Read the job market right

The "one job, 100 applications" stories are factually correct but quite misleading. Why? Consider a hypothetical scenario: every eligible candidate applies for every job in the market. If there are 100 jobs, each job receives 100 applications, yet every candidate is ultimately assured of a job.

Most degree holders from top institutes find jobs easily -- some immediately after receiving their degree, while others take time. Of course, real scenarios are more complicated. In some cases, the number of eligible candidates exceeds the number of jobs, forcing some to look for alternative opportunities outside their domain of expertise.

Conversely, there are cases where the number of jobs exceeds the number of eligible candidates. This is not a hypothetical scenario. Many labs in IITs are either dysfunctional or have been shut down because suitable faculty candidates cannot be found. PhD candidates often choose trendy research topics that yield easy publications rather than those that could lead to better job opportunities.

If you are planning to pursue a PhD, or any career path for that matter, make sure to check the job market. Of course, getting reliable information is not always easy. Networking definitely helps.