“WTF? Who set this standard?”: Anupam Mittal questions India’s 35% salary hike obsession, calls it a meaningless ritual

Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal has questioned one of India’s most common job habits – the “35% salary hike” rule. 

In a recent post, he said people are chasing pay hikes without any real reason or context. Mittal believes this practice is hurting long-term growth and that professionals should focus on improving their thinking and decision-making skills instead.

Anupam Mittal Says the 35% Hike Rule Makes No Sense

Anupam Mittal’s post points out how switching jobs for a 30–35% hike has become a strange standard in India’s job market. “No logic. No context. Just ritual,” he wrote, asking who decided this was the norm. 

He further added, “When asked why, the response is that it is ‘standard’. WTF? Who set this standard? I sure didn't get the memo.”

He compared the habit to running on a treadmill — there’s a lot of effort, but no real progress. According to him, people who keep changing jobs every year just for a pay bump “end up with no depth, no edge, and no real compounding.”

Mittal believes that while a higher salary might feel good in the short term, it does not lead to real career growth. 

Instead, it can leave professionals stuck at the surface level, with little to show for years of work.

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Growth Should Be in Skills, Not Just Salary

Mittal said that true growth should come from improving how one thinks and solves problems. 

“If there’s one number worth chasing, it’s not a 35% raise. It’s a 35% growth in your judgment – in critical thinking, first principles thinking & creative problem-solving,” he shared.

He also warned that AI will soon automate most basic work, and only those who can think creatively and make sound decisions will stay ahead. 

“When the market turns (and it always does), it won’t be the highest-paid who survives. It’ll be the ones who can produce, not output, but outcomes,” he added.

His message is simple – stop chasing short-term pay jumps. Build your skills, improve your thinking, and let your value grow naturally over time.

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