'No fancy resume, but he has something...': First-year college student earns Rs 4 lakh a month as sales intern, wins fully paid Thailand trip after becoming startup’s top performer

A first-year college student has gone viral on social media after his employer revealed that he earns around Rs 4 lakh per month as a sales intern and is now being rewarded with a fully paid trip to Thailand.

The story came to light after Dinesh Singh, CEO and co-founder of Topmate, shared a LinkedIn post praising Siddharth Dubey, a first-year college student who recently emerged as the company's highest-performing salesperson. According to Singh, Siddharth generated the highest sales at the startup last month, prompting the company to reward him with an all-expenses-paid international holiday.

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The post has sparked conversations online about skills, talent and the changing nature of hiring in India's startup ecosystem.

First-year student becomes top sales performer at startup

In his post, Dinesh Singh introduced Siddharth Dubey as one of the youngest members of the company. “A 1st year college student is earning ₹4 lakh/month at Topmate. Meet Siddharth Dubey, our sales intern and the youngest member in the company.”

Singh revealed that despite being a college fresher, Siddharth outperformed experienced professionals and recorded the highest sales numbers at the company during the previous month.

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As a result, Topmate decided to send him to Thailand on a fully sponsored vacation. “Last month, he drove the highest sales. As a reward, we are sending him to Thailand on a fully paid holiday.”

‘No fancy résumé, but something rarer’

The startup founder said Siddharth's success was not built on academic credentials or a long list of achievements. Instead, he credited the student's ability to connect with people, understand customer needs and close deals effectively.



“Siddharth does not have years of experience or a fancy résumé filled with big names.” Dinesh Singh added that the young intern possesses a skill that many companies struggle to find.

“But he has something far rarer. He can get on a call with a stranger, understand what they need, build trust, and close.”

According to him, such qualities often cannot be measured through grades, degrees or traditional hiring metrics. “That instinct is not written on a CV, and no college degree hands it to you.”

Why Topmate says it changed its hiring strategy

The viral post also offered a glimpse into how the startup approaches recruitment.

Singh said the company has moved away from hiring candidates based primarily on prestigious colleges or polished résumés. Instead, it is focusing on individuals who can demonstrate real-world skills and deliver results.

“He’s the reason we changed how we hire.” He then outlined the company's hiring philosophy: “We have stopped looking for polished profiles”

“We look for people who can actually do the work”

The founder further stated: “We’re done hiring for pedigree. This time, we are hiring for instinct.”

Startup invites young sales talent to apply

Using Siddharth's journey as an example, Singh encouraged students and young professionals with strong sales abilities to come forward, regardless of their educational background.

“If you are young, hungry, and you can sell, we want to meet you. It doesn't matter what year of college you are in, what you scored, or where you studied.”

He stressed that performance and results matter more than degrees or academic scores.

“If you can close deals as if your life depends on it, we are looking for you.”

Social media reacts to intern's success story

The post quickly gained attention online, with many users praising the student's achievement and the company's skill-first hiring approach.

For many, Siddharth Dubey's story reflects a broader shift taking place across startups, where practical abilities, communication skills and sales performance are increasingly valued alongside traditional qualifications.

His rise from first-year college student to one of the company's top revenue generators has become an example of how talent can sometimes outweigh experience, especially in fast-growing startup environments.

One commented, “This is a reminder that talent is not always polished. Sometimes it is just raw hunger, courage, and one chance to prove it.” Another said, “This is what happens when raw talent meets the right mindset.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on LinedIn. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.