Tech Professional Declines ₹47 Lakh Per Annum Job in Pune, Cites Readiness Concerns
Tech Professional Declines ₹47 Lakh Per Annum Job in Pune, Cites Readiness Concerns
Turning down a high-paying job offer is rare, but one tech professional recently made headlines for doing exactly that. Vanesh Mali, an engineering manager, revealed on X that he had received a senior role offer in Pune with an annual package of ₹47 lakh per annum. Despite praising the company as “great” and calling the offer “fantastic,” Mali chose to decline it.
Mali explained that his decision was guided by his own assessment of readiness. “The position demanded skills I don’t fully possess yet. I politely rejected the offer, explaining that I am not ready to deliver at that level right now,” he wrote. He emphasized that while it is possible to learn on the job, taking on a high-paying role without complete preparedness carries significant risk—for both himself and the organization.
“When we have a high-paying job, there are high expectations from leadership. We can’t take too much time to learn it,” Mali said in response to comments on his post. “Failing to deliver at that level may become a risk for us and an inconvenience for the organization. Though yes, skills can be learned on the job.”
Mali’s post quickly drew widespread attention, sparking a mix of admiration and debate online. Many lauded his honesty and self-awareness. One user commented, “Turning down ₹47 LPA because you want to deliver real value instead of just taking the paycheck shows serious integrity and long-term thinking. Most people would jump at it. You’ll be more than ready next time—and probably on even better terms.”
Another wrote, “Takes massive guts to walk away from a number like that, Vanesh! Huge respect for your self-awareness and integrity. Not many have the courage to choose competence over a paycheck.” A third user shared a personal perspective: “Good decision. I refused the highest offer once and went for a lower one that felt right. Haven’t regretted it till date.”
Career Update:
— Vanesh Mali (@vaneshmali) March 20, 2026
I recently got a fantastic job offer of Rs. 47 LPA in Pune for a senior role.
The package was good and the company was great, but the position demanded skills I don’t fully possess yet.
I politely rejected the offer, explaining that I am not ready to deliver at…
Some, however, argued that stepping into challenging roles is essential for growth. “Frankly it works for you but that’s not great advice for everyone. If people didn’t take risks, amazing companies wouldn’t exist,” one user remarked. Another added, “That’s the whole point of levelling up. If you only take jobs where you already have all the skills, there’s no growth. But if the role doesn’t match your career ladder, it makes sense to wait.”
