Many engineering graduates view a high-paying job as the reward for years of study and competition. Yet one final-year IIT student expressed doubt rather than satisfaction after securing a ₹70 lakh per annum offer.
The matter surfaced when entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo shared an email from the student, who had completed an internship at a multinational firm and received a pre-placement offer.
The student described growing up under pressure to achieve top grades and outperform classmates, with little chance to consider personal goals. He noted entering IIT as a reserved individual focused solely on academic results and remaining unchanged since then.
Despite the offer, which many peers would welcome, he felt no lasting fulfillment. He worried about spending years in a demanding corporate setting, facing constant competition and possible changes from technology, only to retire later without having pursued his interests.
He added that family expectations from a farming background made it difficult to decline the position. The student also mentioned a strong interest in fitness and disciplined routines but saw no clear path to earning a living from it.
Warikoo responded that such feelings are common after reaching socially defined milestones. He advised treating the role as a short-term means to secure family finances, then using spare time to develop personal interests like fitness into a sustainable pursuit.
