Dr. Hafiz Waleed Malik, a recent MBBS graduate who achieved an outstanding feat by earning 29 gold medals for his academic excellence, has opened up about the difficulties he has encountered in securing a job at a hospital. Despite his exceptional academic record, Dr. Malik revealed that his efforts to obtain employment in any hospital have been unsuccessful.Taking to Instagram, Dr. Malik expressed his disappointment, sharing that he had applied to numerous hospitals but received no job offers. He shed light on the prevailing circumstances surrounding job opportunities, suggesting that connections and recommendations hold more weight than merit.”It has been more than 20 applications, and I haven’t been able to secure a job. The job market is about 99% based on recommendations and 1% on merit. I might be mistaken, but that’s what I have observed. Merit should be the sole criteria, but this system seems irreparable,” he lamented.The screenshot of his response quickly went viral on various social media platforms, sparking a conversation about the challenges faced by highly qualified individuals in the job market.During an interview with BBC, Dr. Malik elaborated on his journey, stating that he completed his MBBS from Amiruddin Medical College in Lahore and subsequently completed a house job at Lahore General Hospital. Following the conclusion of his house job, he began applying to private hospitals since recruitment in government hospitals had not yet commenced.Speaking about the prevalent culture of recommendations impeding job opportunities in the medical field of Pakistan, Dr. Malik emphasized that job positions are often unavailable in private hospitals, and when they do arise, medical graduates are primarily hired based on the recommendations of their professors.He stressed that this reliance on recommendations to secure employment is an unfortunate reality.Additionally, Dr. Malik shared his perspective on the prevailing “sifarish culture” (referring to the practice of using connections or influence to gain advantages) in the country, highlighting that it affects both average students and high achievers. He expressed his desire to be acknowledged for his qualifications rather than going viral on social media.Dr. Malik firmly believes that both public and private institutions should adopt a fair and unbiased approach in their hiring processes to ensure equal opportunities and promote meritocracy for all candidates. He asserts that the current system requires reform to address the existing disparities and provide a level playing field for aspiring medical professionals.