A recent LinkedIn post by a tech recruiter has ignited intense discussion across India's professional circles about what truly matters in hiring decisions. Pratham K, a tech recruiter, shared his experience of rejecting a graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Delhi while selecting a candidate from an unknown Tier-3 college.
The Hiring Decision That Sparked a Debate
In his now-viral post, Pratham K explained that he deliberately overlooked the candidate's JEE rank and IIT background, focusing instead on practical achievements. "I rejected an IIT Delhi grad today. And hired someone from a college you've never heard of," he wrote boldly.
The recruiter provided specific details about both candidates. The IIT Delhi graduate had an impressive 1800+ LeetCode rating but struggled to explain how his college project handled 100 concurrent users. Meanwhile, the Tier-3 college candidate had built a payment system that processed 50,000 transactions, demonstrating hands-on experience in deployment, scaling, and problem-solving.
Practical Skills Versus Academic Credentials
Pratham K emphasized his hiring philosophy clearly: "I care about what you've built, broken, and fixed. Companies don't pay for algorithms you can solve. They pay for systems you can build."
He highlighted the contrasting backgrounds of both candidates, noting that while the IIT candidate's parents might have spent approximately ₹50 lakh on coaching and fees, the Tier-3 graduate's family couldn't afford a laptop until his second year of college. The outcome was clear: one received a job offer while the other got the standard "we'll keep your resume on file" response.
Mixed Reactions from Social Media Users
The post generated significant controversy, with social media users divided in their opinions. Many criticized what they perceived as unnecessary humiliation of the IIT candidate.
One commenter called it a "rage bait post," arguing that the recruiter shouldn't judge an entire institution based on one graduate's performance. Another pointed out that "you don't need to show one down to praise the other candidate," suggesting the post was designed to gain attention from non-IIT audiences.
However, some users supported the recruiter's perspective, noting that the current hiring process often fails to assess practical capabilities effectively. One individual commented on the inefficiency of LeetCode-focused evaluations, calling it "a sham of the current assessment process."
Pratham K defended his position in responses, clarifying that "the post isn't anti-IIT. It's anti-credential-worship" and that he would have made the opposite decision if the candidates' performances were reversed.
This incident highlights the ongoing conversation in India's tech industry about whether prestigious degrees guarantee job readiness or if demonstrated practical skills should carry more weight in hiring decisions.
