Outdated Hiring Practices: Why This Viral Post is Sparking a Debate on Work-Life Balance

Viral Debate on Hiring Biases
Parminder Singh, the chief operating officer of Tatler Asia, recently ignited a viral debate about work-life balance and hiring biases in India after sharing a personal experience on social media. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), he recounted how an Indian boss rejected a capable marketing candidate solely based on his hobbies of running marathons and playing guitar.

Singh stated, “Once a candidate applied to my team for a marketing role in India. Besides being a capable marketer, his CV mentioned that he runs marathons and plays guitar.” Instead of seeing these as positive indicators of a well-rounded personality, the boss questioned the candidate's commitment to work. Singh quoted his boss: “Yeh aadmi yeh sab kuchh karta hai to kaam kab karega?”

A Call for Change
Singh, who has over 30 years of experience in the industry with roles at prestigious companies like Apple and Google, expressed his disappointment at such outdated mindsets. He remarked, “I thought such managers were extinct. Turns out they aren't.” The post, which has garnered over 84.1K views, highlights the need for a shift in hiring practices that recognize the value of diverse skills and interests.

Cultural Comparisons
In a follow-up post, Singh reflected on how companies like Google foster an environment where excellence in various fields is celebrated. He noted, “If you excelled in the Olympics, you could walk into a Google office and get a job. Excellence is a transferable skill!”

Social Media Reactions
The reactions to Singh's post have been overwhelmingly supportive, with many users agreeing that the mindset exhibited by his boss is outdated. Comments included insights about the benefits of being a well-rounded individual, who often brings creativity and problem-solving skills to the table.