Zomato’s Unconventional Job Offer Suggests to Pay for a Learning Opportunity

Deepinder Goyal, CEO of the popular Indian restaurant booking and food delivery platform Zomato, recently made waves by advertising a unique job opportunity: a chief of staff position that requires candidates to pay for the privilege of joining his team.

The job advertisement, which appeared on X, began with a straightforward announcement that Goyal was searching for a driven and ambitious chief of staff. According to him, previous experience wasn’t a priority—he dismissed it as overrated—but emphasized the need for a strong desire to learn, excellent communication abilities, and the integrity to make difficult decisions, even if they might be unpopular.

The role’s responsibilities were broadly defined, encompassing “anything and everything to build the future of Zomato” and its related brands. The ad made it clear that this wasn’t a conventional position with typical benefits; in fact, it was intentionally designed to be unattractive to most, as it came with no salary. Goyal explicitly stated that the selected candidate would need to pay $23,700 for the chance to work closely with him.

Goyal defended the decision by suggesting that the experience would provide “ten times more learning than a two-year degree from a leading management school,” thanks to the opportunity to work alongside him and other top minds in the consumer technology sector. However, the approach didn’t strike everyone as empathetic.

He clarified in the ad that applicants should view the role as a learning opportunity rather than a high-paying job meant to impress others. As a unique perk, candidates wouldn’t need to submit a traditional resume—Goyal requested a brief email of 200 words or fewer. Additionally, Zomato committed to donating approximately $59,000 to a charity chosen by the successful applicant once they accepted the position. This donation, Goyal explained, was meant to emphasize that the unpaid nature of the role wasn’t a cost-cutting measure. Another minor benefit was that Zomato would begin offering a salary in the second year.

Opinions on Goyal’s offer were mixed. Some saw it as a bold, entrepreneurial move, while others criticized it as exploitative. One user on X even compared Goyal to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, known for advocating 70-hour work weeks and expressing regret over the introduction of two-day weekends.

Goyal, meanwhile, is recognized as a billionaire, a fact that added another layer to the public’s varied reactions to the controversial proposal.

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