Zomato’s Chief Executive Officer, Deepinder Goyal, on Wednesday shared an update on the company’s high-profile Chief of Staff hiring initiative. The recruitment drive, which initially attracted over 18,000 applications, has resulted in 30 offers, with 18 candidates already joining Zomato and its affiliated companies, including Blinkit.
In November 2024, Goyal announced a Chief of Staff role that required candidates to pay a Rs 20 lakh fee instead of receiving a salary. The fee was intended to be a “filter” to find candidates who were passionate about the role.
Goyal, in a post on X on Wednesday, informed that the hiring process involved an extensive screening and interview process, with 150 candidates meeting with the team. The selected individuals include a diverse mix of entrepreneurs who bootstrapped startups, engineers with extensive technical expertise, and operational experts capable of scaling businesses efficiently.
Additionally, several promising young graduates were among those selected, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative thinking to the table.
According to Goyal, what set these candidates apart was their long-term strategic mindset. Rather than focusing on short-term gains, these individuals demonstrated an understanding of compounding impact.
“They weren’t optimizing for short-term outcomes but for compounding impact—the most misunderstood mathematical miracle. Finding people who truly get this is rare, and I’m grateful we did,” said Goyal.
Among the 18 hires already onboard, four work directly with Goyal, with two serving in Chief of Staff roles. The company continues to sift through the remaining applications, emphasizing that this is a long-term investment rather than a one-time hiring initiative.
“And we’re not done. With 18,000+ applications, we’re still carefully sifting through this amazing talent pool,” Goyal stated, adding that the company remains committed to bringing in individuals who will contribute significantly to its future growth.
“This isn’t just a one-time hiring sprint—it’s a long-term investment in the people who will build the future with us. We’ll keep reaching out to the right folks, slowly but surely,” said Goyal.