A Bengaluru-based CEO, Ashish Gupta, recently sparked a heated debate by introducing a new hiring tactic. This is the time of Gen Z, and definitely a new approach is required to deal with Gen Z people. During a campus recruitment drive, this Bengaluru CEO Hires GenZ based on a maths question and posed a simple class 5 mathematics question to fresh graduates in the question paper. The highlight is that only 2 people among them could answer it. This incident raised a heated debate on LinkedIn when the CEO tweeted about it, talking about the lack of problem-solving skills and financial literacy in youngsters.
The Math Question
The CEO asked candidates, “If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?” To the shock of the nation, only two out of fifty students could solve it correctly. While the question itself was a straightforward primary school level question, it highlighted a gap in the basics of mathematics and logical reasoning among the candidates that are graduates already.
Gen Z’s Strengths: Digital Proficiency
The CEO, Ashish Gupta, also revealed that the candidates who struggled to solve a simple, basic-level mathematics question. They have expertise skills in digital marketing strategies like Instagram Reels, viral content creation, etc., to market any service or product. He highlighted the digital proficiency of Gen Z kids even though they have no knowledge of personal finance calculations and basic problem-solving skills.
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He posted a story about his experience at a campus drive saying,
”Gen Z knows Reels, but not real math?
Recently, I visited a renowned campus to hire fresh graduates—bright minds from BBA, BCA, and other streams. During my interaction with 50+ students, I asked them a simple Class 5 math question:
“If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?”
Only 2 students got it right. The rest struggled.
Yet, when I asked them how they would market our product, they had tons of ideas about Instagram reels, viral content, and digital trends.
This highlights a stark reality—Gen Z is highly skilled in social media but lacks fundamental problem-solving, logical reasoning, and financial literacy. If these trends continue, we may have a generation struggling with personal finance, decision-making, and analytical skills.
As educators, employers, and mentors, we must bridge this gap. Critical thinking and basic numeracy are non-negotiable life skills.
What are your thoughts? How do we ensure a balanced skillset for the next generation? ”
Mixed Reactions Online
The CEO’s LinkedIn post sparked discussions online, with various opinions. Some agreed with his concerns, highlighting the need for education systems to prioritize practical problem-solving skills.
Another set of people argued with him by criticizing him for choosing that method of hiring, saying, “Sir, you’ve raised a valid point regarding math skills; however, I would like to understand what this question has to do with you hiring them. Are you hiring them for a sales profile? Then answering this question is irrelevant. If you’re hiring a math tutor, then I can understand your concern. Also, I can assure you of this: a lot of CEOs themselves cannot answer this question, yet they are where they are. Relevance of skills should be the main criteria, not basic aptitude tests.”
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