An Indian CMO faced heavy backlash on social media after telling Gen Z to work regardless of hours or compensation. Read more here.
CMO criticized for advice to Gen Z job seekers. Image credit: LinkedIn/Wikimedia Commons
NEW DELHI: An Indian-origin executive has come under fire from internet users for his career advice to Gen Z. Kinzil Mathur, chief marketing officer of New York-based Squarespace, made the remarks in an interview with Fortune magazine.
“You have to be willing to do any hours, any salary, any task. Just be open,” Mathur said. The CMO then reflected on his own journey as a newbie.
CMO Kinzil Mathur urged Gen Z job seekers to work whenever they like.
“Every summer I would look for an internship,” she said, adding, “I just wanted to gain experience. I would look at company listings and call companies to ask if they had internships available and if I would be willing to work for free,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mathur’s advice went viral on social media for all the wrong reasons, with one person writing: “The only people who can work for free are those who are already rich. So only those who are already rich can get a job? What a great economic model.”
Netizens slammed CMO Kinzil Mathur for his comments.
Image credit: @AlanRMacLeod/X
Another said: “No one should work for free. For example, I have always advocated that interns should be paid at least a living wage, yet many companies don’t pay interns anything, or even charge them for the “privilege” of working as an intern for their company. If you “just” make your interns make coffee or make copies, that’s on you. Get up your ass and do it yourself, and give your interns meaningful work. These companies don’t deserve to survive. Gen Z (or any other generation) would be better off avoiding these exploitative bastards like the plague. Pay them a low wage and don’t be surprised if they turn up like monkeys. This is not capitalism. It’s ridiculous.”
“I think it’s called white collar slavery,” a third commented.
