A recent LinkedIn post by Bengaluru CEO Arjun V has sparked widespread discussion about salary negotiations in hiring. Arjun, Co-Founder and CEO of Zoko, revealed that his company avoids salary negotiations altogether, paying candidates exactly what they request. This approach, he says, helps in retaining top talent.
“After hiring 18+ members for my team, I’ve found the secret to retaining world-class talent: We don’t negotiate salaries. We literally pay what they ask for,” Arjun wrote. He further explained that annual salary revisions are conducted to adjust compensation as needed.
Arjun shared, “PS: I’ve only negotiated salary once, and it was to increase the amount a candidate asked for. They undervalued themselves compared to others in the same role, so I had to tell them that and offer them more.”
The post has received a range of reactions on LinkedIn. Some users praised the straightforward approach, while others raised questions about its practicality. The co-founder and CEO of ellow.io queried, “Arjun, what if they ask for unrealistic hikes? I have negotiated with candidates asking 100% hikes.”
Neetu Elsa Ninan, an AI and Analytics professional, commented, “I’m curious as to how these annual revisions are done. It’s great that this model works for you, and I’m sure the returns are promising. I guess it’s all about finding the perfect balance between investment and returns, considering human emotions and behavior patterns.”
One user suggested, “This post should be used as a mini guide for recruitment,” while another called it “awesome” and suggested that other recruiters should emulate this approach, arguing against scenarios where recruiters push hard on candidates to save money for employers.