Alex had been working at the marketing company for three years. During this time, he had completed many successful projects. He felt that his contributions to the company deserved recognition. One morning, Alex decided it was time to ask for a raise. He knew that preparing for this conversation would be essential. First, Alex researched the average salary for his position in the industry. He discovered that he was being paid below the market rate. This information gave him confidence to proceed with his request. Next, he made a list of all his achievements at the company. He had led the social media campaign that increased sales by twenty percent. He had also trained three new employees who were now performing excellently. Alex practiced what he would say in front of his mirror at home. He wanted to sound professional and confident during the meeting. The following week, Alex sent an email to his manager, Sarah. He asked if they could schedule a meeting to discuss his career development. Sarah replied promptly and suggested meeting on Thursday afternoon. Alex felt nervous but excited about the upcoming conversation. On Thursday, he arrived at the office wearing his best suit. He had prepared a folder with documents showing his achievements. At two o'clock, Alex knocked on Sarah's office door. 'Come in,' Sarah said warmly. Alex entered the office and sat down in the chair across from her desk. 'Thank you for meeting with me today,' Alex began. 'Of course, Alex. I always have time for my team members,' Sarah replied. 'I wanted to discuss my compensation,' Alex said directly. Sarah nodded and leaned back in her chair. 'I appreciate your directness. Tell me what you have in mind.' Alex took a deep breath before continuing. 'I have been with the company for three years now.' 'During this time, I have taken on additional responsibilities.' He opened his folder and showed Sarah the performance reports. 'The social media campaign I led last year generated significant revenue.' Sarah studied the documents carefully. 'These numbers are impressive,' she admitted. 'I have also researched the market rates for my position,' Alex continued. 'Based on my research and contributions, I am requesting a fifteen percent increase.' Sarah was quiet for a moment, considering his request. 'Fifteen percent is a significant increase,' she said thoughtfully. 'I understand that,' Alex replied calmly. 'However, my current salary is below the industry standard.' He showed her the salary comparison data he had collected. Sarah looked at the information with interest. 'You have clearly done your homework,' she said with a slight smile. 'I believe in being prepared,' Alex responded. Sarah put down the documents and looked at Alex directly. 'I cannot approve a fifteen percent increase immediately.' Alex felt his heart sink, but he kept his expression neutral. 'However,' Sarah continued, 'I can offer you something else.' Alex waited attentively for her to explain. 'I can approve a ten percent raise effective next month.' 'Additionally, we can review your salary again in six months.' Alex considered this offer carefully. It was not exactly what he had hoped for, but it was a reasonable starting point. 'What would I need to achieve for the additional five percent?' he asked. Sarah appreciated that he was thinking about the future. 'We are planning to launch a new product line next quarter.' 'If you lead the marketing campaign for that launch successfully, that would justify the additional increase.' Alex saw this as an opportunity rather than a burden. 'I would be happy to take on that responsibility,' he said enthusiastically. 'Excellent,' Sarah smiled. 'I had a feeling you would be interested.' They discussed the details of the new project for another thirty minutes. Sarah explained the timeline, budget, and expected outcomes. Alex took careful notes and asked thoughtful questions. 'Before we finish, I want to put our agreement in writing,' Alex said. 'That is a good idea,' Sarah agreed. 'I will send you an email confirming everything we discussed.' Alex stood up and shook Sarah's hand firmly. 'Thank you for being open to this conversation,' he said sincerely. 'Alex, you are a valuable member of this team,' Sarah responded. 'I want to make sure you feel appreciated and fairly compensated.' Alex left the meeting feeling proud of himself. He had advocated for himself professionally and achieved a positive outcome. When he returned to his desk, his colleague Maria noticed his smile. 'Good meeting?' she asked curiously. 'Yes, very productive,' Alex replied with satisfaction. That evening, Alex received the confirmation email from Sarah. It outlined the ten percent raise and the conditions for the additional increase. Alex saved the email in a special folder for important documents. Over the next few months, Alex worked harder than ever on the new product launch. He coordinated with designers, writers, and the sales team to create a comprehensive campaign. The product launch was a tremendous success. Sales exceeded expectations by thirty percent in the first month. The company's leadership praised Alex's work publicly at a team meeting. Six months after his initial negotiation, Alex scheduled another meeting with Sarah. This time, he felt even more confident walking into her office. 'Alex, I have been expecting you,' Sarah said with a warm smile. 'The results speak for themselves,' she continued. 'I am pleased to approve the additional five percent increase we discussed.' Alex felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. 'Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate the opportunity to prove myself.' 'You earned it,' Sarah replied. 'Keep up the excellent work.' As Alex walked back to his desk, he reflected on the entire experience. He had learned several important lessons about salary negotiations. Preparation and research were essential before any negotiation. Being professional and presenting concrete evidence made his case stronger. It was important to be flexible and open to alternative solutions. Following up and delivering results helped build trust with management. Alex shared his experience with Maria, hoping it might help her too. 'You should definitely ask for what you deserve,' he told her. 'The worst that can happen is they say no, but at least you tried.' Maria smiled and thanked him for the advice, feeling inspired to have a similar conversation with her own manager soon.
English Story (B1)The Salary Negotiation
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Alex, a marketing professional who has worked at his company for three years, decides to ask for a salary raise. He carefully prepares by researching market rates and documenting his achievements. During the negotiation with his manager Sarah, Alex presents his case professionally. While Sarah cannot immediately approve his full request of fifteen percent, she offers a ten percent raise with the possibility of an additional five percent if Alex successfully leads an upcoming product launch. Alex accepts the challenge, delivers excellent results, and earns the full increase he originally sought. The story illustrates the importance of preparation, professionalism, flexibility, and follow-through in salary negotiations.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What percentage increase did Alex initially request from Sarah?
2
What achievement did Alex mention that increased sales?
3
What condition did Sarah set for Alex to receive the additional five percent?
4
By how much did sales exceed expectations during the product launch?
Vocabulary
39 words from this story
