Marketing Candidate Rejected Over Extracurriculars, Former Google Exec Regrets Decision

Parminder Singh recalls being unable to hire a qualified candidate due to an Indian boss's concerns about hobbies overshadowing work.

Parminder Singh, now COO at Tatler Asia, shared a past hiring incident where a candidate was rejected for listing marathon running and guitar playing on their CV.
Singh's boss dismissed the candidate, questioning their ability to balance work with such hobbies, despite their qualifications for the role.
The incident highlights a cultural contrast with Singh's experience at Google, where excellence in extracurriculars was seen as a transferable skill.
Singh expressed regret over the decision and noted his surprise that such attitudes persist in India's hiring practices.
The story has sparked conversations online about work-life balance, hiring biases, and differing global workplace cultures.