College student delivers for Zepto after classes, says paid internships are too hard to find

A viral post on X is highlighting the grim reality of the modern job market after a college student revealed why he chose a Zepto delivery job over a corporate internship. Sharing the encounter, an X user explained that while internships are plentiful, paid opportunities remain elusive for many. choosing to deliver orders to support his family rather than working for free, the student has sparked a massive online debate about the “exploitation” of unpaid internships and the growing necessity of the gig economy for India’s youth.An X user shared about the college student’s experience. (Representative image). (Unsplash)“I met my friend’s younger brother. He is doing his degree. After college, he works part-time at Zepto. Carrying bags. Delivering orders. Earning pocket money,” Swapnil Kommawar wrote on X.Kommawar shared that he asked the student why he wasn’t doing an internship. With a smile, the youngster replied, “Internships are easy to find. But paid internships? Very hard.”The X user continued, “So he chose part-time work understanding family conditions. At least money comes in. At least he is not sitting idle. Not a big job. Not a big salary. But a big lesson!”Social media reacts:An individual posted, “This hits differently. It’s not about the job title, it’s about the mindset.” Another added, “This is actually a very good approach which is practised in Western education systems. doing jobs during studies, kids learn a lot about finances, communication and overall leadership.”A third expressed, “Internships = exploitation in our country, at least as much as I have seen. You cannot buy someone’s time in return for a meaningless certificate that no one will bother with. Unless there is a major brand or decent real-life learning, most unpaid internships are a scam.”A fourth wrote, “Good thought and impressive sense of responsibility. However, odd jobs won’t bring in the required skills to boost academic learning.”