GoKawiilKey Takeaways Arvind Jain’s $7.2 billion AI startup Glean receives thousands of job applications a day, but he says the real challenge is finding candidates with a strong work ethic.
Jain believes the best candidates always have multiple offers at once, because people who work hard and take ownership are highly sought after.
Jain says that applicants who master AI and clearly show impact can still stand out in a crowded job market.
Arvind Jain, a former Google engineer and CEO of $7.2 billion AI workplace startup Glean, receives thousands of job applications every day for open positions. However, Jain doesn’t hire based on volume — he looks instead for evidence of hard work, a trait he views as nonnegotiable.
“I have a firm belief that hard work solves all the problems,” Jain recently told Fortune. “The yardstick for me is that when I work in a group, I want to be known as the person who gives in the most.”
Jain said that a strong work ethic matters most in potential hires. Skills are important, and experience also matters, but in his eyes, effort and attitude come first.
The only problem is that other companies also seek candidates who show evidence of hard work. The strongest candidates usually have multiple companies trying to hire them at the same time, according to Jain. “If you work hard, you always have lots of choices,” Jain said. “Every company wants to work with you.”
Arvind Jain, founder and chief executive officer of AI startup Glean. Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg
Meanwhile, many Gen Z college graduates feel unlucky in today’s job market. Employers often stop responding, entry-level positions seem limited, and there are growing fears about AI replacing jobs. In an uncertain job market, Jain said he is dealing with the opposite situation.
“Students think it’s hard to find jobs, but we think it’s hard to find them,” he said. Even with thousands of applications rolling in, it is difficult to find strong talent, he added.
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