Word of Mouth - India's Real Job Portal: Your neighbor's WhatsApp, Not LinkedIn
Mayank Singhal
1/8
🔥 LinkedIn isn't India's job portal.
Most jobs here start with chai, not a CV.
This thread breaks down how trust, not tech, fills 400 million jobs and why your watchman's WhatsApp matters.
2/8
👀 Think LinkedIn is the game?
In India, 85-93% of jobs never touch it.
Hiring happens in living rooms, panwaadi shops, and WhatsApp groups.
If you're not in the loop, you're invisible.
3/8
🔄 "Referral beats résumé. Every. Single. Time."
A cook brings a cleaner. The watchman's cousin becomes the new guard.
It's not informal, it's the original Indian hiring app.
4/8
💥 400 million+ Indians work outside the "system."
Their only interview? "Kaam kaisa karta hai?" over chai.
No job boards, no ATS. Just trust and stories.
5/8
💬 WhatsApp groups are India's true HR.
"Need maid? Ping the group."
Referrals move faster than any app.
A living, breathing, trust-powered network - no login required.
6/8
👩 Women run this economy.
SEWA's 3.2M members, 18 states, zero résumés.
Domestic work is built on society whispers, not job fairs.
Referral isn't just hiring, it's the safety net.
7/8
💥 Why do apps fail?
Trust isn't built on ratings.
Speed matters when you need a job tomorrow, not next week.
"Kaam dekha hai?" > "degree kya hai?"
The watchman's word is the only background check.
8/8
🍔 Formalization is coming: e-Shram, ONDC, new labour codes.
But the hiring style? Still chai, still WhatsApp, still "kaam dekha hai?"
India's future of work is digital, but the soul stays human.