A fiery Reddit put up claiming that “90% of India’s engineering graduates can’t code” has ignited a heated debate concerning the nation’s tech expertise, startup hiring practices, and the expectations positioned on contemporary recruits. The nameless startup founder behind the put up sparked backlash after admitting to ceaselessly firing new hires inside weeks, regardless of providing them substantial wage hikes.
Posted on the r/StartUpIndia subreddit, the thread is titled “India has 90% engineering graduates who cannot code.” The unique poster, a startup founder, vented frustration concerning the lack of job readiness amongst contemporary engineering hires, particularly when transitioning from MNCs to high-pressure startup environments.
“I imply significantly, earlier than becoming a member of a startup, how exhausting is it to consider the quantity of stress and abilities required versus working in an MNC the place you will get away with something?” the founder wrote.
He claimed that many new staff be part of his startup, lured by higher pay, however fail to ship when the actual work begins.
“Each time I rent anybody, I inform them how a lot work and abilities are required right here. They’re very excited as a result of clearly they’re getting a severe hike. However then after per week or 19 days, I find yourself firing them.”
The put up continued with a disclaimer that the firing wasn’t private.
“I by no means be ok with firing somebody after they left a job to affix my startup. However on the identical time I am unable to be blamed, they’re simply not a great match for us right here.
They should perceive we aren’t constructing a rent and hearth tradition nevertheless it’s them who’re anticipating to be paid massive bucks whereas simply engaged on Excel or utilizing ChatGPT.”
However the web wasn’t having it.
One prime commenter challenged your entire premise, stating bluntly, “You generalized hiring after which firing inside one month. Then your interviewers must be fired first who employed them… or you’re certainly one of them.”
One other added, “Repair your interview course of. MNCs are fantastic with ‘mediocre’ coders with mediocre wage—it’s their requirement. Why are you hiring these candidates within the title of excessive wage and making their profession hung after a month?”
Others took problem with the sweeping generalization about engineering graduates, mentioning that not each engineer is supposed to code.
“Do you assume that ALL engineering graduates are required to code? Some is perhaps simply fantastic with utilizing AI. Some won’t want [coding] like Civil or Biotech or ChemE… Not all engineers in India are in IT.”
One person provided a candid however constructive take: “If you find yourself firing somebody after per week for ability points, then it is a obvious flaw with the hiring course of, innit? If per week’s price of their work is sufficient so that you can resolve you don’t need them, what precisely did they do within the technical interview to not elicit that response?”
Regardless of the criticism, some skilled builders shared the founder’s frustration. “Skilled engineer right here. I agree with you that 90% of candidates don’t know what they’re speaking about. However let’s see how you are able to do higher.”