This was my personal experience and maybe many of you can relate to this, and others may have a very different journey. I would love to hear yours. Do leave your comments/stories in the comments section or email me at jishnudeep.kar@gmail.com.
