What if your first job let you understand how an entire business works — instead of putting you inside one tiny department?
I’m looking for a curious, driven early-career professional. You’ll work directly with the Founder, gaining exposure to real business decisions, problems and opportunities that are rarely accessible to someone at the beginning of their career.
This isn't a traditional role with a fixed script.
You might work on operations one day, coordinate with an international client the next, test an AI tool, improve a process, solve a customer problem, work with our CRM, or support a marketing/business initiative.
The common thread: you'll be expected to think, learn quickly, figure things out and take ownership.
About Chess Gaja
Chess Gaja is a global online chess academy founded by Grandmaster Priyadharshan Kannappan, serving students across 50+ countries.
We combine world-class chess coaching with structured operations, technology and automation to deliver a consistent experience to students and families around the world.
We're a growing business, and we're looking for people who don't just want a job — but want to grow with the company.
What you'll work on
The work will evolve as you grow. Depending on what the business needs and where your strengths develop, you could be involved in:
- Improving operational workflows and processes
- Coordinating with international clients, students and internal teams
- Exploring and implementing AI and digital tools
- Working with our CRM and business systems
- Identifying and solving day-to-day business problems
- Coordinating with coaches and other stakeholders
- Supporting marketing and business development initiatives
- Finding ways to make existing processes faster, simpler or better
You'll get exposure to multiple parts of the business rather than being confined to one department.
What this role can become
You may start by supporting different areas and learning how the business works.
As you become more capable, you'll progressively move from:
Learning → Executing → Owning → Leading
The goal is not for you to remain a trainee.
Over time, you'll be trusted with increasingly important projects, processes and business functions.
If you spend the next 1–2 years here, I want you to come out with something far more valuable than just another job title:
a strong practical understanding of how a real business works.
You'll develop practical skills across operations, communication, technology, project coordination, problem-solving and business fundamentals.
Who we're looking for
You don't need prior corporate experience. Freshers and early-career professionals welcome
What matters more to us:
Curiosity — You genuinely want to understand how things work.
Initiative — When you don't know something, you make a reasonable attempt to figure it out before waiting for instructions.
Common sense — You can make good decisions without everything being explicitly spelled out.
Communication — You can communicate clearly, professionally and politely in English. You'll be interacting with international clients and teams, so strong written communication matters.
Adaptability — You're comfortable learning new software, systems and ways of working.
Reliability — You follow through on commitments and don't need to be constantly reminded.
Process discipline — You take pride in keeping things organized, following up properly and getting the small details right.
Learning speed — You pick things up quickly and apply what you've learned.
Chess is a plus, but not a requirement. If you play chess or regularly enjoy playing online, we'd love to know. A 1000+ rating on Chess.com or Lichess is a bonus, but we're equally happy to hear from casual players.
What you'll get exposure to
One of the advantages of this role is that you'll work with the actual systems and tools used to run a growing international business.
You'll get hands-on experience with Zoho One, including its CRM and business automation capabilities, as well as other digital and AI tools.
You won't just learn these tools theoretically — you'll use them to solve real business problems.
This role may not be for you if...
You prefer:
- A rigid job description
- Doing the same type of work every day
- Being told exactly what to do at every step
- Waiting for someone else to solve problems
- A role where learning new tools or skills isn't part of the job
This opportunity is best suited to someone who wants to build depth through breadth early in their career and gradually take on more responsibility.
Role Details
- Location: Preferably Madurai. Exceptional candidates from elsewhere may also be considered.
- Role: Full-time | Generalist / Founder’s Associate — Early Career
- During Probation Salary: ₹16,000-₹18,000/month
- Post Probation Salary: ₹18,000–₹20,000/month (There is a yearly retention bonus component part of the salary)
- Experience: Freshers and early-career professionals welcome
- Work environment: International business serving students and families across 50+ countries
- Equipment: You must have your own reliable laptop and mobile phone, along with a 50+ Mbps internet connection at home.
Important Terms — Please Read Before Applying
Working Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Other shifts, such as 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM or 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM, may be assigned after probation based on business requirements.
Working Days: Monday to Saturday
Weekly Off: Sunday
Probation: 3 months
Notice Period: 2 months after successful completion of probation
Joining: We are looking for immediate joiners only.
Leave Policy: Our current leave policy can be viewed here:
https://workdrive.zohoexternal.in/external/04a4811f48c16dcc8e85ad7f1e80f32630f47ae0120c3cd4bb048572f17733ed
Please review these terms carefully before applying.
Please answer all the screening Qn - In your own words. We value specific real examples over polished or generic answers.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: ₹18,000.00 - ₹20,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Leave encashment
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Work from home
Application Question(s):
- Can you bring your own device? (Laptop and Mobile Phone)
- Do you have or have the ability to get Internet connection with an upload and download speed above 50Mbps?
- This is a remote role. However, candidates based in or around Madurai are preferred, as occasional visits to our registered office may be required for training, meetings, or coordination.
- Do you play Chess? If yes, please provide your Chess.com/Lichess username and current rating. (Type 'No' if you don't play).
- Tell us about something you learned or figured out on your own without anyone asking you to do it. What was it?
- Why are you interested in a Generalist / Founder’s Associate role rather than a specialized role in a single department?
- Imagine you are assigned a task but don't fully understand what is expected. What would you do?
- What is one skill you would genuinely like to become very good at over the next 12 months, and why?
- If you received another job offer paying ₹5,000 more after 4 months at Chess Gaja, what would make you stay?
- What do you want your career to look like 2 years from now?
- Tell us about a time when nobody was checking whether you were working, but you still had to get something important done. What did you do?
- This is a 6-day working role, Monday–Saturday, from 9 AM–6 PM, with breaks. The role is remote, but occasional visits to our Madurai office may be required. Are you comfortable with this work arrangement for at least the next 12 months? Please explain.
Education:
Work Location: Remote
