Age: 33

Industry: E-commerce and digital marketing

Your role then and now (before and after negotiating): I was managing marketing operations for a startup and now oversee multiple teams as a senior project manager

Length of time in industry: 8 years

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Salary jump: Salary increase of 30%

Any additional benefits: Additional paid time off, more flexible work hours and performance bonuses

How did you decide it was time to make a change?

I started to realise that my responsibilities kept on increasing over time but my pay didn’t. So, I felt that it was just fair for me to reassess my growing contributions to both my team and the company, and how my compensation reflects those contributions.

Have you ever negotiated a promotion, title change or pay rise before?

Before this one, I had attempted to negotiate a pay raise but did not aggressively fight for the increase I proposed when my manager negotiated to meet halfway. So, this was my first successful attempt to negotiate a significant pay rise.

What preparation did you do beforehand?

I did not go to the battle empty-handed. I researched salary benchmarks in the digital marketing industry and my role (digital marketing specialist). Fortunately, I keep a tracker of all my tasks and achievements, so it was easy to document my significant contributions. I also prepared an outline and analogy of how my work had impacted the company’s growth. And to be honest, I also rehearsed different scenarios for the conversation I’d be having with my boss.

What reasons did you give for a pay rise?

With everything documented, it was easy to point to my increased responsibilities, successful projects and the direct value I brought to the company, particularly in expanding our client base and improving our team’s operational efficiency.

Did you have a contingency plan if your request wasn’t met?

One of the scenarios I practised was this. And, yes, I was prepared to open the discussion about alternative forms of compensation, such as additional vacation time or a performance-based bonus structure.

What was the scariest part of the process?

I was afraid my boss might see me as ungrateful. I was also anxious about damaging my relationship with my employer. Overall, asking for more felt daunting, even though I knew I deserved it.

How long did the process take?

It took about two weeks from my initial request to the finalisation of the new contract with my updated compensation.

Would you do anything differently this time?

If anything, I think I would have asked earlier. I hesitated because I wasn’t sure of my timing, and I was also afraid it might damage the good relationship I had with my manager. But looking back, I should have spoken up sooner when I felt my role and responsibilities had already evolved.

Mimi Nguyen is the co-founder of Cafely. 

Images: Getty