Zomato CEO hiring Chief of Staff, wants employee to pay Rs 20 lakh in first year

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has announced a job opening for a Chief of Staff position. The role comes with a striking condition: no salary in the first year, and a requirement for the selected candidate to pay Rs 20 lakh as a fee. Sounds weird, right? Let’s break it down to understand what the job is about and whether you will get a salary or not.
The company says that this job offer, which is based at Zomato’s headquarters in Gurugram, is aimed at individuals with a strong desire to learn and grow. In a detailed post on LinkedIn, Goyal specified that the ideal candidate would be someone with “hunger,” “empathy,” and “common sense,” but without significant prior experience or a sense of entitlement.
“This role is not about resume building or financial perks,” Goyal wrote. “It’s for those who want to learn and contribute to building the future of Zomato, Blinkit, Hyperpure, and Feeding India.”
The Rs 20 lakh fee, which candidates would need to donate directly to Feeding India – a Zomato non-profit initiative, has raised eyebrows. Goyal clarified that this requirement is meant to ensure applicants are motivated by the opportunity to learn and not by monetary gain.
Although the first year offers no salary, Zomato is promising to donate Rs 50 lakh to a charity of the candidate’s choice — an amount equivalent to the typical salary for such a role. From the second year onward, the Chief of Staff will receive a competitive salary exceeding Rs 50 lakh per year.
But, how can you apply for it? Applicants are instructed to submit a 200-word cover letter directly to Goyal, without attaching a resume. The selection will be based solely on the content of the letter.
“This is a fast-track learning opportunity,” Goyal wrote, comparing the role to a high-intensity, real-world management course.
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, effectively restricting it to those with significant financial privilege.
By framing the Chief of Staff position as a learning opportunity rather than a traditional job, Goyal suggested that he is trying to change the concept of professional growth within corporate India.