Amit had been loyal to his company for seven years. He started at ₹12 LPA. After years of hard work, late nights, and consistent performance, he had reached ₹20 LPA.
One day, over coffee, he casually asked a new hire about their package.₹30 LPA.
His mind went blank.
This person had less experience, was still learning the ropes, and yet they were making ₹10 lakh more.
His first reaction? Shock.
His second? Betrayal.
He had been the go-to person for firefighting.
The one who trained others.
The one who never dropped the ball.
So why was he being paid less than someone who just walked in?
Amit marched to his manager.
Here is what his manager said...
"We value you, Amit.
But salaries of external hires
are based on market rates."
(of course there are exceptional employees in the company who make money at the market rate)
Translation:
🔹 New hires get paid what the market demands.
🔹 Long-term employees get “incremental” raises.
🔹 Loyalty is appreciated, but not always compensated.
And that was the moment Amit realized,
staying too long in one place is the
most expensive mistake you can make.
He updated his resume.
He tested the market.
Within 90 days, he had a 40% hike offer.
And suddenly, his company wanted to match it.
But he had already made up his mind.
So what is the lesson from this real story?
1) Loyalty should be a two-way street.
2) Know your worth.
3) Keep an eye on the market.
4) Negotiate what you deserve.
Because in the corporate world,
staying comfortable is the easiest way to lose money.
Do You Agree?
Have you ever faced such situation?
Do let us know your thoughts in comments.
P.S: If you are thinking of changing your job, don't miss this post on Resume Optimization: Best Resume Writing Tips for FREE
Thanks. Anand . It was helpful for me to get some idea
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