News

Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and a judge on Shark Tank India, has stirred a lively discussion on X after questioning the so-called “35 per cent salary increment” standard during job negotiations.

“When can you join? In one month. Salary? 35 per cent increment? Why 35 per cent? It’s standard, Sir. WTF? Ye standard kisne banaya (Who set these standards)?” Mittal wrote, mimicking a typical hiring exchange.

It didn't take long for the post to create buzz on the internet, and at the same time, it also split the users. While some users supported Mittal's view that pay should be based on skill, merit, and market dynamics, others considered the 35 per cent hike a fair reference in a competitive job market.

Also Read: 'Clocking in 5 years no longer...': Shark Tank’s Anupam Mittal shares 3 promotion mantras for current job market

When the issue turned hotter, Mittal said that his problem was not with salary negotiations but with the “sense of entitlement” around fixed numbers.

“The point that most of you geniuses missed is that there is an entitlement to some arbitrary standard. If a role deserves it, one should demand even 2x, why just 35 per cent? Ultimately, the market decides,” he wrote.

When one user compared job seekers demanding increments to founders asking for more equity, Mittal replied, “They can ask for sure, but the market will determine what they get, no?”

Elaborating further, Mittal stressed that pay should reflect the value of the role and market conditions, rather than arbitrary norms.

“It should be a function of being paid in line with the role. Whether that’s 10 percent, 35 percent or 100 per cent. Ultimately, market decides your value, not you. So idea should be to maximise capability. But one cannot ask for 35 percent coz it’s a ‘standard’. For me, that’s a reject right away,” he said.

When a user asked what would be a reasonable increment to request, Mittal reiterated, “It should be a function of being paid in line with the role. Whether that’s 10 per cent, 35 per cent or 100 per cent. Ultimately, market decides your value, not u so idea should be to maximise capability. But one cannot ask for 35 per cent coz it’s a ‘standard’. For me that’s a reject right away.”

Another user quipped, “35 per cent to kam bola… It is more than 50 per cent these days. Nowadays, candidates are asking salary based on skill,” to which Mittal responded, “Agree that value should be commensurate with skill.”