Never Take No at Face Value

I got the best kind of update from one of my Career Accelerator clients a few days ago.

She’d taken an intentional career break — which, by the way, is a brave and strategic move when done right — and then found a role she was genuinely excited about.

Then the company came back with a curveball.

They were moving the role down a level.
A more junior title.
And, unsurprisingly, a lower salary.

It didn’t align with her expectations. But instead of walking away, I reminded her of something important:

Never take “no” at face value.

So we stayed in the process.

We showed up with clarity, positioned her at the level she should be seen at, and kept the conversation going. That created more opportunities for the company to truly see her as a top-tier, high-value candidate.

And guess what?

She got the offer — and she’s stepping into this new role with a 40% salary increase.

Why “No” Isn’t the End of the Conversation

Let this be your reminder: even in a tough market, opportunities exist if you advocate for yourself.

This applies not just to external offers, but to promotions, internal raises, and any moment where a “no” shows up.

Early in my career, I used to take rejection personally. I waited, hoping someone would eventually notice my value and reward it.

But the “no’s” kept coming.

Everything shifted when I watched a sales leader negotiate a major deal.

Instead of pushing for one big “yes,” he broke the ask into two parts.

The Two-Part Ask That Changes Everything

Part A: an upfront agreement
Part B: a future adjustment based on outcomes

That approach stuck with me.

So the next time I asked for a raise and heard “no,” I didn’t stop there. I asked better questions:

• What would make this a yes later?
  
• What KPIs do I need to meet?
  
• What does success look like in six months?
  

Then I proposed Part B:

When I hit these goals, we revisit the conversation and adjust compensation accordingly.

This reframed the discussion from defensive to forward-looking.
It created clarity for both sides — and gave me leverage.

Final Thoughts

We all hear “no’s.”

But the top 1% respond differently.

They get curious. They ask,
“What would it take to turn this into a yes later?”

So the next time you hear a “no,” pause before you walk away.

Ask yourself:
Is this the end of the road — or the start of the real conversation?

If you’re ready to move with clarity and confidence, download the Career Power Move Playbook — your 5-step guide to standing out and stepping up.

Rooting for you,
 Angel Kilian
Founder | Career inFocus