From Jamshedpur to a 17th-century French château: Why this Indian woman with a top B-school degree quit her job

For Harshal Jain, moving to France for higher studies came with many of the markers of a promising young career. The Jamshedpur native secured admission to one of the country’s leading business schools and landed an apprenticeship that covered her tuition fees. Yet after starting work in advertising, she realised the conventional career path was not what she wanted and decided to leave her job and explore volunteering instead.

That decision took her away from the routine of office life and into a very different experience of Europe. Jain first volunteered at an animal shelter in Germany’s Black Forest and later began creating content. She eventually received an opportunity to volunteer with a French family living in a 17th-century château, where she now lives as part of a large multigenerational household.

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Why Harshal Jain walked away from a corporate career

Jain had followed a path that many young professionals would consider ideal. She had moved from India to France for a master’s degree, entered a reputed business school and secured an apprenticeship that paid her tuition.

Despite having a secure job, she said she was no longer fulfilled by the routine.

“I got bored of the job,” Jain said in an Instagram video.

Rather than immediately looking for another position, she began considering volunteering. What started as an alternative to another corporate role gradually became a way for her to experience a different side of life in Europe.

A volunteering trip changes her plans

Jain’s first volunteering experience took her to an animal shelter in the Black Forest in Germany. She enjoyed the opportunity and eventually continued exploring similar experiences.

At the same time, she secured what she described as her “dream job” in advertising. During this period, she also began creating content for social media.

“My reels started blowing up. Got contacted by a French family living in a castle for volunteering,” she revealed.

That message eventually led her to the French château where she is now staying.

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Life inside a 17th-century French château

The château is home to a family of around 30 people, including two grandparents, 12 children and 16 grandchildren. Jain has become part of the household and helps with everyday responsibilities involved in managing such a large family.

Her role goes beyond simply staying at the property. She helps prepare meals, assists with everyday household tasks and learns family traditions along the way.

One part of the experience has been navigating the language barrier. The family speaks only French, but Jain said she has adapted well.

“They only speak French, but it’s been going great so far!” she said.

Experiencing a different side of Europe

Jain had wanted to experience Europe beyond the polished version often associated with travel and social media. Volunteering has given her an opportunity to experience ordinary routines, local relationships and family life more directly.

Her current life is markedly different from the office-based path she had initially chosen. Instead of spending her days working towards the next professional milestone, she is participating in the everyday rhythm of a large French household and documenting the experience online.

A life built around experiences, not a CV

Jain’s journey has also become the subject of growing interest because her content is centred on experiences rather than a conventional career narrative.

She did not begin with a fixed plan to move into a French château. Her path developed through a series of choices, starting with leaving a job she had grown tired of, followed by volunteering, content creation and eventually the opportunity to stay with a French family.

While such experiences may not fit neatly into a traditional LinkedIn profile, Jain’s journey has given her new relationships, stories and memories.

For her, stepping away from a predictable professional route has opened the door to a very different kind of life, one shaped less by career progression and more by exploration, volunteering and everyday experiences.