Job seeker sends letter by post to Swiggy's top design executive: 'Old-school approach stood out'

Impressed by the candidate’s initiative, Saptarishi Prakash extended an invitation for them to share the concept by email.

In a digital job market dominated by AI-curated CVs and one-click applications, a jobseeker’s unconventional approach recently drew attention. Saptarshi Prakash, Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Design at Swiggy, took to social media to share his surprise at receiving a handwritten letter delivered by post from a designer hoping to secure a role within the company.

Prakash, based in Bengaluru, revealed his admiration for the unusual gesture, noting that it had succeeded in capturing his interest. The letter, sent by a young professional, contained a proposal aimed at enhancing Swiggy’s user experience. In a respectful pitch, the designer conveyed their desire to present the concept in person, writing, “I would love to have the opportunity to present it to you and the team if given the chance…What I am truly hoping for is a single opportunity to express myself and showcase my work in front of you.”

Received a physical letter from a designer wanting to join @Swiggy with a concept. In a digital age, this old-school approach stood outTo the sender: We may not have a role now, but please email meId love to see your idea!If anyone knows of design openings, please share! pic.twitter.com/WSGDaX0fsP
Saptarshi Prakash (@saptarshipr) October 30, 2024

Swiggy, however, had no open UX/UI design roles at the time, a point Prakash clarified in his response. Yet, impressed by the candidate’s initiative, he extended an invitation for them to share the concept by email. “While we may not have a relevant role at Swiggy for you at the moment, I’ve definitely taken note of your initiative… I’d also love to review the concept you have developed. Would you mind dropping me an email? I’m sure you’ll find my email address—you found my physical one!” he remarked on LinkedIn.

The post gained rapid traction on X (formerly Twitter) and prompted widespread social media discussion. Many users lauded the jobseeker’s creativity and dedication. One user remarked, “In this age, anyone using a paper and a physical medium itself is refreshing. Bookmark it!”

Another noted, “This designer can think of alternative ways that are actually outside the box,” while a third captured the sentiment of the moment simply, “This is crazy!”