Low salary becomes a 'benchmark' for future jobs, warns founder

A Noida-based founder, Vanya Goel, warned that a low starting salary can create a cycle of underpayment that persists across multiple job changes, as new offers are often calculated from previous pay. This can leave employees far behind market rates despite regular hikes. Goel explained that a 30% standard hike on a low base, such as moving from 6 LPA to 7.2 LPA, compounds the gap over five years. She advised professionals to seek salary corrections rather than blindly chasing percentage increases, and to actively negotiate their market value. The founder emphasized that career growth requires more than hard work, including tracking achievements and building visibility. Her Instagram video received agreement from users, with comments noting that low initial pay can impact earnings for years.