Ever dreamed of a job where you pay instead of getting paid? If that sounds like a dystopian fever dream, welcome to Deepinder Goyal’s world. The Zomato CEO, in a plot twist even Black Mirror wouldn’t script, has unveiled an offer for a Chief of Staff role, complete with no salary in year one and a jaw-dropping ₹20 lakh “joining fee.”
Yes, you read that right. This isn’t your standard six-figure paycheck gig, it’s more of a career hazing ritual disguised as a golden opportunity. Sharing this innovative (or insane?) job listing on his X account, Goyal introduced his brainchild with a simple, “Update: I am looking for a chief of staff for myself.” Attached was a two-page dossier detailing what’s possibly the most unconventional hiring strategy we’ve ever seen.
What Does It Take to Be Goyal’s Right-Hand Person?
Spoiler alert: it’s not about impressive credentials. Goyal’s ideal candidate is “hungry, has a lot of common sense, empathy, and not a lot of experience (and therefore no conditioning/baggage).” Essentially, someone who hasn’t been around the corporate block enough to realise this might be bananas. The cherry on top? You’ll need to be “down to earth,” exude “zero entitlement,” and have the moral compass to “do the right thing, even if it displeases others.”
If you thought that was demanding, here’s the kicker – Goyal says the role offers “10x more learning than a 2-year degree from a top management school,” but at the small cost of no pay for 12 months. Instead, you’ll cough up ₹20 lakh, which will be donated to Feeding India, Zomato’s hunger relief initiative. Oh, and don’t mistake this for Zomato saving money, they’ll throw in ₹50 lakh to a charity of your choice to balance the scales. Generous, right?
The Fine Print You Can’t Ignore
Let’s decode the job description:
- Scope – You’ll dabble in everything from Blinkit to Hyperpure, while somehow also “building the future of Zomato.” (No pressure!)
- Compensation – Year one? Nada. Year two? A “regular salary” north of ₹50 lakh. Details? TBA.
- Philosophy – Forget impressing LinkedIn with this gig. Goyal describes it as a “fast-track learning program” for learners, not “résumé builders.”
Netizens Take No Prisoners
Predictably, the internet went wild, treating this post like a piñata at a sarcasm festival. One user commented, “Even Narayana Murthy seems like a saint after reading this,” while another called out the obvious privilege embedded in the offer – “A person who can pay ₹20 lakh as a joining ‘fee’ and survive without a salary would rarely have the kind of ‘hunger’ you’re expecting.”
Then there was the practical critique – “Will you repay the 20L + unpaid salary for the time worked if their tenure ends in less than a year for whatever reason? If they do make it to year two & you roll out a formal offer, will you pay them the unpaid salary for Yr 1 & the 20L back? I understand you’re just doing this as a marketing & filtering tactic but it’s setting a bad precedent & a more unscrupulous founder will probably try to go through with this in reality & they might even find some desperate scapegoats to scam. If you’re serious about this, please don’t introduce bribes into the private jobs sector. That’s what this is – a bribe to get a job.”
And, of course, someone took a swipe at the PR disaster by commenting, “Dippy bhai, hire me as your PR manager and I’ll save you from making such tweets in the future.”
Goyal’s Eventful October
This isn’t Goyal’s first headline-grabbing moment recently. Just last month, he and his wife Gia moonlighted as Zomato delivery agents in Delhi NCR, facing firsthand the struggles of restricted venue access. A publicity stunt? Sure. But it did put a spotlight on delivery partner challenges.
October also saw Goyal’s controversial exit from Shark Tank India Season 4, reportedly due to rival Swiggy sponsoring the show. Despite the drama, Goyal remains cordial with Swiggy’s leadership, even congratulating them on their IPO debut.
On the personal front, Goyal and Gia have leaned into the limelight, sharing their love story and experiences on The Great Indian Kapil Show. Meanwhile, Zomato’s latest initiative, Food Rescue, aims to combat food wastage and provide affordable meals, a far less contentious endeavour than the Chief of Staff role.
The Bigger Picture
So, what’s the deal with this pay-to-play job? Goyal defends it as a filter to attract only the most committed candidates, those more interested in personal and professional growth than flashy paychecks. But critics argue it reeks of privilege, excluding anyone without the financial cushion to take such a leap.
In an era where job seekers are already grappling with economic uncertainty, Goyal’s “opportunity” feels less like a ladder and more like a tightrope, one that many can’t afford to walk. The promise of high-powered learning and second-year rewards may appeal to a select few, but for the majority, this listing is as impractical as provocative.
Deepinder Goyal is no stranger to bold ideas, but this one might have pushed the envelope too far. While the offer is undeniably unique, it’s hard to ignore the irony of promoting “hunger” while asking candidates to fork over ₹20 lakh upfront. Whether this bold experiment leads to a paradigm shift or just becomes another footnote in Zomato’s controversial history, one thing’s for sure – Goyal knows how to keep the internet talking.
In the latest tweet, Zomato CEO tweeted about the application process, which has attracted over 10,000 submissions, with various thoughtful entries. The application is set to close today at 6 PM IST, and further updates will be shared in Update 3.
