"For Chief of Staff Post Candidate, Have To Pay Rs. 20 Lakh First," Says Deepinder Goyal

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has sparked a public debate by posting a Chief of Staff position with an interesting twist.

Sharing the job post on X, Goyal wrote, "Update: I am looking for a chief of staff for myself." Sounds intriguing, but this is not the whole story. This time, the hiring post by Zomato created surprise, opportunity, and shock among a wide range of contenders.

So, let's break it down and understand what the job is all about and what candidates will get from it.

The post was accompanied by a two-page job requirement document that explained the job description, salary details, expectations from an ideal candidate and how to apply for the role.

The company said that this job offer, which is based at Zomato headquarters in Gurugam, is aimed at individuals with a strong desire to learn and grow.

In a detailed post, Goyal described that the ideal candidate needs to be good at communication, empathetic and down-to-earth with a learning mindset.

"This role is not a conventional role with the usual perks that such jobs come with. In fact, we are making this job unattractive for most people. How? Read on.....There is no salary for this role for the first year. You will have to, in fact, pay ₹20 lacs for this opportunity. 100% of this fee will be paid........donation directly to Feeding India........Second year onwards, we will start paying you the usual salary (definitely more than 50 lacs, but something we will only talk about at the start of Year 2)."

In fact, to apply for the role, the candidate has to write a 200-word cover letter directly to Goyal without attaching a resume. The selection will totally be based on the content of the letter.

The announcement has triggered a mix of praise and criticism. Supporters view the offer as a rare chance to learn directly from a leading entrepreneur, especially for those passionate about the consumer tech industry. Critics, however, argue that the Rs 20 lakh fee makes the role inaccessible to most candidates, restricting it to those with financial privilege.