When a Pay Rise Isn’t Worth It: The Hidden Risks of Inflated Salaries
Over recent months, I’ve seen a pattern that concerns me as a recruiter. More and more candidates are withdrawing from advanced interview stages because they’ve been tempted by offers 30–50% above their current basic salaries. On the surface, these offers look irresistible. But what’s really happening behind the scenes tells a very different story.
Many of those same candidates are coming back into the job market just months later — citing redundancies, “cash burn,” or business restructuring. Why? Because those roles were never built for long-term sustainability.
The Hidden Costs of Big Salaries
When a salary looks “too good to be true,” it usually is. These offers often come with:
Increased workloads and expectations beyond what was discussed at interview.
Unrealistic targets that quickly lead to pressure and burnout.
Short-term business strategies, especially in private equity-backed companies testing a new go-to-market approach.
In many cases, businesses with strong cash reserves will deliberately hire aggressively, using inflated packages to attract talent. But if their assumptions don’t hold, those same individuals become expendable as the business pivots.
Due Diligence Matters
For sales professionals considering such offers, my advice is simple:
🔎 Research the business’s investment history and runway.
📊 Look at employee tenure — are people staying, or is there high turnover?
🤝 Speak with current and former employees about their experiences.
A 30% salary uplift may feel like a career win, but if it only lasts a few months and leaves you searching for a new role — possibly back at your old salary level — it can set your career back, not forward.
The Bottom Line
Sustainable growth is always better than short-term cash. Ambitious sales professionals deserve more than being part of a short-lived experiment. Take the time to evaluate not just the role, but the stability of the business and its long-term commitment to its people.
Sometimes the best career decision isn’t the one with the biggest number — it’s the one with the strongest foundations.