How to go from Rs 3 to Rs 33 LPA in 5 years? Ankur Warikoo shares how he increased his salary
Ankur Warikoo's journey from a jobless PhD dropout to a high-earning professional is truly inspiring. Returning to India at 24, he navigated initial struggles, securing a job and later pursuing an MBA. His determination led him to a top consulting...
By ET Online | Updated:
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Ankur Warikoo
Entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo recently shared a heartfelt post about his career journey, one that struck a chord with thousands online. In a now-viral LinkedIn update, Warikoo opened up about returning to India from the US at 24, jobless and unsure about the future, only to rise to become one of the top campus hires earning Rs 33 lakh per annum within five years.
“I got my first job at 24, earning Rs 14,746 per month. At 26, I was earning Rs 12 lakh per annum. At 29, Rs 33 lakh per annum,” he wrote.
From PhD dropout to first job
Warikoo had dropped out of a PhD programme in the US and came back to India without a plan. Needing financial stability, he spent 45 days applying everywhere, from newspaper ads to walk-in interviews. Finally, he got a job at NIS Sparta for Rs 15,000 per month.
But he soon realised that many of his colleagues with MBAs were ahead in skills and understanding. That’s when he discovered ISB’s one-year MBA course. Despite the high cost and pressure of taking a loan, his family’s first ever, he took the leap.
Breaking into consulting
Post-MBA, getting into top consulting firms wasn’t easy. Warikoo failed his BCG interview and nearly missed his chance at ATKearney too. But someone took a chance on him. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to become the firm’s fastest-promoted employee.
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By 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh a year.
“Double down on yourself”
Warikoo ended his post with a powerful lesson, “I reached where I did because people bet on me. I stayed grateful and worked hard. If someone takes a bet on you, double down. On yourself.”
Many on social media were moved by his honesty and resilience. “The humility, the grit, the way you respected every opportunity, it’s the kind of story we don’t hear enough,” one person wrote.
