Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal, has sparked public discussion by announcing a chief of staff role with an unconventional condition: no initial salary, but instead a Rs 20 lakh fee. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Goyal called for “down to earth” candidates with “Grade A communication skills” who are ready to contribute to Zomato’s growth.
The job offers no salary in the first year, requiring a Rs 20 lakh fee, which the CEO calls an “opportunity” with “10x more learning than a 2-year degree from a top management school.”
The company states that this Gurugram-based role is designed for individuals with a strong drive to learn and grow. In a detailed post, Goyal emphasized that the ideal candidate should possess “hunger,” “empathy,” and “common sense,” while lacking significant prior experience or a sense of entitlement.
He emphasised, “This role isn’t about boosting your resume or financial benefits. It’s for those who want to learn and contribute to shaping the future of Zomato, Blinkit, Hyperpure, and Feeding India.”
Notably, the Rs 20 lakh fee, which candidates must donate to Feeding India, a Zomato non-profit, has sparked attention. Goyal explained that the fee is intended to attract candidates driven by the desire to learn rather than financial gain.
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To apply, candidates must submit a 200-word cover letter directly to Goyal, with no resume. Selection will be based on the letter’s content, offering a fast-track, high-intensity learning opportunity.
The post received mixed reaction on social media. One wrote, “We need more such programs, because for rich kids, fighting over the scraps to get CAT 99.99% for IIM makes no sense compared to this? For the right person, this will have better returns than IIM.” while another commented, “Comparing Chief of Staff role to an IIM degree. You have probably lost it. This is what happens when people try to justify just about anything of page 3 CXOs as genius moves.”
Some people even showed interest in applying for the job. One user stated, “Honestly if I was not doing MBA would have try applying it for the experience. Just because I believe experience is true learning. What the top Ceo s can teach you can’t be found in these MBA degree. Also kind of a fun challenge to land the job at the end of it.”
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