A woman from Gurugram recently shared her interview experience at Zomato, now rebranded as Eternal, highlighting the company’s positive work culture. While she did not secure the job, her experience resonated widely, even catching the attention of Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal.
In a viral LinkedIn post, Kashish Goyal shared her journey of applying for a role at Zomato. She admitted she wasn’t the ideal candidate but decided to give it a try. “I got the opportunity to explore a role at Zomato (now Eternal). Exciting, right? The only problem is that I wasn’t really the ideal person for that role. But I thought since I am here, I’d give it a shot,” she wrote.
A Supportive and Encouraging Response
During the first round of assessments, she quickly realized the role wasn’t the right fit. “Fifteen minutes in, I knew. This wasn’t for me. I need to work on my technical language for this role. I could’ve pretended, pushed through, or just walked out, but instead, I did something different – I told the team,” she shared.
Instead of receiving an awkward response, the interviewers showed empathy and support. “Now, you’d expect an awkward response, but instead, they sat with me for 20-30 minutes, had a real conversation, and genuinely tried to understand if they could help in any way. No judgment, just a group of awesome people treating me like a human, not just a candidate,” she added.
Company Culture Beyond Perks
Reflecting on the experience, she highlighted the true meaning of company culture. “Company culture isn’t about free snacks or fancy offices. It’s about how people treat you when things don’t go as planned,” she noted. She praised Zomato’s motto, “We, not Me,” saying, “It’s not just words; they actually live it.”
Kashish shared three key takeaways from her interview:
- Having a founder’s mindset
- A people-centric approach
- A spirit of service and innovation
Despite not getting the job, she appreciated the positive experience. “They made sure I felt valued during my time in the office, even though I wasn’t the right fit for the role,” she said. Concluding her post, she wrote, “Didn’t get the job but walked away with a great experience (and a cool story).”
CEO Deepinder Goyal’s Reaction
Deepinder Goyal noticed her post and responded with a simple yet appreciative message: “Thanks so much for the mention, Kashish.”
Her experience struck a chord with professionals online, with many praising Zomato’s work culture. One user commented, “This is exactly what company culture should be: genuine, human, and supportive.” Another added, “This is why some organizations stand out. It is not just about hiring the best, but about treating everyone with respect.”
While Kashish may not have received an offer letter, she left with something equally valuable – an experience worth sharing.
