'Fired Me After 23 Days Despite Weekend Work & No Complaints'; Gurugram Startup Terminates Intern Overnight!

A young intern recently took to the online forum Indian Workplace to share a deeply personal and frustrating experience that is resonating with many early-career professionals navigating India's unpredictable startup landscape.

Gurugram Based Startup Sparks Outrage: Intern Fired in Just 23 Days?

According to a post made on the Indian Workplace forum, the intern had joined a startup with high expectations. The role was presented as an opportunity to work closely with the company's founder, with the promise of a full-time position and a salary of Rs 40,000 after three months of satisfactory performance.

During the short internship, the individual claims to have worked between 10 to 12 hours a day, often extending support over weekends without any complaints. However, the internship was terminated suddenly, with the company citing the loss of a major client as the reason for the decision.

The intern stated that the departure of the client had significantly impacted the company's revenue, prompting an immediate cost-cutting move. Despite the intern's consistent efforts, there was no prior notice or discussion before termination.

Spent Rs 30K to Move to Gurgaon; Intern Left Jobless Overnight

The post described feelings of betrayal and regret, especially given the financial strain of relocating to Gurgaon and spending Rs 30,000 in savings to support the internship. The intern also expressed concern about job hunting in the current market and coping with unemployment in an expensive city.

Community Reaction

The incident drew widespread responses from forum members, many of whom expressed sympathy and shared advice. Some encouraged the intern to stay persistent, suggesting daily applications on platforms like LinkedIn could still yield genuine interview opportunities, even amid the presence of misleading job listings.

Others reflected on the unstable nature of startups in Gurgaon, comparing them to small vendors that thrive only during peak business but shut operations abruptly during downturns. Several users recommended seeking roles in more stable environments such as Bangalore or Pune, where structured systems in MNCs or large startups offer more predictability and employee safeguards.

The intern's experience serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of early-stage startups and the risks young professionals face when entering the workforce under informal or unstructured employment terms.