Startup Originals Team
Founders Speak Out on Declining Tech Talent Quality:
A Bengaluru-based CEO has sparked a heated debate on LinkedIn and beyond, claiming that India is facing a “big f***ing talent problem” especially in the tech sector. The statement came from Rishabh Kaul, co-founder of Belong, a recruitment and talent-focused startup. He highlighted that job candidates are increasingly using AI tools like ChatGPT to solve even the most basic coding problems, raising questions about the current state of engineering talent in India.
His remarks came after an unsettling trend was observed: candidates using generative AI during live coding rounds, sometimes even for questions that would typically be considered beginner-level.
The Incident That Sparked the Debate:
According to Rishabh Kaul, during one of Belong’s recent hiring rounds, applicants were expected to solve simple coding challenges. But instead of demonstrating their own logic or thought process, several candidates relied on ChatGPT-often copy-pasting the AI’s output without fully understanding the code.
Kaul expressed concern that this wasn’t about whether AI could be used at work, but rather that applicants were unable to perform basic tasks without external assistance. This, in his view, points to a larger issue in India’s tech talent pipeline: an over-reliance on tools and lack of foundational understanding.
“It’s Not About ChatGPT. It’s About Skill”
Rishabh clarified that he is not against the use of AI, especially in real-world scenarios where AI can boost productivity. But in an interview setting-where the goal is to evaluate problem-solving, logic, and depth—leaning on AI to answer everything defeats the purpose.
He also noted that this isn’t about gatekeeping, but about genuinely assessing whether candidates are prepared for the job. “You don’t need to remember syntax. You need to show how you think,” he said.
Founders, CTOs, and Engineers Join the Conversation:
Kaul’s post struck a nerve. Several startup founders and CTOs from across India began commenting on similar experiences during their hiring processes. Some echoed his frustration, recounting how even senior-level applicants were unable to solve real-world problems without help.
Others pointed out that the education system might be partly to blame-with many engineering colleges focused on rote learning and outdated curricula, rather than practical, hands-on coding experience.
The Broader Question: Are We Preparing Job-Ready Engineers?
This incident has reignited an important debate: Are Indian colleges and bootcamps actually preparing students for real-world tech jobs?
While India has one of the world’s largest pools of STEM graduates, many employers argue that only a small percentage are truly job-ready. This gap in quality is what’s prompting startups to raise red flags-even if their tone is controversial.
Some industry experts believe that the rise of AI tools is only exposing the deeper cracks in India’s tech education ecosystem. “AI isn’t the problem. The problem is we were never teaching the right way in the first place,” one engineer commented on the viral post.
