don't end up like Soham

(the viral jobstacker who got caught)

Let’s talk about Soham.

You might have seen the viral thread. If not, here’s the gist: a software engineer named Soham Parekh scammed at least 10+ Y Combinator-backed startups by acing interviews, landing $150K–$200K offers, and then... doing nothing. Literally nothing.

He delivered almost no work, made wild excuses (at one point blaming geopolitical conflict), and ended up as the “most hired and fired engineer in tech.” One founder said hiring Soham was like “dating the same guy” that every YC startup had already ghosted.

Yes, it’s a meme-worthy story…

And it’s a masterclass in what not to do if you’re trying to stack jobs, build wealth, or protect your reputation in the age of remote work.

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Overemployment is having a moment

The idea of working multiple remote jobs isn’t new. COVID normalized remote work. Layoffs normalized career instability. Job stacking was inevitable.

Done right, it's a path to financial independence, leverage, and freedom.

Done wrong… well, you end up like Soham.

So where did he go wrong? And how do you not become the cautionary LinkedIn meme of the week?

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1. He Got Too Greedy

Soham didn’t fail because he stacked jobs, he failed because he stacked without limits. He said yes to everything, ignored his actual output, and hoped nobody would notice. They did.

Lesson:
Job stacking only works when you pace yourself. Take on as much as you can reliably deliver. Nothing more. If you’re not driving clear ROI at each company, the whole thing collapses fast.

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2. He Built Zero Social Capital

Founders say he ghosted meetings, delayed start dates, and made up excuses instead of communicating. He didn’t build trust. He didn’t build rapport. He just disappeared when expectations showed up.

Lesson:
Stacked roles are fragile. Social capital is what makes them durable.
When people like working with you, and trust that you’ll follow through —> they’re slower to scrutinize you. But if no one knows you, no one defends you.

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3. He Had No Systems

Soham had no process, no clear schedule, no way to deliver value across multiple jobs. He jumped from gig to gig, hoping charm and credentials would buy him time. Instead, he bought suspicion.

Lesson:
Stacking without systems is a ticking time bomb.
To pull this off long-term, you need airtight workflows: calendar hygiene, automated updates, scoped-down commitments, and clear metrics for value. Otherwise, even two jobs will feel like ten.

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TL;DR:
Overemployment works (but only if you respect the math).
More jobs ≠ more money unless your systems, communication, and performance scale with you. Soham didn’t fail because he tried to play the game. He failed because he played it like an overconfident fool with no moral compass.

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How to Job Stack Without Burning Your Reputation

• Choose output-driven work. You want a job where value = what you build, not hours worked.

• Automate or delegate low-leverage work. AI, SOPs, and delegation are your best friends.

• Maintain airtight communication. Overcommunicate status. Be dependable. Hit your deadlines.

• Don’t fake credentials. If you’re not great, get better. Don’t Photoshop your resume.

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Final Word: Don't Be a Soham

Soham Parekh didn’t just “get unlucky”.
He got caught lying, under-delivering, and making excuses while collecting checks. That’s not overemployment. That’s the reason people are skeptical of remote workers in the first place.

If you’re going to stack jobs, do it like a professional.
Overemployment can be sustainable. But only if your output is unmatched, your systems are tight, and your ethics aren’t up for debate.

The whole point of job stacking is freedom, not fraud.

And trust me, no amount of excuses is worth becoming the Fyre Festival of job stacking: overhyped, underdelivered, and publicly flamed for it.

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If you're interested in learning how to actually do this the right way: no scams, no lies, just systems, we’ve built a done for you job search platform.

If you have 2+ years of corporate experience you may qualify for a 90 job placement guarantee. Book a chat w/ our team to learn more.

🧠
—Delaney