‘Skills, not just degrees...’: Founder’s viral post sparks debate on India’s job market

In a thought-provoking LinkedIn post, Kaustubh Mehta, Director at Metaforge Engineering and Founder of IKR Thermoforms, has ignited a fresh conversation on India’s education-to-employment gap. Mehta argued that college degrees alone no longer guarantee career success, urging students to focus on building real-world skills and leadership qualities.

“90% of Indian students think: College Degree = Job. But this isn’t how it works in real life,” Mehta wrote. “The people who get well-paying jobs don’t depend only on their college degree. They build skills beyond college education. Only these people move forward.” Advertisement

Drawing from his own college experience nearly three decades ago, Mehta recalled how his involvement in clubs and events helped him cultivate leadership, negotiation,