Why the definition of a 'dream job' has changed

Millennials and Gen Z professionals are building sustainable, purposeful careers by rewriting what an ideal job should be

- Geetika Sachdev

When Komal Desai, 32, walked out of the KPMG office in Gurugram for the last time two years ago, it wasn't because of burnout, but due to boredom. "I had every checkbox ticked, be it global clients or a salary my parents bragged about," she says. "But every Monday I had the thought—is this all there is?" Desai now works at a not-for-profit think tank in Pune, where she writes policy briefs on agritech regulations. The pay cheque is humble and the hours are similar to her previous role, yet she calls it her dream job. "I finally feel like the work I am doing has a purpose," she says. "It's not just output on someone else's spreadsheet."

Her pivot reflects a quiet churn in Indian workplaces. Across cubicles and co-working hubs, individuals are redefining what a dream job means, swapping prestige for fulfillment.

Arvind Rao, 42, remembers how badly he wanted a large cabin in his 30s—it was his "ultimate" dream. When he finally got it, he used to clock at least 12-14 hours of work a day. These days, the Bengaluru-based software developer at a multinational shuts his laptop by 6 pm so he can teach his 11-year-old daughter mathematics. "I still chase big ideas, just not at the cost of missing the rest of my life," he adds. "Success means something else today. It is being present at dinner, knowing my kid's school project and waking up without dreading the day."

He's in good company. The Upskilling Trends Report 2025-26 released by edtech firm Great Learning found that 82% of Indian professionals, out of the 1,000 surveyed across India, now prioritize work-life balance as much as financial compensation, signaling a significant shift in how people define a "dream job."

A MINDSET SHIFT