“Outside India, No One Cares About Your IIT Tag”: What It Really Means for Indian Job Seekers in the Global Market

Introduction: Cutting Through the Hype of Elite Degrees

In India, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are synonymous with excellence. An IIT tag is, for many, a golden ticket — the ultimate symbol of being among the academic elite. However, a recent online post by Kunal Kushwaha, a London-based tech professional, has sparked an honest and long-overdue conversation: does the IIT label still hold weight outside of India?

In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Kushwaha emphasized that international companies are increasingly prioritizing real-world skills over prestigious brand-name degrees. His advice quickly went viral, not only because it challenged a long-standing cultural belief, but because thousands of others — especially Indian professionals working abroad — echoed his sentiments. (Source)

For Indian job seekers, especially those targeting roles outside India or within global companies, the stakes are high. This shift — from pedigree to performance — requires a change in approach. In this article, we break down Kushwaha’s message, analyze Indian market dynamics, and offer actionable steps for job seekers looking to stand out — with or without an IIT background.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion on Social Media

Kunal Kushwaha’s message, while simple, carried layers of insight. Let’s dissect the key points:

• Brand Name ≠ Job Guarantee: International recruiters assess portfolios, projects, and technical proficiency over institutional reputation. An IIT or NIT name can help start a conversation — but it won’t close the deal.
• Skill-First Hiring is Growing: Recruiters in Europe and North America prioritize problem-solving, communication skills, and coding ability over formal education.
• Role of Job Referrals: Kushwaha advises applicants to build relationships before asking for job referrals. Cold messages that mention IIT tags without context or rapport are often ineffective.
• Online Portfolios Matter More: GitHub activity, open-source contributions, technical blogs, and work on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank are often more valuable to hiring managers than a degree certificate.
• The Internet Has Flattened Access: With knowledge and upskilling platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and freeCodeCamp, anyone can showcase talent; brand names matter less when skills are visible.

This changed narrative is not intended to diminish the efforts of IIT graduates, but to level the field for professionals from Tier 2 or Tier 3 institutions who may have been overlooked in the past.

Context from a Broader Global Hiring Perspective

According to a report by LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends 2023, the era of “skills-based hiring” is in full swing. The report shows that 75% of global hiring managers now use skills-first criteria as part of their recruitment process. Job-seekers with strong performance records and demonstrable abilities are being placed ahead of those with more prestigious degrees — especially in the technology sector.

Glassdoor job data further supports this paradigm shift. Top tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon publicize their move away from degree filters. Instead, they evaluate:

• Portfolio projects or previous work
• Contributions to open-source platforms
• Performance on take-home assignments
• Coding interview responses with real-world complexity

Moreover, Harvard Business Review highlighted in a 2021 article that employers are placing increasing emphasis on “relevant experience and practical knowledge” over academic labels — a trend gaining strong momentum in fast-growing digital economies like those of Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.

The implications could not be clearer: academic pedigree has a diminishing role, especially once you step outside the Indian ecosystem.

India-Specific Implications: The Reality of Local Job Markets

India’s job market remains highly competitive. While top Indian colleges still offer significant advantages — from internships to alumni networks — the internal shift toward skill-based hiring is becoming visible within leading firms in India as well.

Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have widened their recruitment pipelines to include graduates from a much broader talent pool, including those who excel in coding contests or have unique project portfolios. Even startups preferred to assess GitHub profiles over university rankings.

Additionally, India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) encourages skill-building through flexible learning models and hands-on exposure, indicating a broader policy-level validation of this shift.

For students or young professionals from non-IIT/NIT backgrounds, this shift creates enormous opportunity. Those in Tier-2 or Tier-3 institutions now have a more level playing field — provided they diversify their learning, build relevant experience, and adopt globally recognized platforms to showcase their skills.

Notable Indian Trends Worth Considering:

• Growing Ecosystem for Developers: Platforms like Scaler, Coding Ninjas, and Masai School offer intense reskilling programs, supported by hiring partnerships.
• Early Adoption of Open Source: More Indian students are participating in programs like Google Summer of Code (GSoC), which boost global credibility.
• Remote Opportunities: India is seeing a rise in global freelance and contract roles via platforms like Turing, Toptal, and Remote OK — all valuing skill over degree.

Actionable Tips for Indian Job Seekers

For those currently navigating the job hunt, here’s how to stay relevant and stand out, regardless of your college background:

• Build a Real Portfolio: Showcase projects on GitHub, publish your learning on blogs, and contribute to open-source repositories.
• Create a Skills-First Resume: Keep it short but impactful. Focus on achievements, not institutions.
• Network with Intention: Engage meaningfully on LinkedIn, not just to ask for help, but to share insights, connect over common interests, and learn.
• Practice Interview Scenarios: Platforms like Pramp and Interviewing.io offer practice rounds that mimic real-world interviews with global companies.
• Leverage MOOCs and Bootcamps: Earn certificates from respected platforms — Coursera, edX, or even Google Career Certificates. Demonstrate continuous learning.

The age of passive credentialing is over. Today, it’s about being discoverable, practical, and ready for global standards.

Conclusion: Reframing Success Beyond the IIT Tag

Kunal Kushwaha’s post did more than spark debate — it brought clarity to a changing job ecosystem. In today’s world, your college degree might get your foot in the door, but your skills get you the seat at the table. For Indian professionals eyeing international opportunities or aiming to stand out in domestic markets, the message is clear: build skills, not just resumes.

The prestige of IITs remains undisputed. But outside India — and increasingly within — what you can do matters far more than where you studied.

Source: Hindustan Times

Summary: Core Insights You Should Remember

• International recruiters prioritize skills over degrees.
• Portfolios, coding challenges, and open-source projects outweigh name-brand colleges.
• In India too, hiring is shifting toward a skill-first model.
• Referrals work better when based on relationships and tangible proof of your abilities.
• Use GitHub, MOOCs, online communities, and technical blogs to stand out.
• Tier-2/3 college graduates can now compete equally with top-tier peers — if they showcase the right skills.

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Stay curious. Stay skilled.