Insights from Nolan Church, CEO of FairComp, Empower Job Seekers to Secure Competitive Salaries
Nolan Church, renowned as a former Google recruiter and currently serving as the CEO of FairComp, has offered invaluable guidance on salary negotiation strategies for job seekers. His fundamental advice echoes the sentiment: “if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” However, Church underscores the need for job seekers to comprehend how companies formulate salary offers.
Church identifies two pivotal factors influencing salary determinations: firstly, compensation data sourced from providers to establish salary bands, and secondly, the company’s compensation philosophy, dictating their position within these bands.
For prospective candidates, Church recommends initiating discussions about the specific salary band pertinent to their role. Understanding this band not only elucidates the level of seniority associated with the position but also sheds light on the corresponding salary range. He suggests leveraging this insight by expressing enthusiasm for the offer initially and then seeking additional time for contemplation.
During this reflection period, Church advises job seekers to delve into salary research and leverage industry connections for deeper insights. Armed with comprehensive data, candidates can confidently revisit negotiations with the prospective employer. Church emphasizes the importance of conveying enthusiasm for the opportunity while proposing a desired salary figure aligned with research findings and an understanding of the company’s compensation philosophy.
Church’s counsel underscores the reality that negotiation outcomes may vary. Nevertheless, he asserts that failing to advocate for a higher salary potentially squanders the opportunity to secure better compensation.
