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By not negotiating your starting salary, you could be walking away from over $500,000 in lifetime earnings. But 70% of professionals never even try—because they're terrified the offer will be pulled.

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what REALLY happens behind the scenes when you negotiate. After 21 years in HR and nearly a decade as a recruiter, I've made over 1,000 job offers—and I've NEVER seen one pulled just because someone asked to negotiate.

In Part 1, you'll discover:

• Why your fear of negotiating is completely unfounded (backed by real data)
• The $12,000+ companies invest to find you—and why that gives you power
• How to evaluate the FULL compensation package (not just salary)
• What bonuses, benefits, commute costs, and vacation really mean for your bottom line
• Why 85% of people who negotiate get results, but only 30% even try

This episode is for you if: You've ever accepted the first offer out of fear. You're underpaid and don't know how to ask for more. You're evaluating a job offer right now and feeling anxious about negotiating.

I'm Njsane Courtney, VP of HR at American Bureau of Shipping and creator of "My Friend in HR." I've spent two decades on both sides of the negotiation table, and I'm giving you the insider playbook companies don't want you to have.

Your job is meant to support your life. Your life isn't meant to support your job.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 for the exact words to say and when to shut up during negotiations.

📧 Questions? Email me at myfriendinhr@gmailcom

📱 Connect: @MyFriendinHR YouTube

@MyFriendIn_HR on Instagram & Twitter | Njsane Courtney on LinkedIn

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Email: myfriendinhr@gmail.com

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If Monday mornings fill you with dread, your micromanager questions every move, and you KNOW you're underpaid by at least $20K but feel paralyzed to do anything about it—this episode is your intervention.

This isn't about setting fluffy 2025 goals. This is about building LEVERAGE.

In this no-BS episode, Jassani Courtney breaks down the exact 5-step blueprint to stop being overlooked and start commanding the respect (and compensation) you've earned. Whether you're planning your exit or fighting to transform your current role, you need OPTIONS—and options require strategy, not hope.

You'll discover:

• Why your LinkedIn profile is keeping you invisible to recruiters (and the 60-second fix that changes everything)
• The "Vampire Audit" that reclaims your time from energy-draining meetings and toxic coworkers
• Word-for-word scripts to shut down your boss's last-minute demands without sounding difficult
• The uncomfortable truth about how you're being judged in the first 7 seconds—and what to do about it
• Why your home life is secretly sabotaging your career moves (and how to fix it this week)

Here's what most career advice gets wrong: They tell you to work harder, be more visible, or "lean in." But you're already exhausted. What you actually need is a system to build leverage while you're still employed—so you negotiate from power, not desperation.

This episode delivers the scripts, the tactics, and the Monday morning checklist that changes your trajectory immediately. No corporate fluff. No motivational platitudes. Just the strategic moves that create real options.

Your job is a contract, not a prison. But only if you do the work to create alternatives.

Ready to stop settling and start leading? Press play.

💬 After listening, drop a comment: Which of the 5 steps are you executing first?
📥 Want the free Salary Negotiation Guide? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Comment "SALARY"

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Email: myfriendinhr@gmail.com

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Careers don’t stall because you lack talent; they stall because you lack leverage. We zoom straight into the POWER framework—five pillars that turn you from a passenger into the driver of your own path. No fluff, no clichés, just the playbook: personal accountability, options through money, work your network, ever battle ready, and reputation as currency.

We start by dismantling the myth that managers are responsible for your growth. Ownership looks like asking precise feedback, chasing the ugly projects that matter, and building skills without waiting for approval.

From there, we get real about money as a career tool. A walkaway fund gives you breathing room to negotiate, leave toxic roles, and take strategic moves that compound into leadership scope. You don’t need a windfall—just a halt to lifestyle creep, small automatic transfers, and a clear target for six months of expenses.

Networking becomes simple when you treat it as generosity on a schedule: consistent check-ins, thoughtful comments, helpful intros, and showing up when it’s inconvenient. Then we shift to readiness. Quarterly resume refreshes, a clean LinkedIn headline that signals outcomes, and a grab-and-go portfolio keep you sharp when opportunities show up fast. Finally, we get honest about reputation. How you act when things go sideways, how you share credit, and how people feel after working with you determine who speaks your name in the rooms that matter.

By the end, you’ll choose one pillar to focus on for the next 30 days and leave with small, specific actions that build real momentum. If this hit home, share it with a friend who’s stuck, connect with me on LinkedIn at Jassani Courtney for deeper dives on each pillar, and hit subscribe for more straight talk that actually moves your career forward.

Support the show

Instagram: myfriendin_hr
Linkedin: Njsane Courtney
Email: myfriendinhr@gmail.com