Secrets of the Career Game 126. Before You Quit Your Job Over a Bad Raise, Listen to This First
You didn't get the raise or promotion you wanted, and suddenly quitting feels like the only way to get unstuck. Kendall Berg explains why that reaction is exactly how people end up hurting their long-term careers. She breaks down the difference between staying too long because of empty promises and leaving too fast without using all the information available to you.
Kendall talks about the trap so many professionals fall into when timelines stay vague. Promotions are always "coming soon." Bigger teams, more scope, more visibility are always just around the corner. Without a clear personal deadline, people stay stuck far longer than they should, waiting for a reward that never actually arrives. At the same time, she calls out the opposite mistake. Job hopping the moment a raise or promotion does not happen, without understanding context, budget cycles, or expectations, can be just as damaging.
This episode walks through what to do after a disappointing raise or bonus. Kendall explains how to set a realistic timeline for yourself, how to evaluate whether new responsibilities actually change the equation, and how to decide when staying makes sense versus when it is time to move on. The goal is not blind patience or impulsive quitting. It is making a clear, grounded decision you can stand behind.
In this episode, we discuss-
What should you do when you don't get the raise or promotion you expected?
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How vague promises like "soon" and "next cycle" keep people stuck too long
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Why quitting immediately after a missed raise can hurt your career
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How to set a personal deadline and hold yourself to it
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What new responsibilities actually matter when deciding whether to stay
What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way?
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About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall BergKendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress.
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Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?
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