New Delhi: Recent social media post by a London-based software engineer, Kunal Kushwaha, has sparked a wave of debates in social media regarding the validity of institutional tags and whether they are something that young professionals can thrive on. Kushwaha also questioned the value of prestigious academic credentials in the global tech industry.
In his post, Kushwaha asserted that the ‘IIT tag’ holds little or no relevance outside India. This remark struck a nerve, especially among the students and other professionals in the industry. Kushwaha further emphasised on the fact that skills and experience make an individual fit for the industry. Outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag,” he stated. He aimed to challenge the traditional belief that graduating from IITs guarantees international job opportunities.
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… pic.twitter.com/k4N3A6b2o7
— Kunal Kushwaha (@kunalstwt) May 17, 2025
According to Kushwaha, international employers always seek to prioritise the skills, knowledge and experience that an individual has. Instead of completely weighing in a student due to his academic rigour– they count in for the portfolio and performance that outweighs degrees.
The post was subjected to widespread criticism from netizens who are of the opinion that institutional tags or the credibility of your alma mater or the recognition, the connections you develop throughout your academic endeavours greatly helps you in getting a preference in the job market.
One of the users wrote, “Having IIT in his headline, tells you that this person is already hardworking enough to crack the exam.
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…
— Somanshu Singh (@SomanshuSingh) May 17, 2025
Netizens are of the view that the ‘IIT brand’ still carries considerable weight in the job market. The rigorous training and curriculum that students are being subjected to, equip them with the practical exposure that is required for any company.
Among those whom we weighed in, was Shashank, a final-year student from IIT Delhi. He acknowledged the fact that while one should not rely solely on the IIT tag, it does provide a significant advantage—especially in the early years of one’s career. “LinkedIn connection requests are just 300 characters long,” he noted. “You can’t explain your entire coding portfolio or various other achievements there, so highlighting your college and one or two key achievements is reasonable.”
He reflected on his own journey and admitted that “Everyone knows the teaching style in IITs is subpar and the curriculum is outdated, especially as compared to global schools. But within India, the IIT tag still opens doors.” In a recession-hit and competitive market, such credentials can be the differentiator for entry-level professionals.
