DU topper with 10 trophies, 50+ certificates faced repeated job rejections. She reveals, 'I wasn't ready for this question”

While studying in school or college, marks often become the ultimate measure of a student’s worth. From sleepless nights before exams to pressure from parents and teachers, students are conditioned to believe that high scores will guarantee success. But once they step into the real world — applying for jobs or internships — many are hit with a harsh truth: marks alone aren’t enough. One Delhi University student recently experienced this firsthand, and her story has sparked a powerful conversation online.

Bisma Fareed, an English Honours graduate from Delhi University’s Hansraj College, thought she had done everything right. With over 50 certificates, 10 medals, and 10 trophies to her name, she expected internship offers to pour in. Instead, she was met with silence. In a brutally honest and now-viral LinkedIn post, Bisma shared her frustration and the harsh lesson she’s had to learn: skills matter more than marks. Her words, full of vulnerability and humour, struck a chord with thousands of students and young professionals.

She confessed that almost every internship she applied for started with the same question — not about her CGPA or achievements — but about her skills. And that, she said, was the one question she wasn’t prepared for. “All my professors, teachers, and relatives kept telling me to focus on studies — marks will help, not all this ‘extra’ stuff,” she wrote. But reality hit hard when certificates and trophies didn’t translate into real-world opportunities.

Bisma isn’t bitter, though. She’s using her experience to encourage others to break out of the marks-obsessed mindset and start investing time in learning real skills. Her advice? Don’t throw away your books, but pick up a skill — practice it like a habit, master it, and watch the doors open. She even asked, “How much did you score in Class 10? And more importantly — how did it actually help you in life?”


Internet reacts
Many users resonated with Bisma’s experience, admitting they too realized the importance of skills over marks much later. Several appreciated the wake-up call, acknowledging that today’s job market values practical knowledge, problem-solving, and adaptability more than a stellar report card. Some expressed frustration that despite earning numerous awards and studying hard, meaningful job opportunities remain elusive. Others called her story a much-needed reality check, reminding students that recruiters care more about what you can do than what you scored.