Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal, has stirred up a storm on social media with an unconventional job offer for the position of Chief of Staff. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Goyal announced that the selected candidate would not receive a salary for the first year. Instead, the individual would need to pay a hefty sum of Rs 20 lakh as part of the application process. This payment will not go to Zomato but will instead be donated to Feeding India, a non-profit organization focused on combating hunger.
Goyal’s post elaborated that the candidate would be responsible for supporting him in building the future of Zomato, with a focus on initiatives such as Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Feeding India. The role would involve “anything and everything” to contribute to the company’s growth, offering “10x more learning than a 2-year degree from a top management school.”
However, Goyal emphasized that this is not a typical job opportunity. He described the position as “unconventional” and “unattractive for most people,” stating that it was designed for individuals who are “hungry” for learning, have strong communication skills, and possess a lot of common sense and empathy. The candidate should also be “down to earth” and have “zero entitlement,” with a willingness to make difficult decisions when necessary.
https://twitter.com/deepigoyal/status/1859215826425159991
One of the most striking features of the offer was the payment requirement. While the role would initially come with no salary, Goyal assured that the payment would be fully donated to Feeding India to support its mission to fight hunger. In addition, Zomato will donate a further Rs 50 lakh, which is roughly equivalent to a regular Chief of Staff salary, to a charity of the selected candidate’s choice. From the second year onward, the Chief of Staff role would offer a competitive salary, starting at over Rs 50 lakh per year.
https://twitter.com/deepigoyal/status/1859215826425159991
Goyal explained that the goal of this approach was to attract learners rather than individuals seeking to enhance their resumes or chase high-paying jobs. He emphasized that the role was intended as a “fast-track learning program,” both personally and professionally, and that the person hired would benefit greatly from the experience, regardless of whether they succeeded in the role.
Despite the promise of significant learning, the offer has sparked criticism and online trolling. Many users on social media questioned the fairness and ethics of asking someone to pay such a large sum to work for a company. Some pointed out that the requirement would likely only attract wealthy candidates, undermining the idea of seeking individuals with true hunger and ambition. Others argued that such a job offer was exploitative, with one user sarcastically commenting that the company was “normalizing working without a salary to seem cool and different.”
The post has garnered significant attention, with over 6.5 million views, but the reactions have been mixed. While some praised the initiative’s focus on learning and philanthropy, others raised concerns about the exclusivity and potential exploitation of lower-income candidates.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether this bold, unconventional hiring model will inspire similar approaches from other companies or whether it will become a cautionary tale in the corporate world.
