u/DesperateAd8819

Finally, the 3.5 LPA curse has been lifted.

If you're from India, you probably know what I mean. For many freshers, 3.5 LPA feels like the default starting salary. Nothing wrong with it, but a lot of us dream of moving past it.

My career started with a 3.5 LPA job and a 2 hr daily commute. I stayed there for about 1.2 years, learned a lot, and gave it my best. I was promised that they will revise my package to 5.5 in the next increment cycle when I joined, but it never came. That was enough for me to move on.

Instead of jumping into another job, I wanted more freedom and the opportunity to earn more, so I decided to go full-time into freelancing.

The first 3-4 months were amazing. I had great clients, good income, and it felt like I had made the right decision.

Then this year, everything changed.

Client work slowed down, leads almost disappeared, and at the same time, family responsibilities landed on my shoulders. Waiting for the big fat freelance project which paid in dollars was no longer an option. I needed stability.

So I started applying for jobs.

After 2.5 months of applications, assignments, interviews, and plenty of rejections, I finally received an offer.

Today, I'm happy to share that I've joined a fully remote role at 6.6 LPA.

Is it a huge package? No.

Is it a Fortune 500 company? Also no. It's a small company.

But it's an honest step forward, a chance to keep learning, support my family, and continue building my career. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

To anyone who's currently stuck, switching careers, freelancing through a slow market, or wondering if things will work out, keep going. Careers aren't always a straight line. Sometimes they take a few unexpected turns before you find your next opportunity.

Here's to new beginnings. ❤️

PS- I'm a UX designer