Shark Tank’s Anupam Mittal reveals why he rejects certain resumes

Creating a resume is an art. But no matter how well it is crafted, career decisions ultimately shape your future far more than formatting ever will.

So what are employers really looking for?

While it’s difficult to generalise, Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal has shared a clear perspective on what makes him reject a resume—especially when it comes to frequent job changes.


In a recent post on professional networking platform LinkedIn, Mittal addressed the topic of job-hopping among young professionals. He urged so-called “career gurus” to stop shaming Gen Z for switching jobs frequently.

“Let’s stop shaming Gen Z for switching jobs,” he wrote. “I see a lot of ‘career gurus’ shaming 22-year-olds for switching jobs every year. But isn’t that exactly what the youth should be doing?”

Mittal explained that early in one’s career, people are still discovering their interests. They are, in his words, “dating” industries, roles, and workplace cultures to find what truly resonates with them. If something doesn’t feel right, moving on shouldn’t come with guilt. The early years are meant for exploration.

However, he added a crucial caveat.

“But—and that’s a big but—once you find that path, you have to stop bouncing and start consolidating,” Mittal said.

He revealed that when hiring for senior leadership or “Level 1” roles, he almost always rejects resumes that do not show at least one continuous stint of four to five years.

The reason, he explained, is simple: the consequences of decisions rarely surface within a year.

• Year 1: You’re learning
  
  
• Year 2: You’re executing
  
  
• Year 3: You’re dealing with the outcomes of Year 2 and scaling what worked
  
  

Based on this, Mittal laid out what he believes is the right career strategy:

• Ages 21–24: Explore aggressively. Switch roles if needed and figure out what you enjoy.
  
  
• Age 25 onwards: Dig in. Find a company worth your time and commit for at least four years.
  
  

“If you want to be a founder or a CEO, you need to prove you can stay in the kitchen when it gets hot,” he added.

According to Mittal, while it may take one year to understand a job, it takes three to five years to truly understand an industry—and that’s where long-term success is built.