Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has announced that the much-discussed requirement of paying Rs 20 lakh for the Chief of Staff post is no longer part of the plan. Goyal clarified this in a new statement after widespread attention and debate over the job opening, which initially came with a unique offer: no salary for the first year and a fee of Rs 20 lakh for the selected candidate. Here is the whole story in 10 points.

Zomato CEO says candidates won’t have to pay Rs 20 lakh fee: Story in 10 points

-Goyal revealed that over 18,000 applications have been received for the role of Chief of Staff and highlighted that it was never the intention to impose the fee. “We are not going to ask for Rs 20 lakh from anyone,” Goyal said, adding that the initial mention of the fee was only a filter to find candidates who value the opportunity to learn rather than struggle with financial constraints. Are.

-Zomato CEO also clarified that the company will prioritize genuine intentions and learning mindset over financial capability. “We are going to reject most of the applications of those who talked about money,” Goyal said. He highlighted that Zomato is looking for people who are hungry to learn and grow rather than focusing on short-term financial rewards.

-Zomato’s job listing for the post of Chief of Staff attracted attention due to its unconventional terms. Initially, there was no salary for the first year for this role, and candidates were asked to donate Rs 20 lakh directly to Zomato’s non-profit initiative, Feeding India. This sparked debate, with some calling it a brilliant strategy to weed out those who are solely motivated by money, while others criticized it, saying it was only for those with financial privilege.

-According to Goyal’s original post, the Chief of Staff role is based at Zomato’s headquarters in Gurugram and is designed for someone who is down to earth, empathetic and hungry to learn. He highlighted that the ideal candidate will have minimal experience but strong communication skills and a willingness to do what is right, even if it means angering others.

-The role involves working closely with Goyal and contributing to the future of Zomato’s ecosystem including Blinkit, Hyperpure and Feeding India.

-While the initial proposal indicated no salary for the first year, Goyal mentioned that Zomato will contribute Rs 50 lakh to a charity of the candidate’s choice – equivalent to the salary of a Chief of Staff. From the second year onwards, the candidate will receive a competitive salary of more than Rs 50 lakh annually.

-Applicants were asked to submit a 200-word cover letter directly to Goyal, with no resume required. The purpose of this process was to focus on the candidate’s potential and intentions rather than past achievements or qualifications.

-There has been mixed reaction to this announcement. Some consider this a unique opportunity to work directly with one of India’s leading entrepreneurs, providing practical experience in the consumer tech industry. However, others raised concerns about the initial fee of Rs 20 lakh, which they felt made the opportunity inaccessible to many.

-In his latest statement, Goyal reiterated that the role is not about resume building or financial benefits, but about fast-tracking one’s learning and development. He compared the opportunity to an intensive real-world management course, which provides significant personal and professional development.