WTF?! In the latest news illustrating why CEOs tend to be universally hated, Deepinder Goyal, CEO of Indian restaurant reservation and food delivery app Zomato, has posted a chief of staff position that not only doesn’t pay salary in the first year, but also warns candidates that they must pay $23,700 if he gets the job. Goyal’s reasoning is that the position offers “10 times more learning than a 2-year degree at a top management school.” He also claims that 10,000 people have already applied – with some reservations.

Yesterday, Goyal posted on X that he was looking for candidates for a chief of staff position at Zomato. The advert states that much experience is not required as it is “not a conventional role offering the usual benefits that such jobs entail”.

This unconventional part concerns the salary, or lack of salary during the first year. Instead of being paid, the successful candidate must pay the equivalent of $23,700 themselves to benefit from this privilege. The money will be given as a direct donation to the charity Feeding India.

According to the announcement, Zomato, which has a market capitalization of $27.9 billion, will prove it is not trying to save money by donating approximately $59,158 to a charity of the candidate’s choice retained.

Update: I’m looking for a chief of staff myself. pic.twitter.com/R4XPp3CefJ

– Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) November 20, 2024

Even though this program will benefit charity and Zomato will pay a salary in the second year, it’s still pretty ridiculous. Zomato writes that people should apply for the job for the learning opportunity it presents, rather than for a “fancy, well-paid job that will make you look cool in front of yourself or the people you want to impress. It’s also probably not for people who want to pay their rent or mortgage, or do something as extravagant as eating.

The post ends by asking candidates to consider this an accelerated learning program, noting that it is aimed at “learners” and not “resume builders.”

Despite widespread criticism of However, it is a mix of people who have more than $20,000 to pay for the position, people who have some of the money, those who say they have no money, and those who Really I don’t have the money.

Update: I’m looking for a chief of staff myself. pic.twitter.com/R4XPp3CefJ

– Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) November 20, 2024

Earlier this week, Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys double about his call for young people to work 70 hours a week, noting that he doesn’t believe in work-life balance and really doesn’t like having weekends off. A comment on Goyal’s posts notes that Murthy looks like a saint compared to this diagram.