Comp Talk

Employee Spotlight: Meet Patrick Conner

Written by Waing Noe | Nov 12, 2024 4:17:22 PM

Patrick Conner is a Solutions Consultant at BetterComp, bringing over 15 years of experience in the compensation industry. Based in Massachusetts, Patrick joined the BetterComp team in July 2023 and plays a key role in helping Comp Pros understand the latest advancements in market pricing technology and how they can leverage these solutions to meet their specific needs. We sat down with Patrick to learn more about his role and life outside of work!

Can you share a brief overview of your professional background and how you ended up in your current role?

My first job out of college was with a medical software company, where I served as an implementation consultant. I loved traveling around the country, training new users on how to set up and navigate the software. During those commutes, I always found myself passing the Salary.com building, and I became curious about what went on inside.

After some research, I discovered that a colleague of mine had a friend working there. Thanks to that connection, I got an interview, and before I knew it, I was stepping into the role of Account Manager at Salary.com! Since then, I’ve immersed myself in HR technology, with a particular focus on compensation management, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of this journey. These days, I'm excited to be a Solutions Consultant at BetterComp, where I get to help Comp Pros tackle challenges everyday. 

Describe your role at BetterComp:

Each day varies, which keeps things exciting! I get to work with a lot of different teams. One moment, I’m conducting product demonstrations, and the next, I’m strategizing with colleagues on deals or providing support—whether that’s training or helping out other departments with their questions about the product.

What is your favorite part about your job? About working at BetterComp in general? 

My favorite part of the job is demoing the product. Each demo feels like a performance that I can tailor depending on the needs of the audience. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of nailing a customer’s requirements and delivering a fantastic demo. The best part about working at BetterComp, though, is the people—everyone is incredibly nice and supportive. Company culture holds a lot of weight for me.

What do you like doing when you’re not at work?

I love to read and listen to music. I read all types of genres, but I really like a good historical fiction book. I love the great outdoors, mainly just being in nature. I am also one of the coaches on my son’s hockey team so a lot of my time these days is spent at a rink or driving to a rink.  During the summer it’s a similar routine but with baseball.

How do you continue to learn and grow in your role? Are there any particular skills or areas you're currently focused on improving?

I learn a lot just by talking to customers. I talk to a lot of customers, and I pay close attention to general trends and practices I hear out in the field. Additionally, I learn by doing, making mistakes, and being receptive to feedback.

Currently, I’m particularly focused on expanding my knowledge of AI, which I find extremely interesting and powerful. I’m working on understanding the basics of machine learning and generative AI, but my main emphasis is on AI prompting, because I believe it will be very important to know how to effectively use these incredible tools.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting in your field, what would it be? 

One piece of advice I would give to anyone starting in any field is that it is ok to make mistakes and fail. In fact, personal or career growth is not possible without making a lot of mistakes along the way.

Is there a piece of advice you received early in your career that has stayed with you?

 If you make a mistake, own it and grow from it.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever visited and what made it so special? 

I once got to go to England for a 16 day work trip.  During the week, I stayed in a charming smaller town just outside of London, and it was really cool to experience the suburbs of another country and see what daily life looks like there. On the weekends, I had the chance to hang out in London and explore the city. I really enjoyed meeting new people and the eye-opening experiences I had along the way. Plus, I couldn’t resist indulging in fish and chips almost every day!

What’s your favorite book/movie/TV show and why is it your favorite? 

“The Office” is my all-time favorite TV show. It was very relatable at the time, and it brings back memories of gathering with all of my friends back in the day when you had to wait until Thursday night to watch the new episode.

If you could time travel, where in time would you go and why?

I would travel to Egypt while the Great Pyramid was being built to see how the heck they did it! 

Want to join our team? Check out open roles at BetterComp!