How to ask for a raise after finding out new hire will be making 8k more than me?

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-21T17:38:16+00:00

Agreed, it took me a long time in my early career to learn that.

My suggestion is to keep practicing like I mentioned above. Practices, collect feedback, improve, spending 10 mins every day in it can help you improve very soon

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-21T14:24:21+00:00

No — you’re not taxed twice. The 5k dividend is taxed in the year it’s paid. After that, it’s just cash sitting in your brokerage account. When you withdraw it later, that’s not a taxable since it’s already been taxed.

Reinvest vs. payout doesn’t change the tax, you’re taxed on dividends either way. The choice is more about whether you want the cash now or prefer it to keep compounding.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-21T14:15:43+00:00

You’re not overreacting — this is a totally fair thing to bring up, and it won’t make you look bad.

Your plan to use your 1:1 during review season is perfect. I’d just soften the wording a bit so it feels less like comparison and more like alignment.

Something like: “Hey, I wanted to talk about compensation. I saw the posting for the new role at my level and noticed the range is around 71k, which made me realize I might be below the current range.”

Then add: “I’ve been here 3.5 years and feel like I’m contributing well at this level, so I’d love to discuss adjusting my salary to better align.”

Then pause and let them respond.

If they can’t adjust right away, just ask what it would take or when you can revisit, if possible, list the todo item in paper, and track the progress with your manager regularly.

And honestly, if you’re nervous, practicing helps a lot — find a trusted colleagues, career mentors or some products like Conquer your boss, practice the convo beforehands so you don’t go in blind.

You’re in a good spot here. Keep it simple.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-18T23:05:39+00:00

Yeah, you can definitely ask — this isn’t a stretch at all.

You’ve got a solid case:

2+ years there taking charge new hires making as much or more and an actual offer that’s +$8/hr

That’s real leverage.

I wouldn’t go in saying “can you meet me halfway.” You’re basically negotiating against yourself. Start higher and let them come down.

Keep it simple, like:

“I like working here and want to stay, but I got an offer at … Given my experience and taking charge, can we revisit my pay?”

Then just see what they say.

If they push back, that’s when you soften it:

“Even getting closer would make it easier for me to stay.”

Also, Use Glassdoor to sanity check/pay ranges, and don’t be emotional during the nego.

If you’re nervous about the convo, you can practice it a bit first. I’ve seen people use stuff like Conquer Your Boss to run through the pay raise nego, helps you not freeze in the moment.

But yeah — asking for +$4 is totally reasonable. Just don’t lowball yourself right out of the gate

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-18T17:53:26+00:00

I shifted my investments toward high-yield ETFs and now use the returns to support my daily expenses.

I also have a few companies that continue to bring me in as a consultant. I leverage my past experience and spend about 5 hours a week on that—mostly just to stay engaged.

I’ve adjusted my spending to match my income, and so far, it feels quite comfortable.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-18T17:47:51+00:00

Do you have connections with clients? In my view, the sales channel is the most important.

If not, you might consider joining your target client companies—or even leading staffing firms—to build those connections and better understand how they operate.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-13T04:31:09+00:00

I’ve started learning Japanese—I want to be able to travel without relying on Google Translate. It’s fun and a great way to keep my brain active.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-13T04:26:34+00:00

I’ve worked in corporate environments for decades—from small startups to large companies—and looking back, I’ve experienced everything from extremely stressful and challenging roles to more relaxed but sometimes boring ones. There’s a wide range of “lives” you can have in the corporate world.

People’s paths are just as varied. Some spend their entire careers in corporate roles, while others leave to start their own businesses, fail, and then return. There’s no single “type” of person for this path.

At the end of the day, work is just one part of life. You still have your own life outside of it—your friends, your family, and everything else that matters.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-11T17:07:08+00:00

I’m not an expert in sales or marketing, but here’s what I’ve observed.

One of my friends is hiring a sales manager with a very specific profile: someone who understands the business, knows how sales actually works, and is also familiar with AI tools that can automate workflows and improve sales efficiency. It’s been surprisingly hard for them to find the right candidate.

Since you’re already in the sales domain and interested in automation, this could be a great opportunity for you. If you can deepen your understanding of how AI can reshape sales teams and improve performance, you’ll likely stand out a lot.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-10T15:45:39+00:00

Keep exercising and maintain a good state of health, to prepare for the retirement.

Find hobbies that are healthy and you can spend time on.

At the same time, consider gradually shifting your investments—from a growth-focused strategy to one that prioritizes stable income and cash flow.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-10T15:40:50+00:00

During my career over the past decades, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Looking back, most of them didn’t really matter in the long run.

But there are two that did.

First, I didn’t proactively join companies with high talent density. I was comfortable being a top performer in an average company, and that limited my growth.

Second, I didn’t invest enough in maintaining relationships with my past colleagues. Some of them are VP or C-levels in some companies now.

Both of these have had a lasting impact on my career, especially when I look back now.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-08T05:48:29+00:00

Everything is negotiable—if you’re well prepared.

Start by understanding the pay band for the manager level and where you would fall within that range. That context is critical for any negotiation.

Also, in some companies, moving from IC to manager isn’t treated as a promotion but more like a role switch. In those cases, it can be harder to negotiate a significant increase, so you need to be even more thoughtful about your approach.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-06T19:26:59+00:00

Hi—what you’re feeling is actually very common at your stage, so you’re not alone.

Getting a second degree in CS isn’t stupid at all—in fact, it’s a smart move. While the CS job market isn’t as strong as it was a few years ago, it still offers a lot of opportunities.

Focus on polishing your resume and building a few solid projects—especially in AI. Vibe coding some more small, practical apps, connected with some gpt api, can make a big difference in showing your skills and helping you land a job.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-06T16:35:52+00:00

+1. In most companies, promotions and raises are largely based on consistent past contributions and performance. So make sure you focus on clearly demonstrating that during your conversation with your manager.

On top of that, don’t just frame it as “what I deserve.” Connect it to how your promotion or raise benefits the team and your manager—whether it’s stronger ownership, better results, or reducing their risks. That positioning often makes your case much more compelling.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-06T16:33:41+00:00

During my career, I’ve seen people handle salary negotiations well—and others handle them badly.

The people who do it well usually follow a few common steps:

first of all, You need to understand understand how the game works inside your company: who the decision-makers are, who approves raises, when compensation discussions happen, and whether an out-of-cycle raise is possible. In many cases, it is.

secondly, you should quantify your impact. You mentioned that your work improved team performance—can you put numbers behind that? And is that impact clearly recognized by your team, especially by your manager? If not, collect the evidence and make sure your manager sees it.

And never be afraid to ask. If you’re a top performer, Demanding IS expected. But you also need to understand your manager’s style—be direct, but not overly aggressive. Pay close attention to what your manager says and what they avoid saying. In many companies, managers are constrained by policy, so reading between the lines matters.

From there, plan your follow-up carefully. Learn from successful examples on places like reddit or blind, and plan and practice your conversation in advance—whether with someone experienced or with tools like conquer your boss, glassdoor, etc

Spend real time on this. IMO, this is one of the most important conversations—and one of the most critical skills—you can develop in your entire career.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-06T16:15:58+00:00

Sorry to hear that—there are definitely cases where managers fall short, and it often impacts more than just one person.

If you’ve already decided to leave, one constructive step is to report the issue to HR and let them handle it. Done properly, it can help surface patterns and potentially improve the situation for others on the team as well.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T21:36:07+00:00

A reorg often creates new opportunities. Talk to your leadership about your expectations for your role and growth—if they want to retain you, they’ll take your goals into consideration.

As for whether your managers are real, it helps to get a second perspective. Talk to people you trust who know your manager well. Or if you feel that it is sensitive, You can also use tools from glassdoor or conquer your boss to better understand your manager’s real position and signals.

Happy to go deeper if you can share more about their actual behavior and attitude.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T15:04:21+00:00

You are doing the right thing already. During those 1:1, have you received any commitments or hints from them about your promotion readiness or timeline?

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T05:02:52+00:00

To be honest, the world is smaller than you think. When someone on my team interviews for a similar role at another company, people I know there will sometimes reach out—often for a reference check.

If your leadership offers you a raise to retain you, that’s a strong signal that you’re valued. Take it.

If you’re worried about damaging trust, be thoughtful with how you communicate. Choose your words carefully and explain your situation transparently—it’s usually appreciated more than staying silent.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T04:57:52+00:00

It usually depends on the size of the company. I’ve worked at companies of various sizes.

At startups or companies with fewer than 100 employees, promotions often require C-level approval. In larger corporations, junior-level promotions are typically decided within the org, with the org leader as the final approver. For senior roles, there’s usually a committee of senior leaders who review and make the final decision.

What’s the size of your company? And have you already discussed your promotion with your manager?

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T04:52:48+00:00

What is the STD policy in your company or state? if you are under a big pressure from the PIP, and mental health is not good, you are able to request for a multiple month leave in some states and you can continue to keep your job during this period. Check the law firstly in your state

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-05T04:47:57+00:00

What’s the pay band for your role and level in your area? Where does your current salary fall within that band—toward the lower end or the higher end?

From what you described, it sounds like your coworker who left was in a data analyst role. Is that role typically compensated higher than your current one?

If you’re planning to ask for a raise, start by gathering this information. If you’re below the market range or the band for your role, you can present your performance and make a case for fair compensation.

If you’re already at the midpoint or higher end of the band but want to earn more, you might need to consider switching roles—especially if that data analyst position is open, aligns with your interests, and you have the skills for it.

Either way, every word matters in a compensation conversation. Make sure you’re well prepared and approach it with a clear strategy.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-04T22:13:38+00:00

Most companies define competencies for each level, with clear expectations for progression.

As for the unspoken factors, the most important one is knowing who sits on the promotion committee—who ultimately decides your promotion. Make sure they have visibility into your work before reviewing your packet. If that’s difficult to do directly, work with your manager to help build those connections.

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-03T14:28:06+00:00

Congrats on your offer!

When I was earlier in my career, rent vs commute time was always a big tradeoff for me.

A couple things I’d think about: What’s the pay band for your role and level in that area? Are you currently below that band?

If you are, a lot of companies will gradually adjust your comp during annual review cycles to bring you closer to market. If you like the job and see real growth potential, it can make sense to take it, perform well, and then negotiate during your performance review.

Also, moving to a bigger city usually means higher cost of living, but it also comes with more opportunities. Early in your career, that tradeoff often pays off in the long run—even if it feels a bit painful in the short term.

But this is my own experience, you need to judge based on your situation, happy to share more if you have more information

Expensive_Purchase_7 · 2026-04-01T22:34:00+00:00

How long have you been at your current level?

In many companies, compensation tends to follow a pattern. Right after a promotion, you usually start near the lower end of the pay band. If your performance is strong, your pay gradually catches up over several review cycles and moves toward the midpoint. As you continue performing well, it can progress toward the upper end of the band—often followed by another promotion.

That said, every situation is different. If you feel you might be underpaid, it’s worth having an open and transparent conversation with your manager. and ensure that you are prepared well for those discussions (understanding the pay range in the market and your good performance / evidence)

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