Latest news with #KunalKushwaha
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
‘No one cares about IIT tag': London-based techie underscores skills over college name in job market; netizens disagree
Amid the ongoing discussion on social media regarding the value of practical skills versus education from a prestigious institution, London-based techie Kunal Kushwaha points out that the significance of attending a well-known university seems to be diminishing. In a post on the social media platform X, Kushwaha, the Field CTO at Civo and founder of WeMakeDevs, described an incident where an alumnus from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) approached him for a job. His post read, 'Got a message today that began with 'I'm an IIT alumnus' and asked for a referral for an AI role. I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the opportunity to show what truly sets you apart.' Kushwaha highlighted how students from top IITs struggle to get work and job-seekers must focus more on developing skills. 'Even top IITs have students who struggle with placements. What really stands out is your work, the projects you've built, the problems you've solved, your passion for the field,' he wrote. He emphasised that the name of the institution is irrelevant when applying for job roles in global companies. 'I want the best for you, truly. But it's dangerous to think your college tag will make the difference, maybe it still carries weight in India, but not if you're aiming for remote roles at global companies. I live in London now, have been around the world, and have friends in companies of all sizes. And honestly, outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag.' He further advised to 'lead with your work, not just the name'. However, the majority of social media users disagreed with Kushwaha's statement. Many of them emphasised the effort required to succeed in competitive exams for admission to top colleges. One of the users wrote, 'Having IIT in his headline, tells you that this person is already hardworking enough to crack the exam. The work might not be that good but that is for later. For an opening message, this person played on their strengths/selling points. Nothing wrong IMO. What would be a great headline, as per you, to make you open the message and connect?' Another user advised, 'Always provide your best achievements when asking for referrals. If your best achievement is that you studied hard 6 years ago to crack an exam. Then you should work on getting a better achievement.'
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
‘No one cares about IIT tag,' London-based techie underscores skills over college name in job market; netizens disagree
Amid the ongoing discussion on social media regarding the value of practical skills versus education from a prestigious institution, London-based techie Kunal Kushwaha points out that the significance of attending a well-known university seems to be diminishing. In a post on the social media platform X, Kushwaha, the Field CTO at Civo and founder of WeMakeDevs, described an incident where an alumnus from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) approached him for a job. His post read, 'Got a message today that began with 'I'm an IIT alumnus' and asked for a referral for an AI role. I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the opportunity to show what truly sets you apart.' Kushwaha highlighted how students from top IITs struggle to get work and job-seekers must focus more on developing skills. 'Even top IITs have students who struggle with placements. What really stands out is your work, the projects you've built, the problems you've solved, your passion for the field,' he wrote. He emphasised that the name of the institution is irrelevant when applying for job roles in global companies. 'I want the best for you, truly. But it's dangerous to think your college tag will make the difference, maybe it still carries weight in India, but not if you're aiming for remote roles at global companies. I live in London now, have been around the world, and have friends in companies of all sizes. And honestly, outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag.' He further advised to 'lead with your work, not just the name.' However, the majority of social media users disagreed with Kushwaha's statement. Many of them emphasised the effort required to succeed in competitive exams for admission to top colleges. One of the users wrote, 'Having IIT in his headline, tells you that this person is already hardworking enough to crack the exam. The work might not be that good but that is for later. For an opening message, this person played on their strengths/selling points. Nothing wrong IMO. What would be a great headline, as per you, to make you open the message and connect?' Another user advised, 'Always provide your best achievements when asking for referrals. If your best achievement is that you studied hard 6 years ago to crack an exam. Then you should work on getting a better achievement.' One of the users stated,'Agree with everything except needlessly dissing the IIT tag. People in Bay Area know and value it. It can pretty much change the entire tone of a conversation.'
India Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
No one cares about IIT outside India: London techie's advice goes viral
Kunal Kushwaha, a tech professional based in London, has sparked an online debate after posting on X, where he mentioned that the prestigious Indian institute IIT holds little value outside India. In his post, he wrote, 'Even top IITs have students who struggle to find jobs. What makes you stand out are your skills, your projects, and the problems you've solved. That's what companies care about.'advertisementHe also drew attention to how job seekers should introduce themselves when asking for said that while reaching out takes effort, short messages must be used wisely. He believes that leading with a college name, even the IIT, may not help, especially when applying for global or remote roles. Kunal added that outside India, the IIT brand has little value. 'I live in London and know people in many firms. To be honest, abroad no one cares where you studied, even if it's IIT,' he a message today that began with 'I'm an IIT alumnus' and asked for a referral for an AI role.I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the Kunal Kushwaha (@kunalstwt) May 17, 2025advertisementHOW DID THE INTERNET RESPONSEThe post drew strong reactions. Some agreed with Kushwaha, saying job seekers should lead with their work, not their college. One user said, 'The global job market values results more than college names.'Others felt the IIT tag still matters, at least in India. Some said mentioning it can help break the ice or show a history of hard work. One user commented, 'If someone says they're from IIT, it shows they cracked a tough exam. That alone shows commitment.'Another user said, 'It may not matter abroad, but in India or even in the Gulf, it still counts.'Kushwaha clarified that his advice is for those targeting remote or global jobs. He stressed that showcasing your work is always the better debate reflects a wider shift in hiring trends -- where what you've done matters more than where you've studied.
NDTV
18-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
London Techie Says IIT Tag Holds Little Weight In Global Job Market: "Outside India..."
London-based tech professional Kunal Kushwaha recently sparked a heated conversation on X about the best way for candidates to present themselves when seeking job referrals in the competitive AI and tech recruitment space. In a viral X post, the techie shared a referral message he received that led with, "I'm an IIT alumnus." Mr Kushwaha emphasised that while it takes courage to reach out, every word matters in a brief message. Instead of leading with their college name, candidates should prioritise highlighting their projects, skills and passion for the field. He noted that outside India, the IIT tag holds little weight, particularly for remote roles at global companies. "I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the opportunity to show what truly sets you apart. Even top IITs have students who struggle with placements. What really stands out is your work, the projects you've built, the problems you've solved, your passion for the field," he wrote in the post. See the post here: Got a message today that began with 'I'm an IIT alumnus' and asked for a referral for an AI role. I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the… — Kunal Kushwaha (@kunalstwt) May 17, 2025 Mr Kushwaha noted that academic credentials like the IIT tag hold limited weight outside India, particularly for remote roles at global companies. Instead, he encouraged candidates to prioritise demonstrating their capabilities and achievements. "I want the best for you, truly. But it's dangerous to think your college tag will make the difference; maybe it still carries weight in India, but not if you're aiming for remote roles at global companies. I live in London now, have been around the world, and have friends in companies of all sizes. And honestly, outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag," he added. Some users agreed with him, saying that merit-based portfolios should take precedence over institutional pride. Others pointed out the emotional significance of mentioning elite institutions like IIT, noting that it can create an instant connection with fellow alumni. One user wrote, "There are non-IITians who are outstandingly hardworking. Similarly, some IITians are still just average." Another commented, "Having IIT in his headline tells you that this person is already hardworking enough to crack the exam. The work might not be that good, but that is for later. For an opening message, this person played on their strengths/selling points. Nothing wrong IMO." A third said, "Outside India, true. But in India, it takes to ahead of all candidates. Maybe even Gulf countries." A fourth added, "This. The global game runs on outcomes, not alma maters. Lead with what you've done, not just where you've been."
India Today
18-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
London-based techie says IIT tag won't help much in global job hunt. See viral post
A London-based tech professional triggered a conversation online after he shared his thoughts on how jobseekers should present themselves when requesting referrals. In a now-viral post on X, Kunal Kushwaha, who works in London, shared a referral request he received that began with the line, 'I'm an IIT alumnus'. While he acknowledged the courage it takes to reach out, he advised applicants to put their work at the forefront rather than relying on their academic understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the opportunity to show what truly sets you apart,' Kunal encouraged candidates to showcase the value they bring, regardless of where they studied. 'Even top IITs have students who struggle with placements. What really stands out is your work, the projects you've built, the problems you've solved, your passion for the field,' he his experience working across multiple countries, Kunal also pointed out that academic tags hold limited weight beyond Indian borders. 'Outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag. Maybe it still carries weight in India, but not if you're aiming for remote roles at global companies,' he a look at the post here: Social media users flooded the comments section with their thoughts. One of the users felt the post implied a lack of achievement after entering a reputed institution, saying, 'This could also mean that the person didn't achieve anything significant after entering college.'Another user had a different view: 'When sent to another alum from IIT, it would create instant connection and can show as proof of past work. But for those who didn't clear IIT, it could bring back bad memories.'See the comments here: While opinions differed, the message of Kunal Kushwaha's post was clear: what truly matters in job applications is not where one started, but what one has built along the way.
