A Bengaluru-based AI startup is challenging traditional hiring methods by doing away with the need for resumes and degrees. Smallest AI, founded by Sudarshan Kamath, is willing to pay a salary of Rs 40 lakh a year for a software engineering role. However, instead of looking at the educational qualifications of the candidate, the company is focusing solely on their skills.
Applicants are required to submit a 100-word introduction along with links to their best work. The job listing, posted on X (formerly Twitter), quickly gained attention, sparking discussions about the merit of skills-based hiring. While many applauded the approach, some questioned whether the offered salary was competitive for the required expertise.
The listing described the role as requiring a “cracked full-stack engineer.” While not an official job title, in tech jargon, the phrase refers to highly skilled developers with expertise in both front-end and back-end development. The position is open to candidates with up to two years of experience and requires them to work from Smallest AI’s office five days a week.
The post quickly went viral, with nearly 3.5 lakh views in a matter of hours. Many users praised the focus on work samples rather than traditional credentials. Some aspiring candidates expressed excitement about the opportunity, with one user commenting that they had already applied.
However, not everyone was impressed. Some professionals argued that the salary may not be competitive enough given Bengaluru’s high cost of living. One user pointed out that a significant portion of the take-home pay would go toward rent, groceries and other expenses, leaving limited savings. Others criticised the use of the term “cracked engineer” while offering what they considered a standard salary.
Despite the mixed reactions, Smallest AI’s unconventional hiring approach has reignited the debate on whether degrees and resumes should continue to dominate hiring decisions in the tech space
