For many fresh graduates, joining a high-profile tech company is seen as a defining career milestone. But for one 2025 computer science graduate from a Tier-3 Indian college, the experience turned out to be far more challenging than anticipated. After multiple rounds of interviews at one of India’s leading SaaS companies, he was finally offered an internship, only to discover the role demanded skills far beyond his preparation.
“I had focused my college days entirely on web development and system design,” he shared in a Reddit post, recounting his transition into the company’s machine learning research and development (R&D) domain. His new team expected at least a master’s-level understanding of mathematical concepts, requiring interns to intuitively grasp formulas and theory and present them during reviews. With minimal guidance, he struggled to meet these expectations.
Pressure and Short Deadlines
The internship came with an unusually high-pressure evaluation. Interns were expected to demonstrate competency within just three weeks, a period he describes as extremely stressful. Daily four-hour commutes compounded the pressure, leaving little time to adjust to the unfamiliar domain. After his first review, he was informed that his progress was insufficient and that continuing in the role would be challenging. At the end of three weeks, the company terminated his internship, offering no formal certification of his brief tenure.
Resume Dilemma
While the company’s name carries significant weight in the tech industry, the brevity of his internship has created a dilemma for future job applications. “It’s a company most recruiters immediately notice, but explaining a short stint without certification is tricky,” he noted. Complicating matters, he had previously held a nine-month internship at another firm, where he earned a competitive 6 LPA offer, which he had left to pursue this high-profile opportunity.
Lessons Learned
This experience highlights the hidden costs of prioritizing brand recognition over fit and preparation. Experts often caution that while prestigious companies can enhance a resume, mismatched roles or unrealistic expectations can lead to high stress and limited professional growth. For job seekers, weighing the learning curve and support structure of a role against the allure of a renowned brand is crucial.
The graduate now seeks advice from the professional community on how to navigate interviews and present the experience effectively, emphasizing learning outcomes rather than the short tenure. His story serves as a cautionary tale for ambitious graduates: a well-known company may not always be the right first step if it comes at the cost of growth, guidance, and career confidence.