Hi all. I’m a 28-year-old woman who moved to France about 2 years back for my MBA program. My goal was to build a career in the beauty and cosmetics industry here in Europe. Before moving abroad, I worked in UI/UX design and spent around 14 months at a startup doing product development work.
I’ve been job hunting for 6 months now but things are really tough here. Even my French friends are having a hard time finding good opportunities. Most of my MBA classmates from other countries ended up going back home to find work. Companies keep rejecting me for beauty industry roles because they want more experience than my 14 months. The career switch from design to cosmetics isn’t helping either.
My situation is a bit complicated because my boyfriend is French and has a great job here that he loves. I’ve been staying with him while looking for work and he’s been covering most expenses. This has been really hard on me mentally because I hate feeling dependent on someone else. I did some part time work but there were moments when I really questioned if my career was falling apart.
Recently, a cosmetics company in Mumbai reached out to me. I know their team through my professional network from before. They want me to join their global expansion efforts and offered me a role paying 30 lakhs per year. Since my parents live in Mumbai, my living costs would be pretty low.
I’m struggling with a few questions and could really use some advice:
My boyfriend actually wants to try living in India for a few years. He’s visited with me and loves the country. We figure it’s better to do this adventure while we’re young. Does anyone know how French citizens can get work permits for India? Should he look for remote work or try to find jobs with European companies that have Indian offices?
I still have my job seeker visa for France until next year so I could come back. But would taking this India job hurt my chances of getting hired in Europe later? We do want to settle in Europe eventually.
The main reason I’m even thinking about this job is because it’s exactly the field I want to work in. I think I’d genuinely love the work and feel fulfilled doing it. But am I being shortsighted about my career?
Is 30 lakhs a reasonable salary after getting an MBA? Or am I just excited because it’s my dream field?
Would appreciate any thoughts on this situation. I’m really torn about what to do.
You’re looking at a classic short-term vs long-term trade-off here. The Mumbai role gets you into the industry at 30 lakhs - pretty solid pay for your experience level in India. But the real win is getting those cosmetics credentials that European employers clearly think you’re missing. Your 6-month job search struggle? It’s mostly about that experience gap, not location issues. Here’s the thing - international experience in markets like India actually helps your European prospects later. Lots of multinational beauty companies want people who get diverse consumer markets. For your boyfriend’s work authorization, he’ll need either an employment visa (needs a job offer) or can look into freelance/business visas for remote work. Bottom line: this isn’t about picking India over Europe forever. It’s about strategically building the industry experience that’ll make you competitive in European markets when you come back.
This sounds amazing! Following your passion in cosmetics while getting international experience is brilliant. That salary’s solid, and you’ll build exactly what European companies want later!
I was in the exact same spot after my masters - couldn’t find anything in my field in Germany for months. Sometimes you need to step back to move forward. That Mumbai offer is exactly what you need. You’re getting decent pay doing what you want, plus you’ll finally get the industry experience European companies demand. Being financially independent again will help your mental health too - I know that dependency feeling sucks. Your boyfriend sounds supportive and up for adventure, which is great. Don’t stress about the “right” career path - the best opportunities often come from unexpected places.
Stop overthinking - take the Mumbai job! You’ve struggled for 6 months in France, and now you’ve got a perfect opportunity in your dream field. The experience will make you way more attractive to European companies later. Your boyfriend wants to try India anyway, so why not go for it?
This video covers strategic career changes, which is exactly what you’re dealing with.
You’re actually in a really strong position here, even if it doesn’t feel like it. The fact that this Mumbai cosmetics company reached out to you directly means they see real value in your design + MBA combo for their global expansion. About your boyfriend - French citizens need work visas for India, which means getting a job offer first. Lots of European companies with Indian subsidiaries help with transfers, and remote work’s way more common now. He should pursue both options at once. Taking this role won’t hurt your European prospects at all. International experience in your target industry actually makes you more attractive to European companies. The global cosmetics market’s all connected, and having expansion experience in a market like India is gold on your resume. Your job seeker visa’s great backup if you want to return later. The salary’s competitive for India, especially with lower living costs there. But honestly, the bigger win is getting industry experience over staying in the “right” location. That’s the smart move at your career stage.
