Finding a job is one challenge. Finding one that matches your qualifications is another. Across social media, conversations around low starting salaries have been growing louder, with many young professionals opening up about the pay they were offered at the beginning of their careers. Now, an Instagram video by a pharmacist has added another voice to that discussion.The video, shared by an Instagram user named Asha, has gone viral with nearly 9 lakh views. In it, she spoke about a hospital interview that left her surprised. She said a conversation she had with a cleaner before meeting the HR made her expect a certain salary, but the offer she later received was much lower than she had imagined.
A conversation before the interview
Recalling the incident, Asha said she had gone to a hospital to inquire about a pharmacist vacancy. Before the interview, she met a woman who was cleaning the hospital.“Yesterday I went to one hospital regarding a pharmacist vacancy. So I went there. Before going there, I met one lady, she was cleaning the mop and cleaning the floor,” Asha said.She asked the woman how much she earned every month. According to Asha, the cleaner replied, “₹16,000.”That made Asha assume the pharmacist’s salary would be higher.“So I expected that if the cleaner earns ₹16,000, the pharmacist would at least be paid ₹18,000 to 20,000,” she said.
What happened during the interview
Asha then spoke about her interaction with HR.According to her, the HR first asked whether she had experience working as a pharmacist.“I said, ‘No ma’am, I’m completely fresher in pharmacy, but I do have experience in the healthcare department where I worked for four years. But in pharmacy, I’m a complete fresher.’”She said the HR’s response completely caught her off guard.“Then she said… what she said that completely shocked me, and I laughed and laughed. I came from there,” she recalled.According to Asha, the HR told her that freshers were offered a basic salary between ₹12,000 and ₹14,000.“Based on your work, we will decide. Either it will be 12, 13, or 14,000.”The HR also reportedly said, “Actually, we don’t take freshers. But yes, if we take freshers, our basic salary will be 12 to 14,000.”Asha said she laughed after hearing the offer and walked out of the interview.
The video quickly divided opinion
As the clip spread online, many users discussed whether the salary offered was fair. At the same time, several people pointed out that comparing the cleaner’s salary with the pharmacist’s offer did not tell the full story.One user commented, “She may be mopping for 10, 20 years. Don’t compare yourself with her. She may have started somewhere between 4 to 6 thousand.”Asha responded by saying that she was not trying to compare the two professions.“You’re right, and I have full respect for her hard work. My intention wasn’t to compare professions – it was to highlight the low starting salary for qualified healthcare professionals,” she replied.
Healthcare professionals shared similar experiences
The discussion soon turned into a space where many healthcare workers shared their own stories about starting salaries.“My first salary was 7.5k. I’m a doctor,” one user wrote.Another commented, “Dentist whose starting salary is 10 k laughing in the corner.”A third user added, “Many places and big hospitals expect you to work for 10-12 hours straight and offer 12-15k. After deductions you dont get more than 10k a month.”Disclaimer: The views and claims expressed in the Instagram video are those of the creator and social media users featured in the report. The Times of India has not independently verified the salary figures, interview details, or employment practices mentioned in the video. The report is based on publicly available social media content and reactions. Thumb image: Instagram
