Doomscrolling as a serious job profile? Mumbai CEO's hiring call leaves social media in shock

What used to be considered an ‘embarrassment’ is now going to serve as ‘eligibility criteria’ for getting a job. In an unconventional hiring call, Viraj Sheth, co-founder and CEO of Mumbai-based Monk Entertainment (Monk-E), announced a full-time job opening for “doom-scrollers.” When it often comes to notice that today’s generation is not very proud of their excessive screen time, typically covering up their doom-scrolling habit (the act of compulsively scrolling through social media even when it causes distress or anxiety), for getting a job, this one hiring post breaks the stereotype and the eligibility criteria surprisingly show the demand shift in the job hiring process. Traditionally seen as a negative habit has got a rebranding through Sheth’s post as a ‘valuable skill’.Sheth’s Linkedin post detailed not only the qualifications but also a tongue-in-cheek tone, encouraging applicants to apply with humor in their cover emails-not a serious cover letter is in the ask-list. Candidates were asked to prove their 6 hours+ screen time screenshots and show up-to-date awareness of trending creators and viral content. The creator community is booming every day now, standing on this edge, stating eligibility criteria such as: the one who knows every new creator on the block, may sound funny but indeed a tough job in cover. The idea? To utilize real, lived experience in digital culture as a formal job in talent management, influencer marketing, and video production.The post gained widespread attention, sparking a blend of amusement and even envy among LinkedIn users. Many joked about how their doom-scrolling addiction might finally pay off, with comments like “My screen time is more than 13 hr, I guess I am overqualified for this job” and “Who’d have known an addiction is also in demand these days and treated as a skill set lol.” Others praised the ingenuity of turning what was once seen as time-wasting into a legitimate and “very competitive” career opportunity. A few skeptics questioned the seriousness of such a role, yet most agreed it reflected how digital culture and career landscapes are evolving rapidly.Monk-E’s innovative hiring criteria highlight the fresh wave of job roles favored by Gen Z, shaped by social media and digital consumption patterns. Apart from doom-scrolling professionals, there are multiple opportunities emerging today maybe with different names such as:Reframing doom-scrolling as a strategic talent presents both pros and cons at the same time. On the one hand, long hours on social media can build deep familiarity with creator trends, community sentiments, and viral content, which are invaluable in influencer marketing and digital talent curation.On the flip side, scientific studies warn about the negative impacts of excessive screen time and doom-scrolling, including anxiety, cognitive overload, and reduced attention span-effects well-documented in psychological research.But one thing clear from this hiring call is it’s a wake-up for the workforce of tomorrow, especially Gen Z, to recognize new skills emerging from unexpected places-and to rethink how talent is defined in our increasingly digital lives.