How I Got Promoted Before I Was Hired
And got paid 40% more
“We initially planned to bring you on as a level 4, but after reviewing everything, we all agree—you’re a standout. So, we’d like to offer you a level 5 position. Your new salary is X.”
F*ck yes!
I did a mental happy dance. Okay, maybe I danced for real—who knows?
Imagine this: After rounds of interviews with five different companies, I’m finally ready to make a choice. And then I get hit with this promotion offer, leveling me up before I’ve even started.
So, how did I pull this off? Three key things:
Nailing the technical rounds – This is actually the easiest part with the right prep. Invest an hour a day for 20 days, follow a solid strategy, and you can turn code into cash. I’ve got a tech interview framework for you to follow.
Crushing the partner round – This is where you meet with cross-functional teams like Product Managers or Growth Marketers, and you show them you’re not just a tech person, but someone who can collaborate seamlessly across the board.
Overdelivering in the hiring manager round ← This is the real focus of today’s post.
Oh, and as a bonus? I also received a 40% salary increase:
20% came from the promotion.
The other 20%? That was all negotiation. Wanna know how I did that? Stay tuned— I’ll be sharing the details in my upcoming post.
But for now, let’s focus on how I blew the hiring manager away:
I used my 3W and R-STAR framework to crush every question they threw at me.
I asked five badass questions that showcased my knowledge and confidence (you do NOT want to miss Question 5).
I followed up on their answers like a pro—turning the moment into a conversation and a sales pitch.
Since I’ve already covered the first part in previous posts, let’s zero in on #2 and #3 today.
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😎 Five Bada$$ questions I asked the hiring manager (No.5 is boss)
Let me walk you through five game-changing questions I asked in my interview and why they’re powerful.
Q1: What are the biggest challenges you and the team are facing right now?
This question shows you’re already thinking about solving their problems. Plus, it gives you insight into how you can bring value from day one.
Q2: If I join today, what would success look like a year from now for you to say, “She knocked it out of the park”?
This gets you two things: clarity on their expectations and a sneak peek into what top performers in their team actually do.