You know that voice in your head that says:
“Don’t ask for too much.”
“Be grateful for the offer.”
“Just get your foot in the door.”
Yeah, that voice is BROKE! …. I mean, broken.
A few days ago, we sat down with Keri-Lynn Shaw, founder of The Salary Bump and former Chief People Officer, who’s spent 30 years writing and negotiating offers on the other side of the table. Her message: You’re probably under-asking, under-networking, and underestimating your power. Let’s fix that.
1. Everyone Expects You to Negotiate (So Do It)
Here’s the stat that blew everyone’s mind: 87% of the time, when people negotiate, the answer is yes. That’s not a motivational meme. That’s from Fortune.
Keri-Lynn says recruiters and hiring managers expect you to negotiate. When you don’t, it’s confusing. Like showing up to a potluck empty-handed.
Pro Moves:
Never answer “What’s your salary expectation?” with a number. Ask for the range for the role and total comp philosophy.
Always talk total package: salary, bonus, equity, benefits, and severance.
Use ChatGPT’s Salary Navigator or public data to find your market range before you walk in.
The low end should make you content. The high end should make you grin. Always give a range.
And please: ask about benefits. Health insurance, professional development, and coaching can add up to thousands of untaxed dollars. Most people never ask. Be the exception.
2. Don’t Just Take On Extra Work. Negotiate It.
“Quiet hiring” is the corporate plot twist of 2025.
Translation: your coworker gets laid off, and somehow you inherit her projects. No title bump, no raise. Just… congratulations?
Keri-Lynn’s script when that happens: “Before I say yes, let’s revisit my job description, my goals, and my compensation to make sure we’re aligned.”
If they push back? Cool. Set a six-month check-in: “Let’s revisit this once I’ve had a chance to prove it.”
The move: You’ve just turned a burnout setup into a performance contract.
3. Titles Are Free. Ask for One.
Companies love to act like promotions are a budget item. Newsflash: a new title costs them $0.
Keri-Lynn says titles are long-game money. They impact benchmarking, search visibility, and your next offer. If it’s between a few thousand dollars or a better title? Ask for both. But if you have to pick? Go with the title. Then review salary in six months.
“Titles put you in a new category. That’s leverage you carry forever.” - KL Shaw
4. Stop Calling It Networking. You’re Just Talking to People.
Networking has a PR problem. People think it means collecting awkward LinkedIn messages like Pokémon cards.
It’s not that. “Networking doesn’t mean you’re job-hunting. It means you’re connecting with people doing interesting work,” Keri-Lynn said.
How to not be weird about it:
Send a message that starts with curiosity, not need: “I saw your post on how you scaled your team—loved it. Mind if I ask how you approached hiring?”
Comment on posts. Like stuff. Ring the bell on people you admire.
Keep in touch once in a while. Visibility = opportunity.
Remember: 80% of jobs are found through networking. The algorithm isn’t your friend. People are.
5. Let Go of the Outcome. Seriously.
Sometimes the best negotiation skill is not needing the deal. “Letting go of the outcome is the biggest flex,” Keri-Lynn said. She’s right. The tighter you grip the outcome, the smaller you play. Be curious, not desperate. You’re not auditioning for worthiness. You’re finding a match.
6. Invest in Yourself Like You’re the Stock of the Year
Companies won’t magically “develop” you. Their training budget is usually one pizza lunch and a broken LMS link.
Keri-Lynn’s parting line? “You are your best investment.”
Hire the coach. Take the course. Build the LinkedIn you’d want to hire. It’s not indulgence. It’s insurance.
October 29: All your Job-Search Questions Answered
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Wednesday, October 29 • 12:00 PM CT
Office Closed October 31
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