Check the first comment for the full story.⬇️

Emily wasn’t my enemy.

The company had created the situation.

Not her.

The following Monday, I received an email.

An interview request.

Then another.

Then another.

One company offered me $72,000.

Another offered $78,000.

Then I interviewed with a competitor.

They asked me about my experience.

I explained what I did.

They asked about my accomplishments.

I gave them numbers.

They asked what salary I expected.

For the first time in my career, I didn’t feel guilty saying a number.

“Eighty-five thousand.”

There was silence.

Then the hiring manager smiled.

“That sounds reasonable.”

Two days later, they offered me $92,000.

I stared at the email for several minutes.

$92,000.

Nearly $40,000 more than I had been making.

For doing work I already knew how to do.