The harsh truth about being a community manager at Zostel

Indexed: 2026-05-18

[00:00:01]Hello guys.

[00:00:03]Today's topic of the video is harsh reality about being a community manager.

[00:00:07]But first before that let me show you this view.

[00:00:30]Uh this is how everyone thinks that the life of a community manager is.

[00:00:34]>> [laughter] >> You know, best locations, having party with people. Yeah, that's why I'm making this video for people to know what is the myths that actually people don't know yet.

[00:00:49]So the first myth is life of a customer in community manager is same as life of a community manager in Zostel.

[00:01:00]But with extended pay and food. Yeah, wrong. So basically this is my story. I have been community manager of Zostel plus beer for 4 months.

[00:01:13]Now I'm not there anymore, hence I'm making this video.

[00:01:17]So I in 2026 January I went to Zostel Indore as a customer. And I saw I started enjoying that place. That place has a very good vibe and value.

[00:01:31]And there was this good community manager who was trying to make people interact with each other and I was like, yeah, I can also do this. And also I thought that >> [snorts] >> I would be given stay and food and everything. And I thought that what better job is to choose than if you're like having something on the side.

[00:01:51]What better job is to go as a community manager, work party, meet people.

[00:01:58]Yeah, that is not how it is. So, as [snorts] a customer uh you can do anything in Zostel. You can go out at any time, you can come back at any time, you can talk to anyone, but as a community manager you are expected to follow rules. You're expected to be there on time, you're expected to create activities according to people, you are expected to show up uh whenever you are required.

[00:02:27]Uh so, it is not the same as >> [snorts] >> uh as a customer. So, and this is something that actually people should understand uh first. Second thing, and also one more thing uh you can choose like community manager role is to make others happy, and there is no one responsible for you to make happy if you are not the customer.

[00:02:55]Uh [snorts] myth two.

[00:02:58]They say that they give energy exchange for the community manager role.

[00:03:05]So, they So, when I got selected into Zostel Plus, Zostel as a community manager, I asked them that whether I will be given stipend, and they said, "No, you will be given money. Uh you will not be given money.

[00:03:19]You will be having a fair energy exchange where you will be given stay and unlimited food for your work that you will be doing in Zostel."

[00:03:28]So, I was like, "Cool.

[00:03:29]Uh I can choose that."

[00:03:31]But, >> [snorts] >> as soon as I reached the property, these rules started changing. There was no fair energy exchange. Uh you s- start like the owner >> [snorts] >> or the team in Zostel uh the property owner team, basically. I will call them the property team, and then there is another team, which is Zostel team. So, Zostel team is responsible for hiring community manager, property team is responsible for running the property.

[00:04:02]Both are independent.

[00:04:03]So, as soon as I reach there, the first thing is you start having conflicts with properties team. So, for example, they think that, you know, they started first manipulating me to actually start eat half staff food, saying that the previous community manager did not get the same treatment as you.

[00:04:23]And then later on, I did not agree. So, [snorts] they went behind my back, complained to Zostel team that I was eating too much food. The Zostel team did not even communicate back, and immediately told me that this the rules of fair energy exchange are changed.

[00:04:39]So, there is no fair energy exchange.

[00:04:45]Whenever the owner or the property team actually feels any problem with you, the energy exchange goes out of the window.

[00:04:53]There is no one to protect you.

[00:04:54]Let's say the team actually This is what happened to me twice. So, also the reason of I left the place.

[00:05:03]Whenever the Zostel team, property team complained to Zostel about something that was not going according to them, what they expected of me, the team, without even questioning or without even discussing with me, just wrote me a mail to quit immediately, without even asking anything.

[00:05:25]So, this is how it is. So, if you go as a community manager, don't expect anyone to actually protect you, because the priority is not you, the priority is the property.

[00:05:36]And for property, you can be sold anytime. Okay? So, fair energy exchange, out of the window.

[00:05:43]Uh what else?

[00:05:47]So, myth three.

[00:05:49]They say that the community manager role is just to interact with people. Okay, this is the tagline and then that changes. So, the first thing they will say is, "Okay, just you have to say hi."

[00:06:01]Then the second thing they would start tell you that you are being expected to conduct activities. Then they say you would be conducted to do two activities. Then they would say >> [laughter] >> you would be conducted to do indoor activity and outdoor activity as well.

[00:06:18]Then they would say you are expected to ask for review. Then they would say you are expected to create a content page for Zostel.

[00:06:27]And slowly slowly these roles are being added to you uh because yeah, there is no [snorts] energy exchange, no valuing uh community manager. They think that giving uh property and food and stay is enough for someone, which is I don't know how to say.

[00:06:53]Because Zostel is famous for providing happiness to people and community managers are the leaders in that, but I guess uh more community managers can comment that are they happy? Are they being actually treated the same way as they are treating the people?

[00:07:13]So, this is the another myth buster.

[00:07:17]Uh So, all the best if you want to actually explore your life as a community manager. I had a great time uh because [snorts] I was good at what I was doing. Uh and but all the other problems I faced continuously for 4 months. I was fighting for my own food, for my own breakfast. You would be given the food at the last. No one tells you this before. Huh.

[00:07:44]You are sitting with a community, but your food will be at the last. So, anyway.

[00:07:52]>> [snorts] >> And if community is not happy, then obviously you are responsible for it.

[00:07:57]Let's say if one person give a bad review, then you are responsible for it.

[00:08:00]If So, basically you are responsible for everything that does not go according to the owner or the team.

[00:08:10]So, all the best and I hope this video reaches out to people, to everyone to know that what is the truth behind being a community manager at Zostel.

[00:08:20]And all the best if you are applying still as a Zostel community manager. All the best. Bye-bye. Take care.