In a recent social media post, a software engineer turned entrepreneur Vinayak Sarawagi sparked a major debate on whether the reputation of one's college should determine their salary at a job. Sarawagi shared a screenshot of his WhatsApp exchange with a college student who had declined an internship offer at his startup because the salary offered was ₹10,000.
The Controversial Conversation
The college student, who claimed to be from a Tier 1 college, expressed that the salary was too low for someone of their educational background. Sarawagi responded with a simple "Okay cool," which triggered a wave of responses on the internet. Some criticized the founder for offering such a low stipend, while others defended his decision.
The Founder's Response
In a detailed explanation, Sarawagi revealed that he was using his personal savings to pay interns at his startup. He acknowledged that the stipend was indeed low but emphasized that he offered other benefits such as flexible working hours. He also pointed out that many others pay even less than he does, so labeling him as a "zamindar" without knowing the full story was unfair.
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The Misunderstanding
The candidate had reached out to Sarawagi after seeing the job opening in a group. During a call, the founder had clearly outlined the expectations, including the monthly stipend and the remote nature of the job with flexible hours. Despite this, the candidate decided that the salary was not sufficient for them, which led to the decline of the offer.
Sarawagi concluded by stating that he respected the candidate's decision and wished them well. He said that the debate over the importance of Tier 1 colleges in determining job opportunities is still ongoing which proves the typical mindset still exists.
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