‘Get me a job, take my salary’: Bengaluru graduate’s unusual offer sparks debate

A Bengaluru-based engineering graduate has offered to hand over their entire first month’s salary to anyone who helps them secure a job in artificial intelligence, machine learning or software engineering. The unusual proposal, shared on Reddit, comes amid the jobseeker’s frustration with entry-level vacancies that reportedly demand two to three years of professional experience, despite being intended for fresh graduates.

The jobseeker recently completed a BTech degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and said they had developed technical projects using PyTorch, FastAPI and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines. However, getting shortlisted for roles remained difficult, prompting the graduate to offer a financial reward for a successful referral or job lead.

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Bengaluru jobseeker offers 100% of first month’s salary for a job referral

The graduate shared the proposal in Reddit’s r/bangalorejob community under the title, “Job do, paisa lo (Give job, get money) scheme: Koi AI/ML ya Software role dila do (Help me get an AI/ML or software job), 1st month salary is yours.”

In the post, the jobseeker described the search for an entry-level position as exhausting, saying that even after completing projects involving AI and software technologies, getting past applicant screening remained a major hurdle.

The graduate referred to the difficulty of breaking through the “ATS black hole”. Applicant tracking systems, or ATS, are used by companies to organise applications and screen candidates during recruitment. The phrase reflected the jobseeker’s frustration with applying for positions without advancing to the next stage.

Graduate says entry-level jobs demand two to three years of experience

Explaining the offer, the graduate said many vacancies advertised as entry-level positions appeared to require two to three years of prior experience. In response, the jobseeker proposed giving the full first month’s salary to anyone who could provide a successful referral or help secure a genuine role in software engineering or AI/ML.

The graduate also invited Reddit users to share relevant openings at their companies or connect them with opportunities at startups.

The offer was presented as a way to draw attention to the job search and encourage people with useful professional contacts to help. The post did not establish whether the graduate had secured a position through the proposal.

Reddit users debate graduate’s offer to pay for job help

The proposal drew mixed reactions, with some users questioning the idea of offering money to obtain professional assistance, while others discussed the broader challenges faced by fresh graduates entering the job market.

One commenter warned that such offers could make it harder for people to seek genuine professional help without financial incentives, writing, “People like you will ruin the market to the extent that people won’t be able to ask for help.”

The graduate defended the approach, arguing that ordinary requests for referrals often go unanswered. They said the offer was not intended as a bribe but as a way to stand out among the many jobseekers asking for assistance online.

Another commenter questioned the graduate’s expectations so soon after completing college, arguing that finding work takes time and that the proposed arrangement was not appropriate.

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Existing employee referral bonuses also enter the discussion

Another Reddit user pointed out that some companies already reward employees for successful referrals. The commenter wrote that employees could receive a referral bonus of Rs 1.5 lakh when a candidate they recommended joined the company, arguing that the graduate’s offer might not be an effective way to secure help.

The discussion highlighted differing views on how fresh graduates should approach job hunting, the role of professional networks and the challenges of getting noticed during recruitment. For the Bengaluru jobseeker, the offer was an attempt to turn a difficult search for an AI/ML or software role into a concrete incentive for someone who could help.