Zomato CEO’s Unusual Job Posting Receives 18K Applications

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has closed applications for his Chief of Staff position after receiving over 18,000 submissions within just two days of posting the job.

The unconventional role, along with its unique application criteria, sparked heated discussion on social media. Goyal asked candidates to pay Rs 20 lakh upfront, with no salary offered for the first year. The Rs 20 lakh paid by the chosen candidate would be donated to Feeding India, while Zomato pledged an additional Rs 50 lakh, equivalent to the Chief of Staff's annual salary, to a charity chosen by the candidate.

In a LinkedIn post, Goyal shared that Zomato will review the applications over the next week and reach out to those who seem like the best fit. He emphasized the company’s commitment to building a “learning organisation,” seeking candidates who prioritise a hunger for growth and self-improvement over short-term challenges.

Addressing the Rs 20 lakh requirement, Goyal explained that it wasn’t simply about the money. Instead, it was a “filter” to identify individuals who could see the value in the opportunity, without being hindered by immediate financial concerns. “We will reject most applicants who focused solely on the money. We are looking for genuine intent and a true learning mindset from the massive pool of applications,” he added.

The job posting led to a flurry of responses, some of which criticised Zomato's HR team. One LinkedIn user suggested that if Zomato wanted only serious applicants, they should have required an upfront application fee, refunded later to those who didn’t get selected. He joked that with 18,000 applications, the HR team would have a massive task filtering candidates, hoping they wouldn't face consequences if a poor choice was made.