In a recent LinkedIn post, entrepreneur and investor Anupam Mittal sparked a debate on the widely discussed practice of aiming for 30-35% salary hikes when switching jobs in India. Mittal pointed out that this number has ‘no logic, no context, just ritual.’
Rethinking Career Growth Beyond Pay
“Sure, you should earn your worth. But chasing a percentage hike every year is like running on a treadmill – a lot of motion, no progress,” Mittal wrote. He argued that professionals who switch jobs annually purely for a bump in salary often end up with no depth, no edge, and no real compounding in their careers.
He urged individuals to focus instead on growth in judgment and problem-solving skills. “If there’s one number worth chasing, it’s not a 35% raise. It’s a 35% growth in your judgement – in critical thinking, first principles thinking & creative problem-solving,” he said. Mittal emphasized that in the age of AI, the professionals who thrive will be those who can produce meaningful outcomes rather than just outputs.
Clarifying the Take on High Hikes
In the comments, Mittal clarified his stance on high salary increments. “To be clear, I am all for a 100% hike as well if the role demands it. We do that often as well within the company. If you bring that value by all means you should get paid what you are worth. My point is about this ‘standard’ of a 35% hike? Issue is that India has not seen a major crisis in last 20 yrs and we have all become entitled to some degree,” he added.
The post has ignited conversations among Indian professionals, many of whom acknowledged the pressure to pursue annual hikes while also questioning the long-term value of such a practice.