The hiring system is broken—and AI is forcing companies to rethink everything. In this episode, we uncover how hackathons and real skills are replacing degrees. We sat down with Santosh Maurya, COO of Where U Elevate, to discuss why finding a job in 2026 isn’t just about degrees anymore. We dive deep into why the traditional resume is dying, how AI recruitment tools are changing the game, and why hackathons are fast becoming the #1 pathway to getting hired. If you are a student struggling with placements or a founder looking for "innovation-ready" talent, this conversation is your blueprint for the future.Here’s what you’ll learn:📉 The real reason the hiring system is broken for freshers.🤖 AI in Hiring: Is it filtering out good candidates?🏆 Hackathons vs. Interviews: Why skills matter more than certificates.🚀 How Where U Elevate is fixing the academia-industry gap.💡 Actionable advice on becoming "Innovation Ready" for the modern workforce.Time Stamps00:00 Precaps00:46 Guest Introduction and Discussion Overview01:54 Daily Operations and Strategy05:22 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry13:22 Innovative Hiring Practices16:12 Core Components of the Platform18:22 Hackathon Management and Assessment31:32 Open Innovation and Experiential Learning💬 Do you think degrees still matter in hiring, or are skills and hackathons the future? Share your thoughts below.Connect with Techie Talks with Kuldeep:YouTube Channel: @techietalkswithkuldeep WhatsApp Channel:https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7Q4JHAjPXUt8hBgm2TLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techietalkswithkuldeepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574642927780Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techietalkswithkuldeepLearn more about Santosh Maurya and Where U ElevateSantosh Maurya : https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshm93/Website: https: https://whereuelevate.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whereuelevate#TechHiring #futureofhiring #innovationready #TechieTalksWithKuldeep #CareerGrowth #Hackathons