Throughout college and during the job hunt, almost every fresher runs into the same wall: reality. What we’ve been told and what actually exists out there are worlds apart.
Most career advice we’ve received so far has come from parents and teachers. But here’s the thing—they’re often working with secondhand information, fed to them by societal whispers, flashy news headlines, or relatives gushing about someone’s cousin who bagged a ₹1 crore package. In short, they all draw from the same limited, and often misleading, sources.
With the rise of social media, influencers and some professionals have entered the chat. But let’s not forget—news and influencers are profit-driven. Whether it’s TRPs or engagement, both sell stories. And when there’s money to be made, bias creeps in.
This isn’t to say all information out there is false or useless. But here’s the truth:
Some of it is real. Some of it is sugar-coated. And some of it is plain marketing. So, my first piece of advice? Take everything with a grain of salt.
Who Am I to Say This?
I’ve been in Talent Acquisition & Recruitment for the past 9 years. I work on identifying workforce needs, finding the right people for the right roles, building employer branding, planning talent pipelines, and enhancing candidate experience.
In short, I know what companies want—and what freshers often lack.
Bad Career Decisions Freshers Often Make (Because of Misleading Advice)
1. Jumping into Post-Graduation Immediately After Graduation
Let’s be real—most freshers pursue postgrad not because they want to, but because they don’t know what else to do. It’s often a cover-up for unemployment. The pressure is heavier on boys due to societal expectations, and most students, after being spoon-fed all their school lives, finally get a taste of freedom in college. So they stop studying.
But the bigger issue? They never really had a chance to explore what they like. Most of their energy was spent mugging up for marks. And when the college reality hits—that the field they picked isn’t what they thought—it’s already late.
Their next move depends heavily on one thing: family income.
2. Lack of Awareness + No Skill Development = No Job
Due to poor guidance, a flawed education system, and zero exposure to real-world career paths, most students graduate with no relevant skills—and unsurprisingly, no job offers.
3. The Postgrad Trap
Let’s talk about the biggest scam: thinking a Master’s degree guarantees a better job.
Reality check: An MBA or M.Tech doesn’t guarantee better pay or better opportunities if it’s from an average college and pursued without real intent or direction.
So why do so many still go for it?
Well, there is family pressure, plus Social status (especially in arranged marriage markets) and Peer influence (“All my friends are doing it”).
But what’s the real cost?
4. The Middle-Class Dilemma of Postgraduate Degrees
- Financial strain: An MBA can cost ₹4–5 Lakhs; with loans, this jumps to ₹7–8 Lakhs.
- No job difference: You’ll still end up in entry-level roles alongside grads who’ve worked 2 years while you were studying.
- More pressure, fewer results: You’re older, expectations are higher, the family is restless—and the market? Brutal.
So, what jobs are available?
Welcome to Reality: Indian Job Market in 2025 (For Sales, Customer Care & Recruitment Roles)
Here’s the unfiltered truth:
Sales, customer service, and recruiter roles are booming, but they’re also hire-and-fire roles, with poor work environments and high turnover. In these roles, performance = survival. You hit target this month? Great. Let’s see you do it again next month.
When you struggle to sell, you’ll question your own worth. But remember, it’s not always about you—sometimes, the product is just bad or there’s no demand.
Despite all this, these roles will always be hiring. Why? Because attrition is high. If your job board profile is halfway decent, you’re probably already getting 5–10 calls a day.
So, What Should You Do Instead?
- Don’t say yes to just anything.
- Pick your industry. Pick your company. Wisely.
- Stay in touch with your network.
- Find companies that value long-term growth, not just quick sales.
I could go on about finding stability in unstable roles—but I’ll save that for another post.
Meanwhile, if you’ve worked in sales, customer support, recruitment, or any other profession, share your story. Freshers deserve real, honest advice from real people, not just another viral headline.
