Today, i’m going to speak to you about you and i’m going to help you make more money

But first!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter Weekend 🐇 🥚 

Also, wishing you guys a happy Freedom Day weekend!

April has been a packed month, lots of work, potential clients and some travels, and then of course, public holidays, or in my case, just another work day

I’m not complaining though, I really like my job, so doing it is relaxing and enjoyable

Let’s get stuck in there

JOBS

Getting those Pounds

One of the best UK based Job Boards there is

• loads of jobs

• can filter for part-time, full-time etc

• many show salary expectations and benefits

Top Tip

Find companies that are hiring contractors for 3-9 month contracts - they usually get extended and they are usually the hardest to fill with good people, so you have an edge

CAREER ADVICE

Mad Men hits hard

Probably one of the best shows I’ve ever watched and thinking about starting it again just leaving it to play in the background.

Anyway, I was thinking about the scene where Don Draper and Michael Ginsberg are in the elevator - and Don hits him with such a strong come back, if I were Michael, I would have looked for a new place to work!

Btw, in this situation I am Don Draper and you are Michael Ginsberg

HOLD UP, HOLD UP!

Dont freaken unsubscribe yet

Let me explain - and then do what you will

Michael Ginsberg is actually very talented and valuable to the firm, he is well respected, well regarded and taken seriously - i.e. he is a great employee and one day will be a great leader

this could be you - see how I actually complimented you, but you were so busy thinking I just slighted you that you wanted to unsub from this amazing email newsletter.

Now why am I Don Drapper?

1. Is it because I am cool as shit!?

2. Is it because I am handsome and charming?

3. I am none of that actually, but where I am, exactly like Don, is Human

And as a Human, I really don’t think about you, because I meet with so many people, mentally its just impossible to remember them all

I wish I could remember everyone’s story, experience, talent and skillset - but I can’t

Thats why its up to you - reply to my emails, reach out to me on LinkedIn, get my attention by sending me a Loom Recording introducing yourself

And not just me, do the same, but for other companies, founders, CEOs, CTOs, head of IT, heads of software engineering

BUT

and its BIG BUTT

You actually have to be good - and i know so many “Good” and even “Great” Devs, BA’s, PMs, QAs etc - that are actually average on their best days

INTERVIEW ADVICE

How to ask for a raise

This is GIF hits hard, because its so true - so many people use sucking up as their get ahead in work and life strategy.

It’s only going to get you so far - no one who has sucked up to me got a better job, more pay, more benefits, more anything

It’s usually the strategy of the less valuable people, or less valuable organizations, because they care more about optics than outcome.

Still it is a strategy that works

But what other strategies work that will help you get a raise?

1. Find projects in your company that make the most money - working on high value projects, the closer you get to the money, the more money you get

2. Find high-value projects that are not doing well - make them do well, this is usually a lot of work and I only recommend it for when you really can learn something too, because sometimes, the company will just say thank you

3. Do Less - want to double your hourly rate? keep the same salary, but half your time. This sounds silly but if you create a constraint where you say you will only work 4 hours a day, you’ll find a way to make it work

   • My GF used to work 10 hour days sometimes, she does he work in 4 hours now most days, some days its even 2 to 3 hours

   • I used to work 9 hour days at Standard Bank - I dropped that hard, first to 5, then 4 then eventually about 2 hours

   • Cut back an hour a day, and see how things go

4. Network - some of you a well paid, some of you are average, and some are wayyy below average - and the only way to know this is to speak with people, especially hiring managers, team leads, recruiters, CTOs etc. Get a sense of market rates for your skillset

   • Speak with your boss if you are below market rates, if you’re really afraid, have another offer lined up, or start doing interviews, so that you have leverage and other opportunities

   • When I quit my first job, 250k more per year suddenly became very available, where as before, it did not exist… I still quit, but I always have budget for good people, and so do companies

Now the Ask

When you’ve done some or all of the above - it’s time to speak with management

• Dont try have a meeting when Kak is hitting fans and all kinds of spinning devices - you really want things to be going well

• Prepare - this is points 1 - 4, they should have helped you (point 3 less so) but even there, if you have more time, you can do more work/take on more responsibilities

• Set the meet - let management know you want to talk about your career and compensation

• Ask don’t Tell - you need to be professional here, don’t just say you want more money, don’t we all? You need to justify why you have this ask - are you paid below market, are you capable of taking on more responsibilities, have you been taking on and delivering on key projects

Then you listen

• Yes, lets pay you more - that’s awesome, you look at next steps and timelines for when the new pay starts

• Maybe but not now - that’s fine too, but find out why later, is it that some conditions need to be met, what needs to happen to turn the next meet from a maybe to a yes

• No - well you have to be prepared for this too. No might spur you on to look for other opportunities, to work far less, to work far more to prove your worth

I messed up my first salary negotiation - I basically wanted a 25% increase and said they can pay more or I can work less - they said no to both, but I didn’t give them a good reason for either outcome

Then I just worked way less, and made the same salary - there were days where I would not work at all lol - just 15 minute stand up calls, twice a day with the two teams I was managing.

Sorry not sorry Standard Bank - also if someone comes at me, i’m going to say this story is fiction 😛 

THATS A WRAP

Before you go: Here’s 3 ways I can help you

1. LinkedIn - I’m always hiring - but only 2 to 4 people a month - connect with me on and send me your CV - currently, I only hire people with 7 or more years of experience - if you have less, but are EXCEPTIONAL, i’ll make exceptions

2. Youtube - i’m always making content to help you out, subscribe and binge

3. Free Career Advice - i’m going to be giving away CV feedback for early subscribers for free, I usually charge $100 for a resume roast - i’ll make a recording and send you feedback - just reply back to this email with your CV - its totally free for first 10 people