Take a recent case where a 15 LPA MNC offer has put a family at odds. The crux of it: a father telling his son to put the private job aside and focus on his government exams, with the recent spate of layoffs at Adobe and Microsoft as his reason why.
The post that set off the argument
Ankit Kedia, an IIM alumnus and investor, was at a relative’s house when he found out their son had been placed in an MNC for 15 lakh a year. But there was no partying. Kedia says the father made it clear that a government job is the only true form of security and told the boy to keep prepping for the exams.
Kedia puts it down to the news coming out of firms like Adobe and Microsoft. To the father, anything that isn’t a government position is ‘unstable’ – no matter how good the pay or the potential for growth is.
Why the father said no
It wasn’t about the numbers on the salary slip, according to Kedia. It was about being able to see what’s coming. For him, the continuity and benefits of a government role, and the feeling you’re not at the mercy of the market, were worth more than a fat first-year package.
It’s a worry you’ll find in a lot of homes: what if they let you go with no notice? The father, in this case, decided the private sector was too much of a gamble.
Online reactions reveal a split
Kedia’s write-up put people on the spot. Some were in agreement, saying there’s no beating a government job for stability in these times. One person put it this way: the father may have been heavy-handed, but he’s not without a point on the security front.
Then you have the other side, chiding the kind of parental pressure that can stifle an adult’s own career path. They say it can be a burden on young pros, nipping any momentum in the bud right when they are getting on their feet.
A generational tension
Before you know it, the thread was a classic case of parents wanting to play it safe and the younger lot after something with more meaning. One user noted that parents have a habit of making their kids live out their unfulfilled ambitions. Kedia concurred: ‘True.’
There was even a quip about how some families go from the first job straight to wedding planning, which Kedia met with a wry smile, noting it’s par for the course in many a household.
How candidates can decide wisely
If you’re in a family trying to figure out whether to take the private offer or study for the exams, don’t let panic have it. Have a chat about the following:
– What matters most: a steady hand, room to grow, or where you’ll be based
– How the exam schedule lines up with when you’re to join
– A Plan B in case the exams drag on
– What kind of risk and stress you can put up with
– How long you’re willing to put in for the government route
Making it a practical matter of discussion is better than arguing over what is a ‘real’ job. It gets you to what is best for the candidate in the end.
Context matters for both paths
A 15 LPA to start with will put you in a position to build your skills and your network. A government job has its own appeal in terms of a clear, unbroken track. In the end, it comes down to your tolerance for risk and the kind of support you have behind you.
Families can put an end to the hard feelings by looking at the actual industry and the role, rather than just the fear of being laid off. Be open with each other and you’ll find a way forward.
Bottom line and what comes next
It all started with a post and has become a proxy for the unease over job security. It is easy for a good offer to be the centre of attention when you value staying put over the money.
We are reporting on what users have put out there; we haven’t verified the claims. But the reaction tells you the question isn’t going away: do you take the private job on the table or wait for the government to come calling?
For most, it won’t be a yes or no. You’ll have to make a call that is measured, not made in a fit of fear, and one that accounts for the 15 LPA in your pocket as well as the time and uncertainty of the exams.
