Oh no! You got a job.

My first job at Rs. 2,00,000 per annum. I was excited too as those six digits seems big for a 21 year old. Signed my first ever offer letter before getting graduation certificate. Those six digits would buy me some beer, clothes and even a vacation. But today by simple maths, I am realising it that it was the biggest mistake of my life. I undervalued myself like 99% Indians do.

Your parents invested time and money so that you could get a college education. Only 9 out of 100 students in India graduate from a NAAC A graded university. Most of us living in Tier 1 cities are automatically fortunate enough for good quality education. Our fortune should pay us more right. Wrong! The fact that we accept a 2 lakh pay fails us at self-evaluation of our skills.

Your 90% in school, 80% in high school and A grade in your graduation have taught you nothing. I hope you agree with this quote - ' Time is money '. If yes, then implement it in your salaries. Hope, we follow global standards of pays that is hourly wages. Next time when the HR asks you for your salary expectations, stump him by your answer. For example, say Rs. 150 per hour for 30 days including leave benefits.

Learn to earn more so that you don't crib on twitter when petrol prices go up. Your Rs. 2,00,000 per annum salary means Rs. 15,000 per month in-hand. In India, our pay in calculated for 30 days so that makes Rs. 500 per day which still OK. Europe, US, Singapore and almost the whole world excluding shitty countries have hourly wages. European and American fresher earn more hourly wages than senior managers in India. Graduates from NAAC A Indian university earn Rs. 50 to Rs.70 per hour. Is this the value of your hardwork and education. The picture is really sad when you compare the pay of Indian graduates worldwide.

A buzzfeed articles rightly calls us 'Urban Poor'. Pub hopping on weekends, Smartphone in our pockets and we are crazy for brands. All this show-off to make the most of our low pay. We dress for the jobs we want, forgetting that most salaries are tailored to afford dressing for the jobs we have. Majority of low pay graduates have no money to spend by 20th of every month.

When you're broke go and get a loan

Take out another mortgage on your home

Consolidate so you can afford

To go and spend some more when

you get bored. - Shania Twain

PS - Hourly wages may lead to hyperinflation in India. Hourly wages should be demanded on an individual level without making any change in Indian labour law.

- Chaitanya Kulkarni ( twitter.com/chai2kul )