Gormless Systems: Recruiter Style Guide, §Salary (Rev. 7)

GORMLESS SYSTEMS — TALENT ACQUISITION STYLE GUIDE

Section 9: The Salary Question (Rev. 7) · Internal use only

9.1 The candidate is to be asked for their expected salary before any figure is offered by us. This is called anchoring and is to be performed whether or not a band for the role exists.

9.2 If the candidate asks for the band instead, reply "it's competitive" and wait. Do not elaborate. The pause is the answer.

9.3 Where the candidate names a number, respond that it is "above our range" before checking whether a range exists. If it later turns out to have been below the range, proceed at their number and record the saving.

9.4 Candidates who decline to name a number are "not aligned on comp" and may be closed at any stage, including after the final round.

9.5 Range data is to be described to candidates as "market-informed". It is informed by the market in the sense that the market is where we found the number we were already going to pay.

9.6 An offer may be described as "competitive" if it falls within one standard deviation of anything.

9.7 Counter-offers are to be met with silence for five business days. Candidates who follow up are "high-engagement"; candidates who do not are "not that interested".

9.8 If asked directly whether the salary is negotiable, the correct answer is that it is competitive.

— Talent Acquisition, Gormless Systems

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