{"id":232135,"date":"2025-02-05T06:19:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T06:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/zomatos-deepinder-goyal-shortlists-just-2-people-for-chief-of-staff-role-from-18000-applications-heres-what-set-them-apart\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T06:19:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T06:19:01","slug":"zomatos-deepinder-goyal-shortlists-just-2-people-for-chief-of-staff-role-from-18000-applications-heres-what-set-them-apart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/zomatos-deepinder-goyal-shortlists-just-2-people-for-chief-of-staff-role-from-18000-applications-heres-what-set-them-apart\/","title":{"rendered":"Zomato\u2019s Deepinder Goyal shortlists just 2 people for Chief of Staff role from 18,000+ applications; Here\u2019s what set them apart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Zomato\u2019s<\/div>\n
In November 2024, Zomato<\/a> CEO Deepinder Goyal<\/a> sparked widespread discussion on social media when he announced a chief of staff role that required candidates to pay Rs 20 lakh as a donation to Zomato\u2019s Feeding India initiative<\/a>. He positioned the opportunity as a unique fast-track career path that would provide learning experiences worth “ten times more than a two-year degree from a top management school.”Many on social media criticised the approach, calling it a marketing gimmick. Others questioned the fairness of asking for a financial contribution in exchange for a job opportunity. Despite the mixed reactions, Zomato<\/a> received over 18,000 applications for the role.<\/p>\n
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\u2014 deepigoyal (@deepigoyal) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Goyal\u2019s Update on the Hiring Process<\/h2>\n

On 5 February, Goyal provided an update on the hiring process, stating: “We started with 18,000+ applications and have had the privilege of meeting over 150 incredibly talented individuals. From this, 30 exceptional people received offers, and 18 have already joined Zomato (and other group companies like Blinkit) in high-impact roles. They\u2019re being handsomely compensated for the value they bring, and nobody paid anything to work with us.”<\/p>\n

He also shared details about the selected candidates: “Who are these 30 people? Founders who bootstrapped startups from their dorm rooms, engineers who rewrote entire tech stacks over a weekend, operators who turned chaos into scale, and a handful of brilliant young minds fresh out of college\u2014people we believe will lead us into the future.”<\/p>\n

Also Read: <\/strong>Zomato\u2019s Deepinder Goyal is hiring for a new role\u2014Applicants must prove they \u2018have a second brain\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

The Selection Process and Candidate Profile<\/h2>\n

Goyal emphasised that those selected had a “long-term mindset” and were focused on “compounding impact\u2014the most misunderstood mathematical miracle.” He stated that identifying individuals who truly understood this concept was rare and that he was grateful to have found such talent.<\/p>\n

Among the 18 who have already joined, four work directly with Goyal, and two have been appointed as chiefs of staff. The company continues to evaluate applications and is committed to “reaching out to the right folks, slowly but surely.”<\/p>\n

Clarification on the Rs 20 Lakh Fee<\/h2>\n

Addressing previous concerns, Goyal explained: “As some people pointed out, the \u2018you have to pay us 20 lacs\u2019 was merely a filter to find people who had the power to appreciate the opportunity of a fast-track career, without getting bogged down by constraints in front of them.”<\/p>\n

He also added, “We are going to find genuine intent and a learning mindset from the sea of applications we have received.”<\/p>\n

Goyal reassured applicants that “money is an essential thing to keep people\u2019s lives running, and I believe in paying more than the market rate so that money doesn\u2019t come in the way of great work.”<\/p>\n

Many users on social media questioned whether this hiring process was a publicity stunt. Some pointed out the unconventional nature of the role, including the lack of a salary in the first year. Goyal had earlier stated: “In fact, we are making this job unattractive for most people. There is no salary for this role for the first year. You will have to, in fact, pay Rs 20 lakh for this opportunity. 100 per cent of this ‘fee’ will be paid in the form of a donation directly to Feeding India.”<\/p>\n

To counterbalance the requirement, Goyal had also announced that Zomato would contribute Rs 50 lakh\u2014equivalent to the chief of staff\u2019s salary\u2014to a charity of the selected candidate\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

Future Hiring Plans<\/h2>\n

Zomato is still evaluating applicants and intends to continue hiring selectively from the large pool of candidates. Goyal described the initiative as a “long-term investment in the people who will build the future with us.”<\/p>\n

The hiring process, despite being unconventional, has led to the selection of highly skilled individuals, with Zomato prioritising talent and long-term vision over financial capability.
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