There’s a growing popularity of Indian entrepreneurs who seem more interested in philosophising on LinkedIn than running their companies. And their latest enemy? Gen Z. Yes, the generation that can edit a video faster than you can say “Excel sheet” is now being criticised for everything from not solving fifth-grade maths problems to, God forbid, asking for better salaries.
Two viral LinkedIn posts have reignited the age-old battle of the generations—one CEO lamenting that Gen Z doesn’t know maths, and another proud CMO admitting he “gladly” broke a job seeker’s heart. It’s like a new Olympic sport: Boomers and Xennials competing in the “Who Can Humble Gen Z Harder” event.
But are these critiques valid, or are we just watching elite professionals cosplay as school principals?
Do You Even Math, Bro?
Ashish Gupta, a Bengaluru-based CEO, triggered a LinkedIn meltdown with his post titled “Gen Z Knows Reels, But Not Real Maths.” He recounted how, during a campus recruitment drive, he asked a “simple Class 5 maths question” to BCA students. Only two got it right.
The question was: “If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?” It’s a basic time-distance calculation, but the reaction it sparked was anything but basic. Gupta’s conclusion is that Gen Z is drowning in filters, reels, and dopamine but cannot do “real maths”—a skill he considers non-negotiable. “Gen Z is highly skilled in social media but lacks fundamental problem-solving, logical reasoning, and financial literacy.”
His concern isn’t totally unfounded. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, only 43.3% of Indian students aged 14–18 could correctly solve a basic division problem. So yes, maths phobia is real. However, whether that is a hiring dealbreaker is another entirely debated matter.
What Are We Even Hiring For?
One user clapped back, asking the obvious: “Are you hiring a maths tutor? Then I can understand your concern. Also, I can assure you this: a lot of CEOs themselves cannot answer this question.” And let’s be honest, they’re not wrong. If basic arithmetic were the golden metric of success, every chaiwala with a perfect change-return ratio would be a billionaire by now (oh wait…).
Another commenter rightly said, “The relevance of skills should be the main criterion, not basic aptitude tests.” It’s also worth noting that India currently has one of the youngest workforces globally—with over 50% of its population under 30. Surely, we owe it to them to assess job-specific skills instead of playing Kaun Banega Fifth Grade Ka Scholar.
How Dare A Gen Z Ask For Money?
If Ashish Gupta’s post was a soft critique, Chennai-based entrepreneur Maran Ramalingam came in like a wrecking ball. In another fiery LinkedIn confessional, he admitted that he “gladly” broke the heart of a Gen Z job applicant for asking for a 100% salary hike—from ₹5 lakh to ₹12 lakh.
Ramalingam was shaken. When asked why he deserved the hike, the candidate responded, “I possess the necessary skills.” A confident reply, but apparently too confident for Ramalingam’s liking. “Frankly, his performance was unimpressive… I wouldn’t even justify his current ₹5 lakh salary,” he declared.
Meanwhile, data from TeamLease Services show that over 60% of Gen Z job seekers in India prioritise salary transparency and skill-based pay over brand names. So, if someone feels their skills are worth more, they’ll say it. It’s called assertiveness, not audacity.
Also Read: Flaky And Flashy: Gen Z Is Now Buying Fake Lives For Social Media Flexing
Brutal Honesty Or Public Humiliation?
Ramalingam didn’t stop at rejection. He analysed the candidate’s portfolio “frame by frame,” poked holes in it like it was a reality show audition, and “could see, hear, and feel his heartbreak.” Then he wrote, “I’m glad I did. It’s important for this generation to understand what skills, deliverables, and quality truly mean.”
Of course, the internet responded. Some users praised his boldness. But others weren’t so impressed. “What did you gain from humiliating an underpaid employee? A boost to your ego?” one person asked. Another noted, “Constructive feedback goes a long way. Maybe he needed guidance instead of being put on blast.”
Interestingly, a 2024 Deloitte report found that 49% of Gen Z workers feel anxiety about performance reviews and employer expectations—so maybe public “feedback” isn’t helping morale. Just saying.
Dumb, Entitled, And Apparently Math-Phobic
There’s a growing stereotype among some entrepreneurs that Gen Z is a generation of overconfident, underqualified TikTok graduates who expect six-figure salaries for knowing how to use Canva and for saying “synergy” in a sentence.
Sure, there are some misplaced expectations. But who taught them that self-belief is everything? Who sold them the dream that passion trumps experience? Oh right, the same people who are now mocking them for it.
Also, let’s be clear: India’s unemployment rate among youth aged 20-24 was at a staggering 44.9% in urban areas as of late 2023 (CMIE data). If that doesn’t justify asking for a fair raise after 2.5 years of experience, what does? They’re not entitled; they’re just tired of being underpaid and overqualified for internships labelled as “learning experiences.”
Who’s Really Out of Touch?
Let’s reverse the lens: what if these viral posts say more about the employers than the employees? If you’re judging a BBA student’s intelligence based on one average speed question, perhaps your hiring process needs a review. If your biggest flex is rejecting someone, maybe you’re compensating for something else—like your own need for validation via LinkedIn likes.
Yes, Gen Z needs to learn. But so do employers. “I have successfully done this” may carry more weight than “I believe I can do it,” as Ramalingam wrote—but humility, guidance, and mentorship go a long way too. Confidence without competence is risky, sure. But gatekeeping without grace? That’s just plain petty.
And considering over 70% of Indian startups struggle with retaining Gen Z talent (NASSCOM report, 2023), perhaps the problem isn’t their reels—it’s your recruitment.
Maybe We Should Try Talking To Gen Z
Criticising Gen Z is easy. They’re the perfect target—young, confident, slightly broke, and allergic to 9-to-5 jobs. But perhaps instead of mocking their mathematical skills or crushing their salary dreams, we should try teaching them, mentoring them, and understanding the world they’re trying to navigate.
Because here’s a wild idea: the problem might not be that Gen Z is clueless—it might be that we’re too busy being condescending to help them figure things out. And that’s not a generational issue; that’s just bad leadership.
Also, Mr Gupta and Mr Ramalingam—if you’re ever looking for someone to teach Class 5 maths or brutally review portfolios, perhaps consider asking ChatGPT next time. We promise not to cry. Much.
Sources: Hindustan Times, NDTV, Economic Times
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: Gen Z in India, Startup Culture, Indian Work Culture, Gen Z vs Millennials, Job Market India, LinkedIn Culture, Workplace Humor, Entrepreneur Rant, Indian Youth Issues, Salary Expectations, Campus Hiring India, Gen Z Skills, Career Advice India, Recruitment Reality Check, Funny Workplace Stories, Indian Entrepreneurs, Viral LinkedIn Posts, Office Satire, Gen Z Confidence, Math and Logic Skills, Indian Job Seekers, Salary Negotiation India, Career Trends 2025, Hiring Drama India, Generation Gap Workplace
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