What if other companies follow Zomato? Deepinder Goyal grilled after his 'pay Rs 20 lakh to work' job posting

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Chief of Staff position, sparking widespread criticism online. The posting shared on Goyal's X account, specified that candidates would need to pay Rs 20 lakh for the first year of the role, with no salary offered during this period. The Rs 20 lakh payment, however, would be directed as a donation to Feeding India, Zomato’s non-profit initiative. Additionally, Zomato pledged to contribute Rs 50 lakh to a chosen charity by the candidate.

Job Description and Candidate Requirements

The role of Chief of Staff would involve tasks across various Zomato verticals, including Blinkit, Hyperpure, District, and Feeding India. Goyal emphasized that people should apply for the “learning opportunity” the job presents. In the job description, Goyal outlined key traits he sought in candidates- “hungry”, “has common sense”, empathy and not a lot of work experience to avoid professional “conditioning or baggage.” He also wants the candidate to be “down-to-earth” and has a “zero-entitlement” mindset. The candidate must “want to do the right things” even if it means displeasing others, have “Grade-A” communication skills and a learning mindset. Goyal further positioned the job opportunity as a “learning program” and claimed it would offer insights and experience far superior to an MBA.

Online Backlash

The job posting triggered a storm of criticism on social media, with many questioning the ethics of requiring candidates to pay Rs 20 lakh to secure a job. Critics argued that such a condition excluded a vast majority of Indians unable