"Monthly Salary of 5.4 Million Won, Only High School Graduates Wanted"... The 'Hiring Experiment' of a Dream AI Company and Its Reason

[Financial News] Palantir Technologies, a US-based AI and big data company, has drawn attention for launching its 'Meritocracy Fellowship' program. This initiative aims to hire outstanding high school graduates as full-time employees, making it possible to secure a job without a college degree.

According to multiple foreign media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 2nd (local time), Palantir selected 22 high school graduates in their teens for the Meritocracy Fellowship program. Eligibility was limited to those who had not enrolled in college, and more than 500 people reportedly applied.
The selected participants will work for four months in a short-term position that bridges internship and entry-level employment, receiving a monthly salary of 5,400 dollars (approximately 7.8 million won). Those who complete the program with outstanding performance will have the opportunity to become full-time employees at Palantir without a college degree.

Palantir's bold move to hire high school graduates stems from CEO Alexander Karp's long-standing skepticism about the value of college education. Although Karp studied philosophy at Harvard College and earned a law degree from Stanford University, he has repeatedly expressed distrust in higher education, arguing that universities are unnecessary for cultivating top talent.
During an earnings call last August, Karp remarked, "Hiring college graduates these days is like employing people who only repeat clichés," adding, "The traditional university system is no longer a reliable process for producing talented individuals."
The first cohort of the fellowship program completed four weeks of seminars covering topics such as Western civilization, American history, and social movements before being assigned to practical teams. They are now working with a variety of clients, including hospitals, insurance companies, defense contractors, and government agencies. Palantir commented, "Within just three to four weeks, we could clearly identify who could demonstrate their abilities in a real company environment."
Of course, some participants who receive full-time offers may still choose to attend college. Nevertheless, Palantir's hiring experiment reflects a broader trend in the US tech industry, where recruitment is shifting from a traditional focus on college degrees to a greater emphasis on technical skills. In fact, companies like Tesla and Apple are increasingly dropping degree requirements from their hiring criteria.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter