Zomato CEO says he has received over 10,000 applications for Chief of Staff role

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who faced significant backlash following the announcement of a Chief of Staff role on November 20, revealed that more than 10,000 applications had been received for the position. The role, based at Zomato's headquarters in Gurugram, drew criticism due to its unusual conditions, including no salary for the first year and a hefty Rs 20 lakh fee required from applicants. In an update on social media, Goyal shared that the application window would close at 6 PM on the same day.

In his post on X, Goyal outlined the responsibilities and eligibility criteria for the role, which he described as ideal for someone with "hunger," "empathy," and "common sense," but without significant prior experience or a sense of entitlement. While there was no salary during the first year, Zomato promised to donate Rs 50 lakh to a charity of the chosen candidate’s choice, equivalent to the typical salary for such a role. From the second year onwards, the successful candidate would receive a competitive salary of over Rs 50 lakh annually. As Goyal’s post gained attention, social media users quickly condemned the offer, calling it "exploitative" and describing it as a "bad idea."