An Unusual Job Listing by Zomato Causes a Stir

Nitin Konde, Varun Bhardwaj

Nov 22, 2024 — 2 min read

Zomato’s Unusual Job Listing Sparks Widespread Buzz

Deepinder Goyal, the CEO and co-founder of Zomato, posted an odd job opening on his social media pages on November 20. Goyal stated in his posts that he is seeking a chief of staff who will be required to pay INR 20 lakh instead of receiving a salary for the first year.

The posts quickly went viral when the job application caught people's attention. Among the many attributes included in the job description were "a lot of common sense, communication skills, empathy, and not a lot of experience." It stated that the chosen individual would supervise every aspect of establishing Zomato's future. However, the INR 20 lakh "fee" and the zero salary package for the first year were what attracted internet users' attention.

Why Zomato Opted for Such Posting?

Instead of applying for a glamorous, well-paying job that will make applicants look cool in front of themselves or the people they want to impress, Zomato thinks that people should do it for the learning opportunities it offers. Regardless of their success in this position, consider this a fast-track learning programme for individuals on a personal and professional level. Additionally, the company prefers learners above resume builders for this position, as per the post.

Furthermore, Goyal stated that the "fees" would be sent directly to the company's Feeding India effort and that the corporation is not attempting to save money by charging the applicants. The chosen individual will receive an additional INR 50 lakh from Zomato to donate to their preferred charity. The CEO added that the emoluments would be modifiable at the start of the second year and that the chosen chief of staff would begin receiving the regular wage (more than INR 50 lakh) at that point. However, both company executives and online users had significant reactions to the posting.

Mix Reaction

Some praised the action, but others expressed doubt and questioned the job posting. The entire social media domain was busted with comments and opinions: "The job posting seems like a really "maverick" way to find the right mindset candidate," Tata iQ's chief people officer (CPO), Amit Sachdev, told one of the media outlets. Limiting the quantity of applicants is the sole goal of establishing the financial requirements. This streamlines the entire process and provides you with a short list of potential customers right away. Additionally, according to Sachdev, the posting disqualifies any applicants who are only interested in gaining money or experience.

Similarly, a small number of banks would be prepared to finance the job role, in contrast to traditional educational courses, as noted by some users. Then, there were questions about whether the job posting broke any labour regulations, such as the Industrial Disputes Act, the Minimum Wages Act, and the Payment of Wages Act. Many drew attention to the fact that failing to pay an employee's salary for a year while collecting fees carries severe penalties for coercive work practices, including criminal culpability and legal action.