250+ job applications, zero callbacks: IIM Kozhikode MBA grad asks if anyone is hiring

An IIM Kozhikode MBA graduate with three years' experience said more than 250 job applications brought no interview call, despite outreach across platforms and recruiters. The Reddit post drew similar accounts from professionals, highlighting how referrals, niche experience and a crowded market can shape hiring outcomes.

In Short

• The candidate has an engineering background and three years in data analytics
• They said dissatisfaction with current employer Genman prompted an active search
• Applicants on Reddit said even experienced MBA holders struggle to switch

An MBA from a top management institute can open doors to sought-after corporate roles. But for one IIM Kozhikode graduate, more than 250 applications have resulted in no interview calls.

The management graduate, who has three years of experience in data analytics, says they have tried multiple ways to find a new role, including reaching out directly to recruiters and hiring managers and applying for jobs online.

Despite trying multiple avenues, the candidate says none has resulted in an interview. The graduate recently turned to Reddit to share the experience, seek career advice and ask whether anyone could help with job opportunities.

FROM DATA ANALYTICS TO AN MBA, BUT NO INTERVIEW CALLS

The graduate comes from an engineering background and has three years of experience in data analytics, followed by an MBA from IIM Kozhikode, which was recently completed.

After graduating from IIM Kozhikode, the student began actively searching for a new opportunity, citing dissatisfaction with the current company, Genman. Despite the MBA and professional experience, landing even an initial interview has remained a challenge.

“I've been throwing everything at the wall,” the candidate wrote, describing efforts that included cold-emailing recruiters and hiring managers and applying for roles through several job platforms.

Yet, despite crossing the 250-application mark, the candidate said there had been no breakthrough. “Mostly straight up rejected, and for a good chunk of them I just... never hear back. Not one callback in all this,” they wrote.

250 APPLICATIONS, BUT NOT A SINGLE CALLBACK

The post highlights a familiar frustration in today's hiring process: submitting hundreds of applications does not necessarily lead to an interview.

The candidate asked fellow Reddit users for advice on improving their chances and also sought potential hiring leads. Their experience prompted several professionals to share their own struggles with switching jobs, even with considerable experience and prestigious MBA degrees.

‘THE MARKET IS HARSH’: PROFESSIONALS SHARE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES

Several Reddit users shared similar experiences about the challenging job market. One user with more than eight years of experience and an MBA from a Tier-1 institute said they had been trying to switch jobs for over a year, even after agreeing to take a pay cut.

“Market is harsh,” the user wrote, saying an MBA alone may not help candidates stand out in non-technical roles and that professional connections can be important. Others described the market as “really tough” and “crazy”, while one raised concerns about AI’s impact on hiring.

Another commenter said employers may value depth of experience over broad qualifications and suggested using alumni referrals and exploring roles beyond consulting and product, including EIR and Founder’s Office positions at Series A/B startups. The original poster thanked them for the advice.

WHAT THE POST SAYS ABOUT TODAY'S JOB SEARCH

The Reddit discussion does not establish broader hiring trends on its own, but it does offer a snapshot of the frustration some experienced professionals and recent MBA graduates are reporting online.

For the IIM Kozhikode graduate, the immediate challenge is not a lack of applications. It is getting noticed among hundreds of candidates competing for the same roles. The bigger question is no longer simply how many applications a candidate can send, but how to make one application stand out enough to earn that first call.

- Ends