Would you pay for a job instead of being paid? Well, that is exactly what Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal is offering to whoever becomes the Chief of Staff. Goyal announced on his X account the selected candidate has to pay Rs 20 lakh as advancement to secure the position, and no salary would be offered in the first year.

According to Goyal, the Rs 20 lakh payment isn't a fee for Zomato but a donation to Feeding India, an initiative to fight hunger. Underlining this gesture for its charitable intent, Zomato has pledged to donate an additional Rs 50 lakh to a charity of the candidate's choice.

The two-page attachment also told him about the details, requirements, and application process of this proposal. After the second year, the pay package will be more than Rs 50 lakh annually.

According to Goyal, the position is not for faint hearts. He described the ideal candidate as “hungry, with a lot of common sense, empathy, and no baggage.” They should be “down to earth, have zero entitlement,” and have the courage to “do the right thing, even at the cost of displeasing others.”

The Chief of Staff will help build Zomato's future through the key initiatives of Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Feeding India. Goyal said this role offers “10x more learning than a 2-year degree from a top management school,” calling it a fast-track personal and professional growth program.

The job offer quickly drew criticism online. Many users questioned the ethics of asking candidates to pay for a role while also expecting them to work without salary.

One user sarcastically noted, “As if exploring the Gig economy workers wasn’t enough, now kick the middle-class parent because a food delivery company with inflated pricing wants a chief of staff.”

Another commentator pointed to the exclusivity of the offer, saying,“A person who can pay 20 lakh and survive without a salary would rarely have the kind of ‘hunger’ you are expecting.”

Some called the idea impractical.“We’re trying to normalise working without a salary to seem cool and different, but let’s be real, a job is supposed to help you pay bills,” noted one user.

Goyal defended the move by saying that the intention is to get learners, not résumé builders, and shift the focus away from a “fancy well-paying job.” He said, "Think of this as a fast-track learning program for you both personally and professionally.”

The post has received over 6.5 million views so far. Is this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for unparalleled growth, or an unrealistic expectation in this present job market?

What do you think? Would you pay Rs 20 lakh for this unique chance to work alongside one of India's top entrepreneurs?