Remember the extraordinary and unusual conditions put forth by Deepinder Goyal, CEO, Zomato, for candidates applying for the chief of staff position? For those who have forgotten, Goyal had grabbed headlines because he wanted the candidate to pay Rs 20 lakh, an amount he said would be donated to a non-profit organisation called Feeding India. In return, Goyal had promised that Zomato would contribute Rs 50 lakh to a charity of the candidate’s choice. The crux of the post was that there would be no salary for a year! The incentive was that the selected candidate would gain a learning experience like no other!
Well, here is an update for all those curious to know the response to Goyal’s post on X in November 2024.
A whopping 18,000+ applications were received out of which more than 150 were interviewed. The selection process was tough with only 30 candidates being made offers. Eighteen have already joined Zomato, Blinkit and other companies in the Group. Of these, four are working with Goyal directly with two playing chief of staff.
Did they pay Rs 20 lakh to Zomato? No. They did not have to pay a penny as per the update by Goyal. Instead, these candidates are being paid a competitive compensation for the talent and values they bring to the table.
As per Goyal’s update on X, the selected candidates have been chosen for their qualities, experience and competency. The chosen lot comprises founders of startups, engineers and operators who have worked tirelessly day and night, as well as freshers brimming with ideas and energy. Zomato believes that these selected individuals are capable of shaping the company’s future.
What did Zomato see in them? Their ability to look at the long-term picture and the compounded effect!
Has Zomato stopped looking for talent? Not at all reveals Goyal’s post. The applications are still being combed through to find the right talent to help Zomato achieve its goals.
