Thanks for you patience!

We will run Paytalk for the first half of the evening. Please be ready to _anonymously_ share your comp info along with some non-identifying info about you. We will disaggregate this information and discuss the market, trends and what this means for those seeking a job or seeking to hire.

And then we've finally aligned this so someone who is an expert can answer questions about recruiters, negotiation etc!

# Abstract

Talking to recruiters and negotiating compensation are critical skills that require lots of practice. In this PayTalk we’ll discuss the role different types of recruiters play in helping companies acquire talent, and how you can identify a good recruiter early on. We’ll also discuss how to talk about compensation, including the components that make up an offer and strategies to get the best offer possible.

# Bio

Somer has been recruiting for 18 years. She began her career placing software engineers in the early 2000s and for the past 12 years has been on the retained search side placing executives. Most recently she led the US Digital, Tech & Commerce Practice at a global executive search firm, placing executives leading engineering, data, architecture, infrastructure, product, digital, security and GM functions. In February 2020 she launched Distinguished Search, focused on executive Technology, Data, Product and Digital recruitment. She began her career in NYC, then later moved to Washington DC and came to Austin July 2019. She's looking forward to going outside again.