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Have you ever walked out of a salary negotiation feeling like you sold yourself short, even though you knew you deserved better?
You keep replaying the conversation in your head, thinking, “I should have asked for more,” or “Maybe I sounded too desperate.” It’s a feeling that we all know too well, that quiet frustration of knowing your value but not quite managing to communicate it.
This reminds me of Brian, a mechanical engineer I spoke with a while back during an interview coaching session. He had over six years of experience and had just wrapped up interviews for a senior role.
The panel seemed impressed; he had the technical skills, solid project experience, and strong recommendations to back it up.
But when the offer finally came in, the salary was KSh 40,000 less than what he expected.
He was torn. On one hand, he really wanted the job; it was a reputable company with exciting projects. On the other hand, the offer didn’t reflect his worth.
“I didn’t want to seem ungrateful or lose the opportunity,” he told me, “so I accepted.”
A few months later, he regretted that decision, because every time new projects landed on his desk, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he’d undervalued himself from the start.
We often think salary negotiation is about convincing the employer to “give us more.” But in reality, it’s about helping the employer understand why what you’re asking for makes sense.
When you enter a negotiation with a“please consider my request” mindset, you hand over the power.
But when you approach it from a “here’s the value I bring and why it’s worth this much” mindset, you take control of the conversation, respectfully and confidently.
When Brian came to us for interview coaching before his next job opportunity, we worked on that shift.
We helped him translate his technical achievements into measurable results that justified his target salary.
So instead of saying,
“I’m hoping for around KSh 180,000,”
he said,
“In my previous role, I supervised the upgrade of a production line that reduced downtime by 30% and increased output efficiency. Considering the scope of this new role, a range of KSh 180,000 to KSh 200,000 would reflect the value I can deliver.”
Same request. Different energy.
The employer didn’t argue about the budget, they discussed how his expertise could improve their operations.
And just like that, Brian landed the offer he wanted, this time on his own terms.
That’s the power of changing your negotiation mindset, from asking to aligning value.
So before your next interview or salary review, ask yourself:
- Do I clearly understand the results I’ve created in past roles?
- Can I quantify that impact in numbers or tangible outcomes?
- Am I able to communicate it confidently and calmly?
If not, that’s your starting point.
Salary negotiation is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned and improved.
Our Interview Coaching Services help professionals like you build confidence, articulate your worth, and approach interviews strategically, because sometimes, the difference between “I wish I asked for more” and “I got exactly what I deserved” is just one mindset shift.
The post The One Mindset Shift That Can Transform Your Salary Negotiation Outcome appeared first on Corporate Staffing Services.