Put Market Data Into Perspective Trusted recruiters listen to their clients, the potential candidates, and the marketplace. They want a win-win situation in the end. They want their candidates retained, motivated by their new environment, performing be- yond expectations and rewarded accordingly. They are people who keep confidences. You can be sure that what you are saying to them is not being said to others. You know this because they don't gossip about others to you. They use their sense of the market in the judgments and information they provide when reconciling both pay and overall compensation. Recent Hires Recent hires are another good source of intelligence, provided their observations are free of data-altering filters. Know the circumstances under which they left their previous employer. Determine how it will influence their view of compensation and the comparator. Without vio- lating previously signed confidentiality agreements, did their position in the former company provide them a credible vantage point of informa- tion that could help in assessing external compensation values? Do they