Netflix’s hiring process for $7,000 jobs: upGrad founder reveals why 97% resumes fail and one key mistake candidates make

Landing a job at top tech companies like Netflix, Amazon, or LinkedIn is far more complicated than simply having a good degree or résumé. That was one of the key takeaways from a recent podcast conversation between Raj Shamani and Vishwa Mohan, Founder and CEO of upGrad School of Technology.

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The tech entrepreneur spoke about how hiring works inside major global technology companies. During the discussion, Vishva Mohan explained about how streaming giant Netflix hires and why companies reject nearly 97% of resumes.

“Lakhs Apply For One Job”

Speaking about the hiring process at Netflix in the US, which reportedly offers $7,000 to an employee, Vishwa Mohan reportedly called it one of the biggest and most competitive tech companies to work for.

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According to him, whenever a single job opening is posted on LinkedIn, around three to four lakhs apply almost immediately for a global position. This left Raj Shamani stunned.

But despite the massive interest, only a very small percentage of applicants move ahead. He added that recruiters pick resumes of MIT and Stanford graduates early over other candidates.

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Why Most Resumes Get Rejected

He explained that most resumes get rejected not necessarily because candidates are unqualified, but because their profiles do not match the exact role requirement.

For instance, someone is working for Java but is applying for the position of Data science, Mohan explains in the podcast.

"97-98 percent of people are totally irrelevant. Their resume doesn't match the company's requirements," Vishwa Mohan explained Raj Shamani.

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make, according to him, is sending the same resume for every role. He even admitted that he made the same mistake himself after graduating from college.

He said that during his early career days, he used to apply for different positions using one common CV, without tailoring it to the specific role. But top tech companies look for highly targeted skills and experience.

Hiring Is Difficult For Companies Too

The conversation also highlighted a side of recruitment that candidates often do not see. According to Vishva Mohan, hiring is not easy even for companies like LinkedIn, where he currently works.

He explained that finding the right candidate is only one part of the challenge. After selection, companies still face issues such as:

Long notice periods
Salary expectation mismatches
Candidates accepting other offers
Delays in joining

He gave the example of candidates serving notice periods as long as two months, which can slow down hiring plans significantly.

Degrees Alone Are Not Enough

The discussion also touched on how recruiters differentiate between candidates from top universities.

Vishva Mohan suggested that while strong educational backgrounds matter, companies focus more on relevance, skills, and role compatibility rather than just brand-name colleges.

For many tech firms, a customised application often matters more than sending out hundreds of generic resumes.