‘Still feels like a dream’: Employee goes from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.58 lakh per month after layoff, shares career lesson

When people lose their job, they see it as a setback. But for one professional, a layoff turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it unexpectedly led to a major career breakthrough.In a post on Reddit, the employee shared how being laid off after 4.5 years at the same company eventually helped him get a new job opportunity. And what’s the best part? The salary he was offered was double- from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.58 lakh per month, leaving him both excited and shocked.

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Laid off after 4.5 years at the same company

In a now viral post, the Reddit user revealed that he had been working for the same company for around four and a half years, earning approximately Rs 70,000 per month.
According to the post, he was recently laid off as part of a restructuring process and the situation became even more stressful as he found himself in a disagreement with the HR team regarding his severance package. However, on the very same day, an unexpected opportunity came his way.

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New work-from-home job changes everything

The professional said he received a job offer from a company operating outside India. The role is fully remote from the US, allowing him to work from home while directly supporting clients.
What stunned him most was the compensation. The new position will pay him around Rs 1.58 lakh per month, with the salary being paid in US dollars.
Describing his responsibilities, he explained that he would help customers get familiar with the product, troubleshoot issues, and provide support when needed.

“It feels unreal”

Despite the huge jump in earnings, the Reddit user admitted that he is still struggling to process the change. “I wanted to say I got a salary raise, now I will get a salary around INR 1.58 lakhs per month,” he wrote.
He added that the increase feels so significant that he almost feels guilty thinking about earning that amount. The user also reflected on whether years of being underpaid can affect a person’s confidence and self-worth.

He questioned if being undervalued for a long time can make someone believe they are not deserving of better opportunities, saying the entire experience still feels like a dream.

Reddit users say job-hopping pays off

The story quickly attracted attention from fellow Redditors, many of whom congratulated the employee and shared their own career lessons.

Several users argued that staying too long at one company can limit salary growth. One commenter wrote, “Keep moving every 2 to 2.5 years. Loyalty is overrated.”

Another user agreed, saying they had learned the same lesson the hard way. Others focused on the size of the pay jump.

“Congratulations, you doubled your salary,” one comment read. Another Redditor noted that receiving a 60% salary hike is already impressive in the current job market and called the original poster’s increase “unreal.”

The post has struck a chord with professionals because it highlights a common workplace reality: employees often discover their market value only when they switch jobs.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit . ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.