I see a lot of anxiety as batch of 2024 is about to graduate, especially with respect to placements. I understand that the idea that you might not have a job after 5 years when your parents are waiting in anticipation that if not help them you will be independent enough to take care of yourself is scary. Plus especially if you are not placed while your batchmates have been partying after placements for a year now it is bad in its own ways. Then we ourselves have built an image of us and how our success would look like and to accept that things will be different, it is scary. As a 22 year old I had gone through all these emotions and so I understand.

I may sound preachy and you can dismiss what I say (I would have at your age because how can someone else understand what I am going through, right) but maybe I can help some of you.

I graduated almost a decade back and stupidly decided to not sit for placements but prepare for government exams. Appeared for Civil Services but couldn't clear. In the meantime had to stay alone in dingy houses in Delhi to prepare. During that period I would actively avoid my batchmates, stepped away from all the social media (to avoid seeing their foreign trip) and always wondered if I made a mistake. In the meantime my father's business went bankrupt and whether you belive it or not I had no idea. My parents hid everything while struggling with their financial problem even if that meant selling family jewellery.

After one of my unsuccessful attempts my father told me that I need to get a job for the family to sustain. I was so lost as I was now behind even my juniors and struggled with the idea to join as their juniors while had very limited skill set to consider any other field.

Thankfully at the same time one of my friends was appearing for an exam in which legal positions were also available and to my surprise very few law students appear in it due to low pay (despite what I read here that they are willing to do anything). I appeared and thankfully cleared it. This solved my problem of supporting my family because a family which has seen bankruptcy can survive on very little money. However, I still had batchmates travelling and partying while I had a budget a couldn't deviate no matter what. Soon thereafter I started looking for such exams where law students do not care to appear but with better pay and then moved to it. To my surprise there are so many that did it few times and reached a decent pay.

To my surprise after few years I got approached by headhunters because my skill set were in demand by law firms and soon I moved there. This has been few years and I think now I would like to believe I have done pretty well.

I know it is hard out there and no one should struggle after putting honest 5 years but some of you will have to. However, remember that it is a long career (irrespective of what influencers tell you) and a few years of perseverance will set off all the struggle you will have to have. It is hard but take a break from social media, calm down and make Plan B, C and D. At the end you will have a better story to tell.