Job market shock: Why a fresh graduate from top 3 IIM took a pay cut, from Rs 23 LPA to 16 LPA

A recent Reddit post sparked discussions about an IIM graduate who reportedly quit his job just 10 days after joining due to a misunderstanding about his role.

According to the Reddit user, who previously worked as an inside sales representative, he was asked to train a newly hired account executive—an IIM graduate who had secured a lucrative package of Rs 21 lakh per annum, along with a Rs 2 lakh joining bonus. However, despite the attractive salary, the new recruit resigned in less than two weeks.

The reason? He believed he was hired for a marketing position but was instead assigned to sales for the first year. Feeling misled, he decided to leave. The Reddit user recounted a conversation where the graduate expressed frustration, saying he hadn’t expected to handle sales accounts. When reassured that this was common in the industry, the IIM graduate firmly stated that he didn’t want to continue. Despite having a student loan, the graduate later accepted a role in operations and supply chain management with a lower salary of Rs 16 lakh per annum.

What netizens said

Netizens shared diverse perspectives on the IIM graduate’s abrupt exit from his sales role, highlighting broader issues in marketing, sales, and corporate expectations.

Many pointed out that while misrepresentation of job roles is a problem, marketing fundamentally exists to support sales. At its core, every business revolves around two functions: building and selling. Everything else is just an extension of these, said a netizen. Without firsthand sales experience, marketers risk being detached from reality, he said.

The same logic applies in IT, where product managers without experience in coding, design, enterprise sales, or growth strategies often struggle in their roles, the person said. Some argued that IIM graduates, after years of competing with highly ambitious peers, expect high-paying desk jobs rather than fieldwork. Sales, being one of the toughest corporate roles, is not for everyone—those who sustain in it either have a strong passion or a pressing need.

Others emphasized how an IIM degree is often seen as a ticket to high salaries but doesn’t always guarantee prestigious job responsibilities. Some others argued that there is also a belief that IIM graduates are intentionally placed in sales roles for at least a year to expose them to market realities.