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IIM Kozhikode MBA Says 250+ Applications Yielded No Callbacks

An unverified Reddit post has drawn attention to how referrals and role-specific experience can now outweigh elite degrees in hiring decisions.

Overview

  • The candidate, who says they finished an MBA at IIM Kozhikode after three years in data analytics, wrote on Reddit that more than 250 applications produced not a single callback.
  • They report using cold emails and major Indian job sites such as LinkedIn, Naukri and iimjobs and seeing mostly rejections or no responses.
  • Replies to the post offered practical advice about seeking alumni referrals, widening the types and sizes of companies applied to, and building deeper industry experience.
  • Mainstream outlets picked up the thread this weekend and amplified the discussion while noting they have not independently verified the Reddit account or its claims.
  • The episode highlights how network access and specific experience now shape shortlists for many roles and could signal wider shifts in hiring that may pressure recent graduates and early-career professionals.