3 weeks ago
Gen Z Applicant Refuses Saturday Work, Gets Hired, Outperforms Team
A young man in Delhi, India, went to a job interview.
He told the boss that he would not work on Saturdays.
He said he plays cricket and guitar and spends time with his family on Saturdays.
The boss was surprised and asked if that was too lazy.
The young man said his brother works in America, where people work Monday to Friday and are very successful.
The boss decided to hire him anyway for a sales job.
The young man did a great job and became the best worker on the team for two quarters in a row.
His customers liked how honest he was.
He still plays cricket and guitar on Saturdays.
The story spread widely on LinkedIn and shows that being honest about your needs can help you succeed at work.
A 25-year-old job applicant in Delhi refused to work on Saturdays during an interview, citing work-life balance.
Delhi-based entrepreneur Abhishek Agarwal initially asked whether the candidate was 'too lazy' for his age.
The candidate said his elder brother works Monday to Friday in the USA, arguing that weekday-only work can still bring success.
Agarwal hired him for a sales role because he was honest rather than trying to please anyone.
The new hire outperformed everyone on the team for two consecutive quarters, and clients liked his honesty.
- Who
- Abhishek Agarwal, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, and a 25-year-old job applicant he interviewed for a sales role.
- What
- The applicant refused to work on Saturdays, was hired anyway, and then outperformed his entire team for two consecutive quarters.
- Where
- Delhi, India, where the entrepreneur is based and the interview took place; the applicant's brother works in the USA.
- When
- Not specified in the article; the story gained attention through a now-viral LinkedIn post.
- Why
- Agarwal was impressed by the candidate's honesty and clear boundaries, a decision that proved successful as the hire outperformed the team and pleased clients.
Work-Life Balance Advocates
Hustle Culture Proponents
Saturday Work
Work-Life Balance Advocates
Employees should protect time for hobbies and family, such as cricket and guitar, and clear boundaries can lead to better long-term performance.
Hustle Culture Proponents
Refusing to work Saturdays at age 25 may seem lazy, and the corporate world often glorifies hustle culture with expectations of full availability.
Hiring on Honesty
Work-Life Balance Advocates
Hiring candidates who set honest expectations, rather than those who say what interviewers want to hear, can yield top performers.
Hustle Culture Proponents
Interviews typically reward candidates who conform and say what the interviewer wants to hear; unconventional answers are usually seen as risky.
Key facts
- Entrepreneur
- Abhishek Agarwal (Delhi-based)
- Applicant's age
- 25
- Role hired for
- Sales
- Workplace condition
- Refused to work Saturdays
- Saturday priorities
- Cricket, guitar, and family time
- Performance
- Outperformed the team for two consecutive quarters
- Applicant's brother
- Works in the USA, Monday to Friday
- Where story spread
- Viral LinkedIn post
Quotes
Abhishek Agarwal
Delhi‑based entrepreneur
“Sir my elder brother works in USA. I have visited him twice. Everyone there works Monday to Friday. They are the most competitive and developed nation on the planet. If they can be super successful working weekdays, why can't we?”
NDTV
“He was different. I hired him for a sales role. Because he was not there to please anyone. He was there to set an example. My decision was right. He outperformed everyone on the team, back to back for two quarters.”
NDTV
Sources
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