She quit her ₹1 lakh/month tax law job for a ₹10,000 gig. 3 years later, she earns twice as much
A career change does not always begin with a better offer. Sometimes, it starts with choosing an uncertain path simply because the work feels more fulfilling. For Mehar Verma, that meant stepping away from a career in law and giving content creation a serious chance.Her decision came after she realized that the career she had once wanted was not giving her the sense of satisfaction she expected. At the same time, creating content had become something she genuinely enjoyed. What started as an interest slowly turned into a possible career, but the first opportunity in the new field came with a surprisingly small paycheck.Verma decided to take the risk anyway. Her journey since then has taken her from practicing as a tax lawyer to working as a content creator and social media strategist.
When work started feeling like a routine
In 2023, Verma was earning ₹1 lakh a month as a tax lawyer. She had financial independence and considered her workplace a good one.“In 2023, I was earning ₹1 lakh/month as a tax lawyer. For my first job, it was everything I thought I wanted,” she wrote on Instagram.However, she soon noticed that her excitement about work was fading.“A few months in, I realized I was living for Saturdays and Sundays. I dreaded Monday mornings,” she revealed. “Somewhere in between all of that, I had discovered something I genuinely enjoyed: creating content.”That interest gave her a reason to explore a different professional direction.
She explored content creation alongside law
ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Rather than immediately leaving her job, Verma first tried to develop her creative skills in her spare time.She took a photography course on weekends to improve her content. She also began applying for creative roles, but the applications did not immediately lead to a new job.Her first freelance project eventually came in January 2024.The assignment involved making seven to eight videos and taking product photographs. The payment was ₹10,000.It was a very different proposition from the salary she was already receiving, but Verma decided to take the opportunity and leave her legal career.
The decision was a financial risk
Verma knows that the move from a ₹1 lakh monthly salary to a ₹10,000 project may sound difficult to justify.“Going from a ₹1 lakh salary to a ₹10,000 gig probably wasn’t the most sensible reason to quit a job. But I did,” she said.Instead of waiting until she felt completely ready, she gave herself a year to see whether she could build something in the new field.She began treating content creation as serious work. Her efforts included posting on Instagram every day, learning editing, photography, storytelling, UGC and strategy. She also watched YouTube videos, took courses, read books, contacted people and pitched brands.“I gave myself a year. I started posting on Instagram every single day. I learned editing. Storytelling. Photography. UGC. Strategy,” said Verma. “I watched endless YouTube videos, took courses, read books, reached out to people, pitched brands and slowly started getting freelance clients.”
Freelance work slowly became a career
As she continued building her skills and finding clients, content creation became more than an experiment.Verma eventually established herself as a content creator and social media strategist. Three years after leaving her legal job, she says her income has grown to more than twice her earlier earnings.“And eventually, I was earning more than twice what I used to make as a lawyer,” said Verma.She now earns in six figures and says her current work has also given her the freedom to travel and make time for her hobbies.
The new career still comes with ups and downs
Verma is also clear that self-employment does not mean having a perfectly predictable career.Her work depends on clients and content performance, both of which can change. Some projects and videos do well, while others do not.“Clients still come and go… Some videos blow up, others flop. Some days I feel like I’m killing it, and some days I question everything.”She says she is also nowhere near where she ultimately wants to be.
She finally feels closer to the life she wants
For Verma, the biggest change appears to be the feeling that her work now matches the direction she wants for herself.“For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m moving in the right direction. For the first 24 years of my life, even while studying for the career I thought I wanted, I never really had that feeling. Now I do. I don’t have my life figured out. I just finally feel like I’m building a life that feels like mine,” the 27-year-old concluded.Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available information and statements shared by the individual. The claims and views expressed are attributed to the source.Thumb image: Instagram
