By: Trends DeskNew Delhi | Updated: September 17, 2025 03:23 PM IST 3 min readTechie further claimed that kids from the Bay Area can land positions at major firms without following traditional hiring processesIf you thought nepotism was confined to the entertainment world, think again. A New York-based software engineer, Ume Habiba, who works at Microsoft, is claiming that favouritism runs deep in the tech industry as well. In an Instagram video, she alleges that some people hold positions in top tech companies not because of their skills, but because of family connections.“Corporate nepotism is a thing, especially in Silicon Valley, and I am going to tell you about it,” Habiba says in the clip. She adds that certain individuals end up in roles without the necessary technical expertise simply because “their parents got them there.”Habiba also pointed out that while conversations about nepotism usually focus on the entertainment sector, “big tech has equal amounts of nepotism if not more.” According to her, many managing directors in Silicon Valley routinely exchange favours to secure jobs or internships for their children, often saying things like, “I’ll hire your kid, if you hire mine.”She further claimed that kids from the Bay Area can land positions at major firms without following traditional hiring processes. Even when interviews do happen, she said they tend to be brief and lack any technical rigour.Habiba ends her video with a pragmatic note, telling viewers there’s “no point crying about it” and advising people to “play the cards they have been dealt.”Watch the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ume Habiba (@umxe) Indianexpress.com has not independently verified the claims made in the video.Also Read | Canadian traveller documents the ‘real India’ on Rs 1,000 train journey, calls it ‘an experience like no other’The video has sparked mixed reactions online. Some users agreed with her perspective, while others downplayed the issue. One person wrote, “They say that the zip code you grow up in dictates your life. Makes sense.” Another commented, “Executives make up 1-2 per cent of any company. Their kids may occupy a single spot on a team of 100+. I’m not stressed about one nepo kid.”Story continues below this adSome defended the merit-based system, while others noted, “I know for a fact I worked with many who were not skilled enough to hold positions. Yet they had opportunities.” Another user said, “It will happen everywhere, even you would do that. So just accept it.” A fifth perspective challenged the claims, saying, “No evidence, no numbers, just her anecdotes. In big tech, maybe 1 per cent are nepo kids. Hiring people you’ve worked with before is normal and actually makes sense for better products.”© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd