Candidate earning Rs 58,000 was offered Rs 60,000 by HR as 'reasonable increase'. Then a Rs 85,000 job offer changed everything. Delhi co-founder shares the storySynopsisA Delhi co-founder's shared experience highlights a candidate's initial low salary offer of Rs 60,000, despite expecting Rs 75,000. After two months of increased responsibilities and strong performance without recognition, the candidate received an Rs 85,000 offer elsewhere, leading to resignation. The incident underscores the importance of companies valuing employees' contributions through fair compensation.Listen to this article in summarized formatCandidate earning Rs 58,000 demanded Rs 75,000, instead was offered only Rs 60,000 for a job. (Istock- Representative image)A salary negotiation can reveal how a company truly values a candidate before they even join. For one professional, a discussion that began with a request for fair compensation turned into a lesson about recognition, growth and knowing one’s worth. A Delhi-based co-founder recently shared a story where a candidate who was offered only a small salary bump later received a much bigger offer elsewhere after proving their capabilities.Kanika Jain, Delhi-based co-founder, took to social media and shared the experience of a candidate who entered a job interview hoping for a meaningful salary revision. During the conversation, the HR representative asked the candidate about their previous monthly salary. The candidate revealed that they were earning Rs 58,000. The HR then offered Rs 60,000, describing it as a reasonable increase.However, the candidate believed their skills, certifications, and professional experience deserved a better offer. They expressed that they were expecting around Rs 75,000 per month based on their qualifications and the contribution they could bring to the role. The HR pushed back, suggesting that salary expectations needed to be realistic. Instead, the company highlighted the learning opportunities that the role would provide. The candidate, unsure of whether to negotiate further, eventually agreed to accept the offer.But the situation changed after joining the organisation. Two months into the role, the candidate was given more responsibilities and assigned additional work. Their performance remained consistently strong, deadlines were met and the work quality stayed high. Despite the increased workload and contribution, the candidate did not receive any recognition or appreciation. The responsibilities continued to grow, but the compensation remained unchanged.You Might Also Like:Screenshot of the post. The turning point came when the candidate received another job offer worth Rs 85,000 per month. With a significant salary jump and better value for their skills, the candidate decided to resign. After the resignation, the manager expressed disappointment and said that the candidate should have informed them earlier because they could have tried to do something. However, the situation highlighted a different reality. When the employee had originally expressed their expectations and concerns, the company had chosen not to acknowledge their worth.Sharing the lesson from the incident, Kanika Jain pointed out that companies should not ignore what employees bring to the table. She highlighted that offering lower compensation while promising learning opportunities can become a warning sign when the employee’s efforts are not recognised later. The story also sparked a larger conversation about salary discussions, workplace culture and employee retention.Many professionals believe that learning opportunities are valuable, especially early in a career. However, growth and learning alone may not be enough if employees feel their contributions are being overlooked. The experience shared by Jain underlines the importance of companies recognising talent through fair compensation and meaningful appreciation. Employees often stay where they feel respected, valued and supported, not just where they are given more work.You Might Also Like:( Originally published on Jun 18, 2026 )Read More News on...morelessRead More News on...moreless