Ankur Warikoo on Toxic Bosses, Gen Z & the Future of Work | Workwise with Naukri

Career mentor and bestselling author Ankur Warikoo sits down with Naukri to map out every career decision you'll ever face - from your first job to your first raise. In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Ankur breaks down how to land a job without campus placements, what to actually focus on in your first 100 days, whether an MBA is worth it in 2026, how to ask for (and give) honest feedback, how to spot a toxic boss vs. a hard job, and how to negotiate a raise - including a live roleplay. He also gets real about Gen Z at work, the gender pay gap, planning a career break, and how to upskill so AI doesn't replace you. To close it out, Ankur reviews real CVs from Naukri's database and points out the mistakes that get candidates rejected in seconds. Whether you're a fresher, a first-time people manager, or rethinking your next career move, this is the most complete career conversation we've recorded. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Ankur Warikoo on Workwise with Naukri 01:31 Job vs Career: The Real Difference 02:09 How to Land Your First Job (Even Without Placements) 05:14 Personal Branding: When Should You Actually Start? 06:05 First 100 Days at a New Job: What Really Matters 07:16 How to Ask For (and Give) Honest Feedback 10:58 Is an MBA Worth It in 2026? 15:27 Why Brands Like Naukri Are "Signaling Agents" 16:51 Managing Gen Z: Strengths, Weaknesses & Mindsets 22:25 Work-Life Balance, 996 & the Hustle Culture Debate 26:21 Roleplay: How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise 33:47 Toxic Boss or Just a Hard Job? How to Tell the Difference 37:03 Dealing With a Difficult Team (Even With a Great Boss) 38:32 Career Breaks & Maternity Leave: Personal Finance 101 41:45 "Pay Yourself First": The Rich vs Poor Mindset 42:58 Returning to Work After a Break: Explore or Go Back? 45:27 The Gender Pay Gap: Ankur's Honest Take 48:26 Will AI Replace Your Job? How to Upskill Now 52:07 Real CV Review: The Mistakes That Get You Instantly Rejected 55:52 Ankur Warikoo's Book Recommendations 👤 ABOUT ANKUR WARIKOO Ankur Warikoo is one of India's most-followed career mentors and entrepreneurs, with 16M+ followers across YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. He is the bestselling author of Do Epic Shit, Get Epic Shit Done, Make Epic Money, and Build An Epic Career, and the founder of WebVeda, an online career-growth platform. He previously built and led Nearbuy as CEO and holds an MBA from ISB. 🎙️ ABOUT WORKWISE WITH NAUKRI Workwise with Naukri is Naukri.com's podcast on careers and workplace decisions — real conversations with leaders, experts and mentors to help India's workforce make wiser choices about jobs, growth, money and the future of work. 📲 Find your next opportunity: https://www.naukri.com 🔔 Subscribe to Naukri's YouTube channel for new episodes! #AnkurWarikoo #WorkwisewithNaukri #CareerAdvice #NaukriPodcast #CareerTips #JobSearch #BuildAnEpicCareer #GenZAtWork #SalaryNegotiation #AIandJobs