DU Topper Post Goes Viral After Sharing Her Frustration Over Internship Struggles Despite Having 10 Trophies, 50+ Certificates

A LinkedIn post by a Delhi University student has gone viral after she vented frustration at not being able to get an internship when she is a topper in college with many awards to her credit. Bisma Fareed, who is doing a Bachelor's in English Honours at Hansraj College, shared that she has more than 50 certificates, 10+ medals, and 10+ trophies but still can't find an appropriate opportunity.

In her heartfelt post, Fareed has shared her awakening that "skills matter more than marks" in the current job market. Considering the advice that she had from professors, teachers, and relatives to concentrate on her studies, she described that although she had an excellent academic background, companies want candidates with practical skills and not those who have expertise in rote learning.

"Companies don't want to recruit toppers with no skill apart from rote learning," she said, further asserting, "They want people who can give results." Fareed urged students to concentrate on acquiring skills and turning them into a habit to gain better opportunities and encouraged her fellow students not to bank on marks alone.

Though her academic achievements were top-notch, Fareed admitted that her trophies and certificates weren't of much use during her internship interviews. "Not one of them helped me in my internship interviews," she wrote.

Fareed's post has set off a wider online debate regarding the value of skills over marks in today’s career landscape.

Netizens' Reactions

One user said, 'If you're struggling to secure internships, the issue likely lies in the approach and strategy you're using to pursue them.'

Another user said, 'It's not about being a 'nerd'—it's about honing the right skills to help you land opportunities like internships.'

One user said, 'Marks in competitive exams matter, especially in competitive fields like IIM or MBBS interviews. They can get you in the door, but your attitude and skills are what ultimately determine your success.'

Another user said, 'As a topper myself, I can confirm that the education system is not fully equipped to prepare students for the demands of the professional world.'

One user said, 'Absolutely agree—skills matter far more than marks in the real world. I wish we had been taught this earlier.'

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