Rs 3.5 Lakh a Month for an Intern? LinkedIn Post Sparks Debate on Degrees vs Skills
Rs 3.5 Lakh a Month for an Intern? LinkedIn Post Sparks Debate on Degrees vs Skills
A LinkedIn post by Mumbai-based entrepreneur Sakshi Jain has gone viral, stirring an online debate about the value of degrees versus skills. Jain shared her surprise after learning about a friend, an MBA student at IIM Calcutta, who is interning in Mumbai with a stipend of ₹3.5 lakh per month.
“I couldn’t believe it—an internship paying ₹3.5 lakh a month?” Jain wrote, expressing her astonishment. She clarified that this amount was solely the stipend, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the figure.
Although Jain noted that her post was not intended to compare paths to success, it sparked discussions on the continuing relevance of academic degrees. “We often say degrees don’t matter anymore, and I’ve believed that too. But sometimes, you see something that really makes you rethink,” she reflected.
Jain acknowledged that while degrees may not matter everywhere, they still hold power in certain fields. “Maybe degrees don’t matter everywhere, but sometimes they open doors you didn’t even know existed,” she added.
Her post quickly gained traction across LinkedIn and X, with many users sharing their own thoughts and experiences. One user echoed Jain’s sentiment, saying, “Degrees might not be everything—but sometimes, they are the key to a door we didn’t even know existed.” Another shared an example of an IIT student who secured a ₹25 lakh stipend for a two-month internship, which amounts to ₹12.5 lakh per month.
Others added that while degrees can open doors, leveraging unique skills and experiences is equally important. “There’s no one path to success. While degrees may open doors, it’s also about leveraging your strengths and experiences,” said one commenter.
Jain’s post also sparked some playful skepticism, with one user joking, “This must be in USD,” and another simply asking, “Which company?”
In her conclusion, Jain emphasized that success can take many forms. “This isn’t about comparison. Just a reminder: There are multiple ways to win. And all of them are valid,” she wrote.
Met a friend from IIM Calcutta yesterday. She’s interning in Mumbai.
— Sakshi Jain • LinkedIn Strategist (@thecontentedge) April 20, 2025
Getting paid 3.5L per month🫠
And it kinda hit me- 7 lakhs in 2 months?
Maybe degrees do hold some weight after all😳
