Summary of this article
CA warns Gen Z against prioritising passion over earnings
Stagnant fresher salaries and rising costs raise concerns
Advises building high-income skills before passion careers
Amid concerns of frequent lay-offs, high costs of living in cities, and low salaries for freshers becoming more common, questioning the traditional principle of “pursuing one’s passion” doesn't seem too far off. Recently, a Chartered Accountant (CA), Nitin Kaushik joined this conversation with a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning Gen Z to avoid careers driven by passion and create a financial stability first.
Sharing what he described as an “uncomfortable truth” about careers and money, Kaushik wrote, “Passion doesn’t pay EMIs,” arguing that financial realities often make passion-led career decisions difficult for middle-class households.
He said advice around pursuing passion without prioritising earning potential does not reflect the pressures many young Indians face today. He said financial responsibilities, competitive job markets and rising costs have changed how career decisions are being viewed by younger workers.
Kaushik also questioned whether the “follow your passion” approach works equally across countries with different economic conditions and social support systems. “Passion isn't a strategy. It’s a gamble where the house always wins,” he wrote.
Salaries Versus Rising Costs
In his post, Kaushik highlighted what he called “entry-level stagnation” in fresher salaries across several sectors. According to him, annual packages offered by many recruiters still remain within the Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh range despite rising inflation and increasing living expenses.
He pointed out that costs linked to housing, transportation, food and everyday essentials have increased significantly over the years, while salary growth for many entry-level employees has remained limited.
Kaushik suggested that this mismatch between earnings and expenditures has made financial planning tough for younger professionals entering the workforce.
He further said that choosing jobs with an unclear income prospect without adequate financial preparation might cause future anxiety associated with savings, debts, and aspirations.
Concerns Around Creative Fields
Kaushik also discussed careers in creative industries, such as writing, design and photography. According to him, growing competition and oversupply have made it tougher for newcomers to earn stable incomes in these sectors. “If your passion is writing, design, or photography, you aren't competing with your peers. You are competing with a hyper-saturated market where the average player struggles to clear Rs 20,000 a month,” he wrote.”
Kaushik added that while social media often highlights successful creators and freelancers, many others struggle with irregular projects and inconsistent earnings. “Rent doesn’t care about your creative fulfilment,” he added.
According to him, the visibility of top creators online can sometimes create unrealistic expectations around income opportunities in creative professions.
Building Financial Stability First
Instead of immediately pursuing passion-based careers, Kaushik advised young people to focus first on industries where demand and investment are growing. He named areas, such as specialised technology, finance, data architecture and corporate law as sectors with stronger earning potential.
“Don't look for what you love; look for where the capital is flowing,” he wrote.
Kaushik also encouraged people in their 20s to build high-income skills before taking major career risks or shifting toward passion projects full-time. “Build a high-income skill first to fund your freedom later,” he wrote.
According to him, financial instability and uncertainty can eventually affect creativity and motivation as well. “Financial anxiety kills passion faster than a boring 9-5 ever will,” he added.
Kaushik concluded by saying that financial independence should come before pursuing passion full-time. “Build your bank account first; then use that capital to buy the luxury of pursuing what you love,” he added.
