Zomato CEO’s Unique Job Role Receives Over 10,000 Applications

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who recently made headlines with a job posting featuring unconventional requirements, shared that he has received over 10,000 applications for the Chief of Staff role.

The job description sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning its ethics and inclusivity. Goyal provided an update on the applications, highlighting that the application process would close at 6 PM on the same day.

“We have over 10,000 applications, a lot of them well thought through, mixed between:
    1.    Those who have all the money
    2.    Those who have some of the money
    3.    Those who say they don’t have the money
    4.    Those who really don’t have the money

We will be closing the application inbox by 6 PM IST today. Stay tuned for Update 3,” his post read.

The Unique Job Requirements

The job description stated, “Anything and everything to build the future of Zomato, including Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Feeding India.” However, the role came with an unusual twist: the Chief of Staff candidate would need to pay an “opportunity fee” of ₹20 lakh to the company.

Additionally, the role would not offer a salary for the first year. Instead, the ₹20 lakh paid by the candidate would be donated to Feeding India, a non-profit organization.

The post also outlined that from the second year onwards, the Chief of Staff would receive a salary of over ₹50 lakh. Furthermore, Zomato pledged to contribute ₹50 lakh to a charity of the selected candidate’s choice.

“Second year onwards, we will start paying you the usual salary (definitely more than ₹50 lakh, but something we will only talk about at the start of Year 2),” the job posting stated.

Goyal emphasized that the opportunity was more than just a job—it was a chance for personal and professional growth. “Think of this as a fast-track learning program, both personally and professionally – whether or not you succeed at this role. We want learners for this role, not résumé builders,” he said.

How Did the Internet React?

The job posting sparked a flood of reactions online. One user humorously commented:
“2014: Customers are paying Zomato
2018: Investors are paying Zomato
2024: Employees are paying Zomato.”

Another pointed out the lack of clarity about the skills required for the role: “You only talked about money but not about experience and skills. Waiting for Update 3 to know how you take forward this marketing gimmick.”

A third user sarcastically wrote: “More than 10,000 applications in less than 24 hours for a role where Rs 20 lakh must be paid by the selected candidate and no salary is offered for the first year. Let’s see who the lucky candidate will be.”

Meanwhile, some users acknowledged Zomato’s knack for staying in the spotlight: “Zomato knows how to make things viral :) Eagerly waiting for Update 3.”

Despite the controversy, the overwhelming number of applications reflects the significant interest in working directly with the CEO of one of India’s leading food tech companies. The debate has also sparked discussions about the intersection of opportunity, privilege, and corporate ethics in hiring practices.