5 Underrated Skills to Get a Raise

This week’s newsletter is brought to you by caffeine and soft skills!

Before we get into the main topic, we’re hosting a virtual webinar on IG LIVE tomorrow (5/7) at noon ET. We’ll answer all your questions about money, careers, and more!

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Now let’s talk about the soft skills that can actually get you paid…

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Your hard skills got you in the door, but your soft skills will get you the corner office.

In today’s job market, where everyone has the resume buzzwords and technical chops, soft skills are what set high earners apart. They shape how you lead, collaborate, and get noticed (these are major keys to unlocking promotions and pay bumps).

Let’s break down the soft skills that will actually grow your income, and how to build on them!

🔑 1. Communication

If you can turn complex ideas into simple explanations and impactful results, you're not just helpful, you're essential. Companies are swimming in data, but starving for clarity. Teams that communicate clearly move faster, avoid mistakes, and get results. Clear communication builds trust, especially in client-facing roles, bringing repeat business and internal wins.

💰 Survey Says: 57% of global employers indicate that communication is the most desirable skill for potential employees to have.

Level-Up Your Skills:

• Take a course on LinkedIn Learning or The Open University.

• Brush up on some communication techniques

• Start a blog, newsletter, or write daily posts on LinkedIn to refine your written communication

Resume Showcase:

Replace “strong communicator” with:

→ “Led weekly cross-team briefings for [X amount] stakeholders”

→ “Wrote and delivered presentations that secured [$X amount] in funding”

🤝 2. Negotiation

This skill pays you TWICE: first when you negotiate your compensation, and again when you bring value through vendor deals, client contracts, project build-outs, and even brainstorming sessions.

💰 Survey Says: 58% of young professionals don’t negotiate, but 78% of those who do report receiving a higher offer.

Level-Up Your Skills:

• Work on negotiation strategies and tactics 

• Find a negotiation buddy to practice different scenarios with

Resume Showcase:

Add the numbers in:

→ "Secured X amount of vendor discounts across three service categories, saving [$X annually]"

→ "Renegotiated client contract terms, increasing project profitability by X%"

🧩 3. Problem-Solving

In a world overflowing with challenges, solutions are the premium currency. Problem-solvers don't just identify issues; they fix them, making them magnets for bonuses, promotions, and competitive offers.

💰 Survey Says: Around 60% of employers are looking for real problem-solving skills when evaluating candidates.

Level-Up Your Skills:

• Master strategic problem-solving frameworks like "SCAMPER"

• Practice breaking large problems into smaller, solvable components

Resume Showcase:

Replace “good problem-solver” with:

→ “Redesigned onboarding process, reducing new hire drop-off by X”

→ “Identified workflow bottlenecks and implemented new task system, saving X hours/week”

🌊 4. Adaptability

With AI disruption, market volatility, and constant reorganizations, those who can pivot without panicking improve their odds of staying employed and in demand.

💰 Survey Says: Harvard Business Review named adaptability the number one leadership trait for sustainable success in volatile markets.

Level-Up Your Skills:

• Be ok with being uncomfortable - seek unfamiliar situations, take on new projects, and enter into teams cross-functionally

• Take mini-courses outside your field to build cognitive flexibility

Resume Showcase:

Touch on the solutions found:

→ "Led team through unexpected acquisition, maintaining X% talent retention during reorganization"

→ "Pivoted marketing strategy after algorithm change, recovering lost traffic within X days"

🕰️ 5. Self-Management

People who successfully manage their time, energy, priorities, and emotions don't just accomplish more; they demonstrate executive potential long before formal leadership roles.

💰Survey Says: People who manage themselves well get more done, stay focused on what matters, and hit their goals more often.

Level-Up Your Skills:

• Develop and master self-management practices like time-blocking and the Pomodoro technique

• Practice strategically saying “no" to protect high-value priorities

• Develop personal performance metrics to measure your growth and impact

Resume Showcase:

Show off those management moves:

→ “Managed deadlines across X projects while reducing overdue tasks by X”
→ “Created self-tracking dashboard to improve productivity on client ad hoc projects”

🧠 Final Takeaway:

Hard skills might get you interviews, but your soft skills will help get you promoted.

These are teachable, learnable, and payable skills, and if you’re not developing them, you’re leaving money on the table!

Don’t know what job fits your vibe and paycheck goals? altPath is here to help you figure it out!

Start with Match Me to get a free, step-by-step career strategy built just for you. From there, use their Discover Careers tool to explore job lists tailored to your goals, watch real people in action with Real Talk Reel, and use Compare Pathways to weigh your options side by side.

Whether you're curious about a pivot or starting from scratch, altPath gives you the clarity and confidence to take the next steps forward.

🎯 Explore your future career path at altPath!

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Have you ever wondered how much ghostwriters make, and what it’s like to be one?

We interviewed Alice Lemee, an experienced ghostwriter and digital writing coach who has made over $200,000 by writing for various businesses and personalities. We learned more about her journey into the field, the financial highs and lows, and the challenges of AI and working remotely from locations like Bali.

Whether you’re a new or experienced writer, this episode is packed with expert takeaways! Watch on YouTube below, or listen to the podcast here.

It’s on us! Use this link to redeem a complimentary handcrafted beverage at Capital One Cafe, our episode’s sponsor.

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• Use our free salary negotiation guide to ask for more 🤑

• Ivy League Psychologist says you need this soft skill ⚙️

• Ask yourself these 10 questions before switching careers 💭

• Check out these wellness strategies to battle burnout 🤒

• Smart tips to navigate economic uncertainty 📉

Stay tuned for our next edition, where we’ll dive into even more career-boosting insights and salary data! See you next week! 📩