A personal story shared on social media has triggered a wider conversation about how students balance education, income, and career growth in India.
A user on X (formerly Twitter), Swapnil Kommawar, recounted meeting a college student who chose to work part-time as a delivery agent with Zepto instead of taking up an internship. According to the post, the student made the decision after finding that paid internships were difficult to secure.
“I met my friend’s younger brother. He is doing his degree. After college, he works part-time in Zepto. Carrying bags. Delivering orders. Earning pocket money,” Kommawar wrote, adding that he asked the student why he was not pursuing an internship.
“He smiled and said, Internships are easy to find. But paid internships? Very hard,” the post further stated.
The student reportedly chose Zepto because of its flexible work model, which allows him to manage deliveries around his college schedule. The income helps cover personal expenses and also supports his family financially.
“So he chose part-time work by understanding family conditions. At least money comes in. At least he is not sitting idle,” Kommawar added.
The post quickly gained traction online, clocking 62,700 views and drawing mixed reactions from users. Many debated whether practical income should take priority over internships, which are often seen as critical for skill development and employability.
“Interesting, but an internship is for skill development. Free internship in a high-skilled job would be ideal,” one user commented.
“This hits different. It’s not about the job title, it’s about the mindset,” another user wrote.
A third user pointed out that such practices are common elsewhere, saying, “This is actually a very good approach, which is practised in Western education systems. By doing jobs during studies, kids learn a lot about finances, communication and overall leadership.”
An entrepreneur, Capt. Venkat Reddy, also weighed in, praising the student’s work ethic but offering a broader perspective.
“It is really welcoming move to see next generation is understanding the value of productivity and earning money as a by-product,” he wrote.
“But I always suggest the leverage of hard/smartwork and conversion into knowledge/wisdom. Young kids must take a direction to gain knowledge in the early days of their life to leverage later.”
He added, “For instance, your friend’s brother, instead of putting a few hours into Zepto deliveries, he must use the same time and hard work to prepare for CAT, GMAT or any competitive exam where he seems best fit.”
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