LinkedIn culture and traditional college education are failing our youth.
And instead of just calling it out, I want to share what we can do, at an individual level, to avoid falling into this zero-skill, dark-career trap.
Let’s start with LinkedIn.
If I had to rename it today, I’d call it “Fakefluence.”
I see countless “influencers” faking screenshots, inventing stories, and inflating growth numbers.
Some sell B2B services. Others push B2C products (courses, programs, and shortcuts) promising instant results the moment you buy.
In B2B, most people, being mature, can eventually spot the noise.
But in B2C, it’s different.
Naive and early-stage individuals, especially students, get pulled in by self-proclaimed experts who are not skilled at the craft, but extremely skilled at selling illusions.
Running ZeroAdo, especially while hiring for internships and early roles, I see the real impact of this.
One candidate told me he had paid a company to get an internship and “work experience.”
He then asked me if he needed to pay ZeroAdo as well.
That shocked me.
Another candidate had spent about ₹2L on a digital marketing program that promised a high-paying job.
When I asked about basic industry shifts like Generative Engine Optimization or AI-led SEO – they hadn’t even heard the terms.
Forget job readiness, they weren’t even a fit for an internship.
Then come MBAs.
People with degrees in marketing, claiming strong practical exposure, yet I see many struggle with basics like managing a Google Calendar during interview invites.
On the other hand, I’ve seen first-year college students, sometimes even school students, who learn through videos, newsletters, bootcamps, and hands-on experimentation outperform “qualified” graduates by a wide margin.
That says everything.
The late school years, college years, and the early post-college phase are the most critical years of a person’s life.
And it’s painful to see millions unintentionally waste this time on education paths that are either outdated, irrelevant, or simply not worth the 3-5 year investment.
Yes, the education system has gaps.
But I won’t reduce this to blaming the government.
Not every problem can be solved top-down.
The deeper issue is that when we need entrepreneurs and problem-solvers, the system produces graduates trained to follow instructions and chase “stable jobs.”
Ironically, nothing is more unstable today than a so-called “stable job.”
What’s actually stable?
Your ability to learn, adapt, and build skills continuously.
Most institutions today are producing highly educated but practically unskilled individuals.
People who did everything “right” academically, yet feel lost when faced with the real world.
And then come “guaranteed placement” programs.
If someone still needs hand-holding to build a career after completing a program, what exactly did the program teach?
Can we truly call that independence at career and personal growth level ?
So what can we do?
At an individual and community level, we need to create awareness about how the real world works: what opportunities actually exist and how people can take ownership of their growth.
We need to focus on building skills.
Because today, skills are the real leverage.
Capital, teams, ventures, success – these all come later. Skills come first.
And neither random degrees nor shortcut hacks will give you that.
If you’re in college:
– Pursue as many internships as possible
– Work on real projects, even unpaid, if needed (early on)
– Explore bootcamps, free programs, and hands-on learning
– Subscribe to quality newsletters and blogs
– Read books written by practitioners, not theorists
Don’t follow “influencers.”
Follow builders.
People who are actually doing the work. Running real businesses. Solving real problems.
Share your journey.
Build your voice.
Document what you learn.
And over time, you will see a shift in you.
You stop chasing a “stable career.”
You become capable of shaping your own path.
That confidence?
Some might call it arrogance.
It’s not.
It’s competence.
And why should you care what they call you / think of you either way, unless they are someone important to you!
I’ve always believed we are the writers of our own story.
Not luck. Not destiny. Not external systems.
So what’s there to fear?
Why play safe?
Been to a few funerals, which in a way is a destination we all share, and one thing I’ve realized about the most common regrets people carry at the end of life is that they didn’t take enough risks when they had the chance, that they played it too safe, when they could have risen, explored more, and created a very different life for themselves.
That alone should be reason enough to act differently, now when we are alive!
Miles to grow ✌️