MBA graduate claims Zomato's job offer was 'barely enough to cover basic expenses': 'Left me heartbroken'

The post, which concluded with a plea for employers to treat job seekers with respect, drew widespread attention.

Concerns over inadequate pay and the rising cost of living in major cities have again taken centre stage, this time sparked by a viral LinkedIn post. An MBA graduate detailed his frustrations with the job offer process at Zomato for an Associate role in Gurugram, alleging that the salary offered was insufficient to meet basic living expenses. The post has since divided opinion, with many sympathising while others questioned the appropriateness of airing grievances on social media.

The graduate described his experience as "disheartening" and "frustrating," citing a dismissive response from Zomato’s HR team when he attempted to negotiate his salary. “I recently received an offer for an Associate role at Zomato.

"While I was excited to start a new journey, the process left me both heartbroken and frustrated. From the start, the salary offered was barely enough to cover basic living expenses in Gurgaon. When I tried negotiating, the response was dismissive—'Take it or leave it.' This attitude hurt deeply, especially knowing I was relocating from another city, leaving behind my comfort zone and support system,” he wrote.

In his post, the graduate broke down the estimated monthly expenses he expected to incur in Gurugram. He stated that basic paying guest (PG) accommodation would cost between Rs 14,000 and Rs 20,000, while food expenses were estimated at Rs 5,000, electricity at Rs 2,000, and travel costs at approximately Rs 4,000. He noted that after covering these essential expenses, he would be left with just Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for other needs.

“How does one survive, let alone save or grow, in such conditions?” he questioned, highlighting the challenges faced by young professionals in India’s urban centres.

The graduate accepted the role with hopes of receiving adequate relocation support but was left disappointed. He alleged that Zomato only provided initial hotel accommodation and declined to assist with the security deposit required for renting a place. “I tried multiple times to ask for help or at least a reasonable adjustment, but I saw no effort on Zomato’s part to support me. When I requested a revision of the compensation, I was met with the same cold response: ‘Take it or leave it.’”

The post, which concluded with a plea for employers to treat job seekers with respect, drew widespread attention and sparked a debate online. Some users resonated with the graduate’s frustrations. One commented, “Thank you for sharing your experience so honestly. It’s heartbreaking to see how many talented individuals face such challenges in the corporate world. Your plea for fairness and respect resonates deeply.”

However, others felt the public nature of the complaint could backfire. “Buddy, I would suggest you delete this post immediately. Venting such frustrations on these platforms does more harm than good. Learn to control your emotions. There are other HRs looking at this, and you would be a strict no-go for them,” one user cautioned. Another added, “Asking for relocation support is not wrong, but ranting online is not right. Respect is a two-way street.”

"A good PG in Gurgaon costs 7-10K – time to fix your finances, not your Wi-Fi. And please, don’t try cooking in your room with the heater – unless you’re aiming to become a walking fire hazard. Don’t get too attached to your emotions here; it’s corporate, not a soap opera – only your output matters, and trust me, no one’s shedding a tear over your feelings. Spend a year, rack up some experience, then jump to another company with a fatter paycheck and perks – because loyalty is overrated, and so is your current salary," a user suggested.

Meanwhile, Moneycontrol.com couldn't independently verify the authenticity of these claims.