Arjun V, co-founder and CEO of Bengaluru-based Zoko, recently shared his distinctive hiring approach on LinkedIn, revealing that his company does not negotiate salaries with candidates. Instead, Zoko pays exactly what candidates ask for, aiming to attract and retain top talent.
“After hiring over 18 team members, I’ve found the secret to retaining world-class talent: We don’t negotiate salaries. We literally pay what they ask for,” Arjun stated.
Annual salary revisions are conducted to ensure fairness and competitive compensation. Arjun explained that he once negotiated to increase a candidate’s requested salary because they undervalued themselves compared to others in the same role.
The post sparked varied reactions. One user questioned, “What if they ask for unrealistic hikes? I have negotiated with candidates asking 100% hikes.” Another user praised the model but noted its potential challenges for startups or large companies needing bulk recruitment. “It’s great that this model works for you, and I’m sure the returns are promising. It’s all about finding the perfect balance between investment and returns,” they commented.
A third user suggested the post could serve as a mini guide for recruitment. Others praised the approach, advocating for less pressure on candidates during salary negotiations. “This is awesome and should be emulated by other recruiters. A situation where a recruiter is pushing hard on the candidate to save money for the employer should be discouraged,” one user noted.