Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal is searching for a Chief of Staff with a unique job description that has caught widespread attention. The role requires candidates to pay ₹20 lakh upfront to the company, with no salary for the first year. Goyal clarified this in his job posting, the details of which are summarized below.
Role: Chief of Staff to Deepinder Goyal
Requirements for the Candidate:
Must be ambitious, possess common sense, and have little experience (and therefore minimal preconceived notions or baggage).
Should be humble and have zero entitlement.
Must prioritize doing the right thing, even if it means displeasing others.
Must have Grade A communication skills.
Most importantly, must have a strong learning mindset.
Responsibilities:
Work on anything and everything related to building the future of Zomato, including Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Feeding India.
Benefits of the Role:
Ten times more learning than a two-year degree at a top management school.
The opportunity to work directly with Deepinder Goyal and some of the smartest minds in consumer technology.
However…
This is not a conventional role with attractive perks. Instead, the job terms are designed to dissuade most people. Here’s how:
Salary Details:
No salary will be provided for the first year. Instead, you will need to pay ₹20 lakh for this opportunity, 100% of which will go directly as a donation to Feeding India (if you are offered the role and accept it).
▶️ഞങ്ങളിവിടെ നിങ്ങളുടെ പണം സൂക്ഷിക്കില്ല. നിങ്ങളെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്താൽ ₹50 ലക്ഷം (ചീഫ് സ്റ്റാഫ് പദവിക്ക് അനുയോജ്യമായ ശമ്പളം) നിങ്ങളുടെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു ചാരിറ്റി സ്ഥാപനത്തിന് സംഭാവന നൽകും.
To demonstrate fairness, Zomato will contribute ₹50 lakh (equivalent to the role’s salary) to a charity of your choice.
From the second year onward, you will receive a salary (definitely over ₹50 lakh), which will be discussed at the beginning of Year 2.
Why Pay for this Role?
The primary focus of this role is the unique learning opportunity it provides.
This is not a fancy, high-paying job designed to boost your résumé or impress others.
Instead, it’s a fast-track learning program that offers significant personal and professional growth—regardless of whether you succeed in the role.
Zomato is seeking learners, not résumé builders.
How to Apply:
Prepare a cover letter (up to 200 words) and email it to d@zomato.com. Resumés are not required—
everything you need to say must fit within the 200-word limit.
In support of this opportunity, Zoko’s co-founder and Malayali entrepreneur Arjun V Paul shared Deepinder Goyal’s post and offered financial assistance for genuine candidates who desire the role but cannot afford the ₹20 lakh fee. He assured that those selected for the role need only message him, and Zoko would cover the cost. His offer has already gained significant attention online.
