Much has been said about the declining value of a college education in the modern world, but many young graduates still find it comforting to step into adulthood with a degree in hand. Palantir, for its part, has offered its new fellowship program as a college alternative, giving aspiring workers a chance to turn to something slightly different from the traditional career pathways. Palantir’s “Meritocracy Fellowship” is designed for high school students to experience a taste of full-time work, with the promise of a permanent role for those who prove themselves at the end of the fellowship. Is this the future of employment and hiring?
Does Palantir’s fellowship signal a need for more college alternatives that help young talent access non-traditional paths to employment? (Image: Pexels)
The Palantir Meritocracy Fellowship Is Testing the Grounds as a College Alternative
Palantir’s Meritocracy Fellowship for high school students was introduced by Chief Executive Alex Karp in April, drawing attention to a problem that has been bubbling up across workplaces: colleges are no longer adequately preparing students for the realities of employment. Whether in terms of skills, qualifications, or etiquette, there have been many vocal voices deriding the young Gen Z workforce for being ill-equipped with the qualities necessary to start a career.
“College is broken,” Palantir expressed in a post, adding that “Admissions are based on flawed criteria. Meritocracy and excellence are no longer the pursuits of educational institutions.” To address the shortcomings of current university operations, the AI tech company proposed a solution to train talent internally. Interestingly, not only will this allow it to access nascent talent before competitors, but the company will also be able to reshape said talent into a form that meets its business needs.
What Does Palantir’s Alternative Program Offer?
Palantir’s anti-college internship is structured into a four-month program where applicants can expect to gain hands-on experience by working and learning with the Palantir team. Designed for the “best and brightest graduating high-school students,” the program promises to select talent solely based on their accolades, allowing successful interns to access a full-time position at the business on completion. The internship also comes with pay of $5,400 per month, allowing candidates to receive benefits that go beyond “experience” on their resumes.
When the internship notice was first provided in April, the company made its stance on the current state of education clear, explaining, “Instead of going into debt to study at universities where meritocracy has disappeared, earn a ‘Palantir degree.’”
According to reports, the Palantir Meritocracy Fellowship received over 500 applications, of which 22 candidates were selected for the program. As a part of the program, students have reportedly been exposed to seminars, communications classes, and direct interactions with Palatir clients for a more immersive experience of the industry.
Does Palantir’s Fellowship Signal a New Turn in Employment Standards?
Palatir is a leading business in the world of defense and surveillance technology, but the business is run by a surprisingly small team of around 4,000 employees. For the company’s success to have skyrocketed to this degree, it’s evident that a highly competent team of professionals runs the business. Imparting teachings and skills directly from the source may be a real solution to the degrees and programs currently available to students.
Unfortunately, the company’s program is a limited one, and there are only so many jobs the company can provide to those who participate in the Palantir fellowship as a college alternative. Students who aren’t hired will have to look for other job opportunities that may not be as keen to hire a candidate with no degree. While Palantir’s anti-college internship is likely to benefit a limited number of high school graduates, the company is far from the first to offer students an internship or learning opportunity to start their careers.
It is possible that we could see more businesses start to offer similar fellowships, picking young talent and providing them with experience and the hiring opportunities they need to start a career. A considerable number of Gen Z workers are looking for entrepreneurship opportunities and blue-collar work because of the disappearing entry-level jobs, but providing them with on-the-job training early on could be just what we need to preserve the future of the tech industry and other industries that operate alongside it.
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