Roles & Responsibilities

An Indian-origin executive faced criticism online after she suggested that job seekers should be willing to work “any hours, any pay, any type of job.” Kinjil Mathur, who serves as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of New York-based company Squarespace, sparked a debate with her remarks made during an interview recently. She added, “You really have to just be willing to do anything, any hours, any pay, any type of job—just really remain open.” During the interview with Fortune, she shared her experience as a job seeker and explained how she secured her first job by “making cold calls to firms from the phonebook.”

“Every single summer I was trying to find some internship,” she continued, adding, “I just wanted to get experience. I went to the business listings, and I just started calling up companies and asking them if they had internships available and that I would be willing to work for free.” “What stage of capitalism is this?” Alan MacLeod, an X user, shared a screenshot of the interview in a post that quickly went viral. Naturally, several users flooded the comments section, accusing Mathur of “exploiting” unpaid labour instead of using her position to advocate for fair pay.

Youngsters and others in Hyderabad are eager to go the additional mile for better-paying opportunities. Let’s face it, why not?

WORK SMART & NOT JUST HARD

“Not everyone has the financial means to work for free. The reality is that we all have limitations and responsibilities that must be considered. Moreover, equating long hours with success is a misconception. True success comes from working smart, not just hard. It involves setting clear goals and maintaining a balance between professional aspirations and personal well-being,” says Akshat Saraf, director of Radha TMT Group, and adds, “Career goals should not come at the expense of health, family, and mental well-being.”

Critical insights & skills

However, the CMO of Prakash Lights, Rushit Mehta, who began his career in 2019 with a willingness to take on various roles, often without immediate monetary benefits, agrees with Kinjil. “I started as an operations manager at the company and later worked as a salesman. These roles, while not always lucrative, provided me with critical insights and skills that have been instrumental in my career development. This mindset of embracing every opportunity, regardless of its initial reward, has been a cornerstone of my professional growth and continues to inspire me as I advance in my career.”

Invaluable experiences

“Early in my career, I was and still am eager to learn and sought out every opportunity available. Exposing yourself to experienced professionals and observing their work was invaluable. Practical experience, rather than textbooks or classrooms, teaches many essential skills and insights. However, I also believe it’s an individual choice, depending on each one’s goals and their thirst to learn without expectations and compromises,” says Aparna Gorrepati, co-founder and CEO of Hyderabad’s Zuci Chocolates and The Bougainvillea.

‘Get paid for the value you bring to the market’

Mikhail Wadhwani, founder of Hype Consulting Services, starkly disagrees. He focuses on the contributions one makes at work, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their contributions. “Primarily, everything is value-driven. You should be paid for the value you bring to the market. Secondly, the demand for being available at any time is unfair. People experience mental health emergencies, a condition that the country does not address, exhaust their savings due to the pressure to work for free. What about those who are not privileged enough to fall back on their savings? Just because some people want what they deserve in return for the energy and quality they bring to the forum doesn’t mean they’re needy or greedy and someone without a passion. Regardless of the level of exposure, a company must compensate for the value they contribute.”

Nothing wrong in ‘switching jobs’

Even Lakshmi Nambiar, a Hyderabad-based gallerist, resonates with Kinjil’s statement. “I don’t completely disagree with Kinjil. I finished my MBA in 2003, and it was a time when things were quite rough for someone who wanted to become an investment banker. All investment banking firms were shutting down, and no job was available. I felt that I needed to get a job, irrespective of what life was throwing at me back then. I was passionate about entering the field of investment banking. We didn’t have access to the internet to search for jobs back then. Back then, I was based in Boston and would spend my time in the library writing to every bank in the area, hoping to secure an interview. I remember one firm I went into laying their present employees off because of a serious financial crunch. It was an empty office when I went there. I was asked if I’d seen around — there was nobody there. I immediately told them that I was willing to work for free. I just needed the experience. After working for free for three months, I secured a job in the fourth month. That was my entry into the field, after which nothing could stop me.”

Kinjil said, “I just wanted to get experience. i was trying to find some internshp. I would be willing to work for free.” later, Alan MacLeod, an X user, shared a screenshot of the interview in a post, writing, “What stage of capitalism is this?”