The promotion trap
"Congratulations again on the new role. Let's go over the details." Then comes a small "standard" increase — or the title now and the pay "later". Because you're happy about the promotion, it's easy to say yes on the spot.
How to negotiate promotion pay
- Thank them first. You can be grateful and still negotiate. "Thank you — I'm excited to take this on."
- Anchor on the new role, not your old salary. Ask what the pay range for the new level is and where your results place you in it.
- Show you already work at that level. Two or three results with numbers beat a long list.
- Ask for one number. "For this scope, I'm asking for a base of $X."
- If base is fixed now, ask for a fixed review date with a target number, a one-time bonus, or a title effective date — in writing.
Typical objections
| They say | You can say |
|---|---|
| "Promotions here come with a standard increase." | "Understood. What's the range for the new level, and where would my results put me?" |
| "We can give you the title now and look at pay later." | "I appreciate it. Can we put a date and a number on 'later' in writing?" |
| "You just had your annual increase." | "That was for my current role. This is a different scope." |
How the practice works
Enter your new job title, state and current salary. The AI manager opens with the standard offer and pushes back like a real one. It has a hidden limit and only moves for good arguments. Your debrief shows your score and your biggest mistake with better phrasing; with a pass you see how far the manager could have gone and get a script and an email for the real talk.