On-campus placements feel like a game for cheaters—hardworking students are just... background characters.

Okay, this has been on my mind for a while, and I really need to rant. If you’ve gone through on-campus placements (especially in Indian colleges), you probably know the vibe. On paper, it looks fair:

Okay, this has been on my mind for a while, and I really need to rant. If you’ve gone through on-campus placements (especially in Indian colleges), you probably know the vibe. On paper, it looks fair: same companies, same process, same college. But in reality? It’s far from equal. Here’s how it really works: 🧠 Hardworking student: Spends 3-4 years grinding. Projects, CP, DSA, internships, hackathons. Builds real skills. Hopes for a good job through campus. 🎭 Cheater squad: Magically "gets selected" in the first few drives. How? * Leaks of past test papers or interview questions * Friends in the placement cell * Proxy in online assessments * Coordinated cheating through WhatsApp groups or screen-sharing * Getting referrals or help from seniors who already joined the company And here’s the punch to the gut: many of these people don’t even care about the job. They’ll accept the offer, brag about the package, and leave in 2 months for higher studies or off-campus gigs. Meanwhile, the guy who worked honestly — who actually wants the job and needs it — gets rejected in round 1 because someone else played the game better. It’s honestly heartbreaking. The system doesn't reward skills — it rewards strategy, jugaad, and sometimes just plain luck. And don’t even get me started on: * Companies with weird CGPA cutoffs (even if you’re a genius) * “First come first serve” interviews at 2AM * Biased shortlisting based on resumes made by “placement vendors” * Internal politics in who gets training or mock interviews * People mass applying to every job even if they don’t meet the criteria At the end of it all, the students who believed in hard work, honesty, and real learning are left wondering: “Did I waste my time doing things the right way?” The sad truth? The system is not broken — it was never made for fairness. So if you're still in the race: 💡 Keep working hard, but also play smart. Build your off-campus presence. Do not put all your hopes on college placement. And if you feel left out or cheated — you’re not alone.