💸 “Nicole, I only got a 2% pay raise. I want to quit!”

That’s what a candidate told me over coffee recently

He was frustrated, upset, and questioning his future.

He had worked overtime, volunteered for extra projects, and expected a bigger raise and bonus.

Instead, he got 2%.

I comforted him and said:

“Hey at least we still have jobs. We’re lucky we haven’t been replaced by AI or outsourced yet.”

The truth is, I hear this complaint all the time from juniors all the way up to C-level executives.

And honestly, I used to complain myself too.

The market is slow.

Outsourcing is real.

AI is reshaping industries.

Pay raises aren’t guaranteed.

But as I age (I hope I don't look that old in person)

But here’s the thing:

We’re too fixated on relying solely on our jobs for a pay raise.

There are other ways to give ourselves a raise.

We need to be more active in our careers and financial lives instead of waiting for employers to adjust salaries for inflation.

💰 For me, I’ve been investing part of my monthly paycheck in growth and dividend stocks since I graduated.

Over time, the returns I’ve built up have outpaced the typical 3% inflation-adjusted salary increase.

That’s why I believe:

Passive isn’t the way out in this cycle.

We have to be active.

We need to take ownership of our financial growth, not just depend on our employers.

✨ My takeaway: Don’t let a disappointing raise define your worth. Build your own raise.

👉 Have you ever felt stuck because of a small pay increase? How are you actively creating growth outside of your job?

Preparing for your appraisal? Check out my guides to help you negotiate the best out of your current situation

🔥 Negotiate for Salary Increase or Promotion

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