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Podcast Episode

Act Your Wage - What to Say and How to Say it with John Gates

Career Intelligence Podcast··2 August 2026·42 min

About this episode

In this episode, recruiter-turned-Salary Coach John Gates, author of Act Your Wage, shares what 30 years on the employer's side of the negotiating table taught him about how candidates consistently leave money on the table. John explains why answering early salary questions with a range (not a number) is your most powerful move, how to understand total compensation beyond base salary, and what to do the moment an offer arrives (hint: don't say yes right away). You'll also learn how to ask the right questions to find where a company has flexibility, how consultants can stop underpricing themselves, and why negotiating, even in a tough job market, is more accessible than most people think. We want to hear from you! Connect with us! Kathleen Dohoney celticcareerpros.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/ Betsy Jewell betsyjewellcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/ Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz yourcareerhappinesspc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/ John Gates Bio:   John Gates is a veteran corporate recruiting leader, best-selling author of Act Your Wage, and founder of Salary Coach Academy. A former Head of Global Recruiting for multiple Fortune 500 companies, John has trained hundreds of recruiters and overseen more than 75,000 job offer negotiations during his career. Today, he helps corporate professionals negotiate their next pay package comfortably and safely, using insider techniques drawn from more than 20 years on the corporate side of the hiring table. His clients often uncover 5- and 6-figure gains they might otherwise have left on the table — without damaging relationships or putting opportunities at risk. Connect with John: John@Salary.coach https://Salary.coach https://SalaryCoachAcademy.com Follow John on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngates-salarycoach/ Link to Act Your Wage book:  https://tinyurl.com/ytcnuxmc