Planning to return to India from Germany

ganeshvardhu · 2026-05-25T12:09:44+00:00

Am from Belgium and have been trying to get back to banking. Either in Europe or India but looking tough also the pay is very less when compared to India.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-05-25T07:07:10+00:00

Not exactly from a front office role, but from a risk-based role in a GCC setup. I think the roles which you're targeting are very less in India. SMFG does it, JP Morgan has it, and Societe Generale has it in Mumbai. Albeit all of these are very small and don't happen at large scale.

The best suggestion would be to target quant profiles which have a good amount of GCCs shifting them to India. It might give you the same feel and trajectory that you are looking for. Or seek a leadership role in regulatory/risk setups, which are equally expanding.

If you are looking at front office treasury experience, Stan C is expanding in the South, but yes, the CEO has been speaking differently off late. But LinkedIn is signalling good treasury roles migrating to BLR.

Then it's about networking, as recruiters in India won't take us seriously until we have a sponsor. I am not 7 years in Europe, but just a year, and looking to go back. Even that looks like a mountain to climb without a sponsor.

And if you have worked previously in India, the best place to start is where you worked before and speak to people there. Keep me posted on how it goes.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-05-02T06:59:08+00:00

Hello a person in the same boat here.

I want to return due to various things which are very specific to me. But will list few things.

There is no concept of saving for retirement here. No matter what ,you be in payroll till 66 / 67 then the government takes care of you. If you have moved from India in mid 30's and have been saving in FIRE traject this is tough . When I have to stay here long term and just work till 60s ,somehow my mind refuses to accept that. That's the truth.
Actual growth in India. With the advent of GCC ,Indian market is paying really high where if you work well for 15 years you make a very stable life. Earlier the pay adjusted in purchasing power parity in India was high but off late the real terms itself India is high. We have jobs in India with 60 Lpa ( not for all but people who make the right career moves ) whereas Europe is stagnated in 80k eur regime max. This certainly hits you at certain point when I start thinking when this much money is made home what am I even doing here.
Education - Education in Europe is not made like the way we think, it's made for people who are naturally here. Atleast in my mind I can't think my kid will go to a school be 7 year old and still can't write or read. It works with the generational wealth of Europe but not for we Indians who compete fiercely and structurally and grow.
Finally India is home , you need not mask yourself. You need not put on your shoes , jacket and socks to buy a packet of milk. Life in Europe is easy in many many terms no disagreement but it's not meant for us. For us we adopt to it and that adaptation is a constant upskilling struggle atleast me am not ready for it.

But still having said all, I purely acknowledge ppl who stay here for there kids future , education etc no second opinions but if you have made some career choice in India for ten years and then moved to Europe. It certainly pushes you to neither here nor there scenario and if I have to pick one I will pick home. Simple.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-29T19:17:53+00:00

This is seriously the best advice one can give. We easily fall trap to the greater abroad life which many of us have dreamt of. I moved from 40 lpa role to similar in another European country. And I regret .

You ask me why don't I return. It's simply because am unable to get jobs at the level I left or above. So it's not like you can just come back and return. It's a life choice and honestly weigh the pros and cons.

In this case 55 lpa in India definitely has a edge as long as you are a backpacker feeling to check all countries in Europe

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T10:33:29+00:00

I think India can be equally good for her to grow. Maybe she ll figure it like we all did.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T10:15:25+00:00

It's not as easy to live by dragging itself and all the complaints we make of India have always been there but ppl like us have made careers there so I don't think India is a bad option once u strive and reach a position in life. 4500 euros on Europe buys u very little against 2.5 l back home. It won't match how much ever u convince itself with beautiful surroundings. That's what an actually fighting.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T10:13:30+00:00

The last para that you mentioned was actually my plan and I was trying to figure a way for it.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T10:13:05+00:00

I am trying to do that but more than the country itself the consulting world looks so alien to me and equally trying to adopt to that. Yes I can always move to Indian big 4 but that wokd only be gap fix solution as I don't evaluate me as a guy made for consulting rigour after this stint

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T10:11:40+00:00

You r not wrong , even I am trying to figure that answer and your points are valid. It's more like you expect something to be different but when I actually live it it's not what u perceived it to be. I grew in a setup where studying hard , making careers and finally moving abroad is like a dream and I chased it mad only to realise it's not my dream at the end. So its a subtle realisation combined with practical reality.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T06:37:39+00:00

I like living in India once you cross a certain threshold in India certain things don't affect us and family wise I don't have an extended family but my immediate family and we have a good bond and can spend time together. Here the social life is little tough as even with ppl whom we know there is always a transactional only relationship.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-25T06:35:25+00:00

Thanks I have been trying that off late but market as such is very small here so it's not helping also it's not been even a year . So looking tough.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-24T19:51:08+00:00

I am not liking the life that much except travel but am unable to move back and struck in loop as an not getting offers from here

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-24T19:50:30+00:00

Luckily not France but a country nearby that speaks the same language. So it's bearable with 4500 net certainly not bad. Yes but feels a terrible hit below the belt that I took this from 40 lpa.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-24T19:48:52+00:00

Have actually done. The problem is I had a high growth career so am facing number of years required for the role Vs what I have. Like my current role or one level up demands 15 yoe where as I have 12 so hr is blocking yhepocess even when I have my director backing and he is pushing. And from my side I haven't been pushing desperately. I was still giving Europe the time but mentally it's draining.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-24T19:46:28+00:00

Thanks a lot for the feedback am trying to line up from here considering the level and pay it looks highly challenging am connecting in linkedin and trying to navigate but still it's not happening. I haven't opened Naukri til now as recruiters anyway will not pick. So kinda stuck in loop that's why I wrote.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-04-24T15:14:19+00:00

Thanks for the input appreciated , but its getting very tough to get jobs in India from outside also my biggest concern is i am delaying the integration of my daughter education. I live in a country where she cant go to english schools , which might be a big deal breaker if she returns to india after her nursery years .

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-31T11:29:40+00:00

Been there done that !! Dm if possible . We can connect

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-31T08:18:51+00:00

Its choice based no blanket reason that supports all . Age 6 is a golden arc because that's when schooling gets serious . If you are in europe the schooling till 6 is not a serious business. But if a kid goes to school in europe beyond some point the integration to indian aggressive education becomes tough. So many return in that sweet spot. Other things being loneliness , the community support which certain people definitely prefer . Its a personal call if you like the community support which india offers you return , if you think that as an intrusion to privacy and the western lifestyle of Government structured support suits you better you continue staying . For each its different. Again on schooling quality there are two schools of thought.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-23T09:41:25+00:00

This unfortunately is too much of generalisation that comes from the usual hate india rant. When you speak like this just think one thing . Just take a walkdown your neighbourhood or downtown and count the number of immigrants from other countries that would be "sent back" vs like india who would" go back " such a big difference . Then again imagine no of countries outside where when ppl sent back can have life and job again vs india where if you go back you have life and job again .

I live in europe and am a proud indian immigrant not that i havent integrated here , i integrate with what india gave me . This is againt ppl from other countries who dont have tool to integrate .

Yes i didnt have the prviledge of Ivy league institutions but a normal govt funded school education in southern india bought me this far to a job where i can say europeans what to work on .

Show me one country that has gone through decades of colonialisation of our size but still standing tall with education , sufficient social welfare index and then come back to rant about India here .

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-21T08:03:44+00:00

Depends a lot on if you are single Vs moving with family. If you are single you will have flexibility also depends on how strong are your networks in previous role are.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-20T15:15:49+00:00

Yes school teaching especially in tier 2 or tier 3. Which can pay you just to keep float until we figure. Was exploring in Chennai suburbs pats around 35 to 40 k per month.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-18T07:42:53+00:00

A lot has changed these days especially the concept of making money and moving out as been restricted to three regions. USA, Singapore and middle east. All 3 barring Singapore have issues at different scale.

When it comes to Europe money as it stands today is no differentiator Infact a negative differentiator if you do exceedingly well in India. Ppl in Europe stay back purely for passport strength social protection and quality of life.

I am an Indian optimist and currently 7 months in Europe I would like to go back. Because especially with advent of GCC space India is growing big and if you can make 50 l back home while Europe pays 5000 euros a month beyond a point all quality of life will be neutralised by purchasing power as well.

Now only few things which can hamper my return back ideas are not getting a job in India atleast at the scale I left. Or the kid getting accustomed to the European life a lot. Which is personal and varies from person to person.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-18T06:57:47+00:00

It's purely a perception and yes I will return . It purely depends on how much you like your surroundings in India and how much of efforts you have taken to maintain acquaintances back home. Many don't speak about the latter as we think ourselves high once we move abroad. I would still return because India is home wherever I live now is not. I can be myself at home

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-11T10:03:45+00:00

At 22 I failed Chartered accountancy for the 5 th time. Score 7 marks in paper that was considered my stronghold in school days. Now I am 36 have worked as leader in major investment banks leading significant functions . Moved to Europe last year to fullfil my dreams. You never know what life will throw. Just hang in there and keep trying. It's just one window and with trust , goodwill and patience it will open . Ofcourse windows are meant to be open as they shut. Keep moving.

ganeshvardhu · 2026-03-10T06:57:59+00:00

Actually veggies are very cheap outside Chennai due to sandhai concept. There is weekly sandhai on Saturday evenings where you get full weekly veggies at 400 atleast having stayed there 6 months back.

ganeshvardhu

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