Bengaluru Recruiter Accused of Underpaying Trainees with Rs 12,000 Salary

Low Salary Offer Sparks Backlash in Bengaluru

A recent interaction between a Bengaluru recruiter and a job seeker on WhatsApp has sparked widespread criticism online. The recruiter allegedly justified a low salary of Rs 20,000-25,000 by stating that trainees "survive on Rs 12,000".

The conversation began with the recruiter offering the candidate an office visit for an interview, after which they mentioned the pay range for the role. The candidate responded, expressing concerns that the salary was "barely survivable" for living in Bangalore, even at market standards. The recruiter replied that they have people "surviving within Rs 12,000" as trainee recruiters, with a market standard starting at Rs 15,000.

This response has been met with criticism from netizens, with many suggesting that the candidate was better off walking away from the job offer. Several commenters alleged that certain recruiters routinely insult applicants to push them into accepting "pathetic pay" and maintain a power imbalance.

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The Rs 12,000 figure has been particularly contentious, with many questioning how anyone could "survive" on that amount in a major metro. Karnataka's minimum wage in urban areas is close to Rs 17,000, with revisions expected to push it 15-20 percent higher. An HR intern commented that they themselves earned Rs 25,000 the previous year, stating that the recruiter's claim "isn't making sense".

The incident has sparked discussion about the hiring culture's "toxic" and "dominating" tendencies, with many praising the candidate's closing statement. One commenter noted that if more people did that, they would know better than lowball candidates just because they're in a position of power.