In a society where excellence in academics is celebrated as the definite key to achievement, a raw and sincere admission by a first-year student at Delhi University buzzed the internet. Bisma, an English (Hons) student from Hansraj College, took to LinkedIn to share her struggle of not being able to land an internship—despite being a college topper and having a collection of over 50 certificates and 10 medals to her name.

Her post didn’t just go viral; it triggered a much-needed conversation around the long-standing debate of skills versus marks, especially in today’s competitive job market.

“I'm a topper, and I am unable to get an internship”

Bisma did not hesitate to share her frustration and perplexity. She began her post with a forceful statement: "I'm a topper, and I am unable to get an internship," sharing that even with all her academic success, she was unable to secure even a standard internship.

Her post spread widely on LinkedIn and elsewhere, speaking to thousands of students who went through the same disappointment. Bisma admitted that it took her some time to realize a simple truth: "skills matter more than marks."

Her story mirrors the general reality in which many students find themselves when they leave their classrooms and enter the workplace, where employers are looking for talent rather than trophies.

“Padhai kaam aayegi, ye nhi!” — But Does It?

Bisma’s post, written in a mix of English and Hindi, exposed the generational mindset that emphasizes marks as the ultimate indicator of success.

"All my professors and teachers, and relatives said: focus on your studies! Padhai kaam aayegi, ye nhi! (studying will help, but not this)" she shared. But the young student soon discovered that companies weren’t lining up to hire people who could recite textbooks—they were after individuals who could get things done.

She went on to say, "See, I'm not asking you to burn your books. All I'm saying is pick a skill, master it, and watch how fast opportunities find you." That statement struck a chord with young job-seekers everywhere, who are caught between academic expectations and industry realities.

“Not a single one helped me in my internship interviews”.

The most shocking part of her post was when she dropped the bombshell: "50+ certificates, 10+ medals, 10+ trophies, and not a single one helped me in my internship interviews."

That unvarnished candor resonated across the board, creating a tide of support, sympathy, and even some lighthearted trolling. While one rolled his eyes, "Your way of asking for an internship is a bit casual," others rallied behind her.

One user commented, "So true, this is a very important message for the society," while another said, "Sharing this with my mom and dad."

From Rants to Reality Checks

Bisma’s post wasn’t just a personal rant—it turned into a mirror for the education system and society at large. Many professionals added their own stories to the thread.

"Being a backbencher from school till post-graduation, I was always average in studies, not a topper, no medals. But I enjoyed that phase," one person wrote. "During graduation, I realized marks are mostly limited to college. In the real world, industries don't care much about grades; they want practical skills."

The same user continued, "So I started focusing on real learning (programming languages, frameworks, tools, etc), focused on upgrading skills, building projects, doing freelancing, and gaining hands-on experience. That's what helped me build my career."

As Bisma’s post continues to make waves, it’s clear that the message is loud and clear: Certificates might decorate resumes, but skills build careers.