After waiting for 2 years for a raise that never came, I switched jobs for double salary

I’m 28 and worked at my previous company for five years. In the beginning, my salary was enough to live on. But after starting a family, my expenses grew, and my earnings could no longer cover our monthly spending.

A man is working in an office and smiling. Illustration photo by Pexels

I repeatedly asked my boss for a raise, but every time, he just nodded along. Year after year, nothing changed. The excuse was always the same: the company was struggling, business wasn't looking good, so a raise wasn't possible.

I waited patiently, but over time, I realized something. Even if my boss eventually agreed, the raise would likely be meaningless—either more workload with stricter KPIs or just a slight salary bump.

Then everything changed. A friend introduced me to another company, and out of curiosity, I applied. To my surprise, they offered me double my salary at the time.

It was the same job, the same skills—yet at the new company, my worth was on a completely different level. That’s when I realized: in any workplace, your value is defined by how you value yourself. Staying at a company that doesn’t appreciate you only limits your potential.

Being loyal to a company isn’t wrong, but personal growth should come first. Sometimes, the best way to get a raise isn’t to wait—it’s to find a better opportunity elsewhere.