Issue #13: How to Negotiate a Higher Salary
Everything you need to know to increase your salary—whether it’s asking for a raise, negotiating during an interview, or positioning yourself for higher pay.
Reading time: 8 minutes
Everyone talks about investing here, investing there, doing this and that with your money. But nobody tells you where to get that money from in the first place.
Well, that money typically comes from your job. I know, I know, shocking revelation. But somebody had to say it.
Jokes aside, the salary you get isn’t random. It reflects how the market values your skills. If you want to change your paycheck, you’ll need to change how the market sees you. It’s not fair, but it’s the truth. So, you’d ask me, “Toghrul, but how can I increase my salary?” I got you, my friend, I got you.
The Plan That Always Works
1. Learn New Skills
Not just any skill. Marketable skills. Stuff that companies will actually pay for, not your grandma’s secret bread recipe (no offense, it’s probably delicious). It sounds obvious, but it’s the easiest way to climb.
Coding is a classic example. Someone flips burgers at McDonald’s, picks up a few coding courses, and bam, they’re a software engineer. You don’t have to follow that exact path but focus on skills that make you marketable.
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX are great.
If you’re not lazy, there are numerous ways to learn for free. You can learn almost anything you want. The crème de la crème is the free combination of Youtube+Google+Reddit+ChatGPT.
I strongly recommend dedicating at least 2 to 4 hours to studying every day before you start your workday.
So if you start your work at 9 a.m. and need 1 hour to get ready, it’s best to wake up at 6 a.m., get ready, and learn from 7 to 9.
We all have 24 hours in a day. But let’s be real: when you come back from work, you’re drained and have no energy to study. So if you do that before work, well, that’s a different story.
2. Just Ask for a Raise
If you’ve been grinding at your job for years without a pay bump, ask for one. It sounds simple because it is. Most companies will give a small raise if you ask but don’t expect a miracle. Raises usually hover around 3-5%, which barely covers inflation.
How To Negotiate a Raise
Look the Part
Looks matter. Whether in person or on a Zoom call, dress like you care. For men, a crisp shirt, a blazer, or even a tie can make a strong impression. For women, a smart blouse, a tailored blazer, or a sleek, professional dress.
Watch Something Funny Beforehand
Before your meeting, take a few minutes to watch a comedy clip or a funny video. Laughter works wonders—it relaxes you, boosts your mood, and helps you carry a natural, joyful energy into the conversation. A genuine smile, not a forced one, creates warmth and makes you more approachable. Plus, research shows that smiling can actually help you earn more money. Seriously.
Show the Receipts
Keep a list of your achievements. Projects you’ve led, problems you’ve solved, praise from colleagues. Prove your worth with facts.
Take it a step further: ask your colleagues for written feedback or even a quick note highlighting your contributions. Offer to do the same for them. It’s a fair trade that benefits everyone.
For example, if you helped on a major project or supported a team effort, ask a teammate to write a short acknowledgment of your role. Peer testimonials can be incredibly effective when presenting your case for a raise, which shows that your value extends beyond your own perspective.
Take on New Challenges
Before asking for a raise, make sure you’ve taken on tasks that push your limits and help you grow. Volunteer for projects that let you learn new skills and apply them directly to your work.
Not only does this boost your value to the company, but it also gives you practical achievements to showcase on your resume. A stronger resume is your safety net if the raise doesn’t pan out.
Rehearse Your Ask
Practice until you can say it confidently without sounding arrogant. Be ready to address potential objections.
Research is your ally here. Use platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, OpenSalary, ZipRecruiter, Payscale, or Salary Expert to determine the market average for your position. If you discover you’re being paid below the average, that’s a solid point to bring up.
If you feel comfortable, discreetly ask trusted colleagues in similar roles about their salaries. Having this information equips you with hard evidence to justify your request. If your manager pushes back or denies the raise, present your research as a last resort.
3. Change Jobs
The best way to grow your salary is by switching jobs every 1-2 years. I bumped my pay this way by 10%, 20%, even 90%.
But to land that raise or job hop for better pay, you need something to show for it. If you haven’t done anything exceptional at your current job, haven’t learned new skills, or haven’t taken on extra responsibilities, you’ll find it tough to negotiate or progress. Switching jobs without growth will likely land you in a similar role with little to no salary increase.
However, there are exceptions where this rule doesn’t apply:
You’re Already Well-Compensated
If your salary is at or above the market rate for your position, as verified through platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, OpenSalary, ZipRecruiter, Payscale, or Salary Expert, it may be wise to stay.
Opportunities to Learn and Grow
If your current job offers the chance to take on new tasks, acquire practical skills, or work on challenging projects that you can add to your resume, stay and make the most of it. The growth will pay off later in your career.
Mission-Driven Work
If you’re part of an organization creating something groundbreaking (e.g. OpenAI, SpaceX), it’s worth staying.
Small Startup Roles
In startups with small teams (under 10 people), you’re often doing the work of two or three people. While it can be intense at the start, the range of skills you’ll develop and the experience you’ll gain can be invaluable for future opportunities.
Here’s the bottom line:
A $100K job that teaches you nothing is a dead-end. A $30K job that challenges you, forces you to learn, and pushes you to grow is priceless.
The person in the $30K role will eventually surpass $100K and keep climbing, while the stagnant high-salary worker risks losing their job and dropping in market value. Your skills determine your future worth—keep building them.
How to Ace the Interview
Use the same principles we’ve talked about, but take it a step further by showcasing your portfolio. When the time is right, ask confidently: “Is it okay if I show you my portfolio and walk you through how I got here?”
Keep it short—3 to 5 minutes. Highlight your projects, explain what challenges you faced, what came easily, and why you approached solutions the way you did. Share feedback you received from colleagues or managers.
Connect, Don’t Just Interview
Skills matter, but so does likability. Forget the idea of a rigid interview. You’re building a connection with the interviewer. If they like you, you’ll move forward; if not, even the best resume might not save you.
Focus on being genuine, personable, and respectful. Compliment them when it’s appropriate, but make it authentic.
What I do is diligently find something I truly like about the interviewer. Sometimes it’s their smile, sometimes it’s their glasses, or even the color of their shirt that stands out and looks great. Be genuine, not weird or creepy.
Once, I even had an interviewer who spent 50 minutes just talking about her life. I listened, nodded, asked questions, and genuinely tried to connect. Honestly, it felt more like a therapy session than an interview—but guess what? I still got the job.
The Salary Talk—How to Play It Smart
When the conversation shifts to salary, follow these key principles:
Never Say Your Range First: This is non-negotiable. NON-NEGOTIABLE. The first person to say a number loses. Employers want to pay as little as possible, and you want to maximize your earnings. Don’t lowball yourself.
Turn the Question Around: If they ask about your expected salary, respond with:
“Well, it really depends. The range in the market varies quite a bit, so it would be helpful to know the range for this position.”
Aim High, But Stay Realistic: Once they share their range, position yourself at the middle, upper end, or up to 10-20% above their top number if your skills and experience justify it. Never exceed this. It could come across as unreasonable or insulting.
What Not to Say
Employers will try to use your location, current salary, or personal circumstances against you. Here’s how to respond:
Where do you live?
“I’m a digital nomad, so I move around depending on work. FYI, I’ve never had any issues aligning my hours with company needs.”
What’s your current salary?
“I signed an NDA, so I’m not comfortable sharing that.”
What’s your salary range?
“From my research, similar roles range from $30K to $200K, depending on the company and responsibilities. I’d love $200K, of course, but I understand every job has a specific range. Could you please let me know what the salary range is for this position?”
Bonus: Resume Tips
Keep it one page
Include only your email, portfolio or website, and LinkedIn profile. Skip photos, addresses, and phone numbers.
Use the STAR method to describe your accomplishments.
Treat LinkedIn as the extended version of your resume. Add more details about your achievements and career history.
Recruiters spend only a few seconds on your resume, and that’s if you make it past the bot (commonly called ATS, Applicant Tracking System). If nothing catches their eye, you won’t move forward, even if you’re the perfect candidate. Make the important stuff stand out to grab their attention quickly. Reference video.
You can use this template. It helped me have a 5-10% success rate with my applications. That means 5 to 10 interviews for every 100 applications. It’s far better than the <1% many others struggle with.
Thank you for reading. Sorry, it’s a big one, but I hope it’s a wealth of knowledge for you. If this improves your life even by 1%, I’ve done my job. You’ve got this. Go get them, tiger, tigress, or whatever you identify as. See you next Thursday!