No one will give you a raise

You have to ask for it

Author

Diana Kelly Levey
April 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

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I remember the first time I asked for a raise.

I was working in a full-time role at Weight Watchers. I was an assistant editor who had plenty of “opportunities” to “take on more responsibility” as senior editors left, and corporate took a long time to hire for the next role.

I spoke to my then-manager and explained how I had been working at the company for at least three years, from editorial assistant to assistant editor and I was doing the work of senior staff who had departed. This happens all the time in companies around the globe.

My new manager came from a high-profile position to lead our department. She was great but also getting “caught up” on the ins and outs of how we did things and relying on me to help make that transition easier.

I made my case to her that two staffers left, and I was doing their work and mine. I explained the value of my work. Luckily, she heard me and talked to HR.

I was going to get a new title and a salary bump. (The salary would take a few months to ‘kick in’ of course but I could use the new title. Note, this isn’t a dig to WW, it’s how things move very slowly at a lot of companies.)

What did I do? I changed my title on my LinkedIn profile to “associate editor.”

After seeing that, a recruiter reached out about a position at a new company. I interviewed for a senior editor position at a magazine and after a few weeks, I got that job. I think my ‘raise’ at WW kicked in only a few weeks before I signed my new contract.

Within a matter of six months, I went from assistant editor to associate editor to senior editor and earned about $30,000 more. It was a shock but, it never would have happened if I hadn’t put tiny steps into place.

Now, when I think about asking for more money for a freelance project, I know there is likely a negotiation process; if it’s a client I want to work with.

(When I share a rate and never hear back, I know it was too high and the client wasn’t my ideal client. If they really wanted to work with me and I was too expensive, they’d at least respond and say something to that effect.)

It doesn’t hurt to ask for more money when starting with a new freelance client. If they agree, you’ll make more money in the long run over the working relationship especially when it comes to interest.

Example👇

Say you negotiate $50 more per month with a freelance client than their initial rate and work with them for two years.

If you put that $50 in savings and earn 3% interest, roughly you’ll have $1,235 more in two years than if you never asked if there was room in their budget.

THIS is how you have to think as a freelance business owner in 2025.

Diana

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