Any suggestions on how to present a proposal for a raise?

[vi edit]

I am coming up for my three year review next month. I've only had one actual salary raise since I've been here, and that was more of an adjustment 6 months into my employment to make up for a lower than industry average salary for my position.

During the three years time, I've gained a significantly larger area of coverage, and added a whole slew of new users and extra responsibilities. My latest project has added an additional company under my belt and I'm basically doing a full time job on that company PLUS my regular duties of covering 3 other companies.

I want to go to the table with a salary proposal and some sort of supporting documentation outlaying the amount of growth my position has had over the three years time. I've got a rough spreadsheet drawn up comparing different areas of growth showing the differences between when I came on board and where they are currently.

My question is - what would be the best way to present this information? Should I keep it in a spreadsheet? Should I keep it short and sweet in a bulleted document? Should I do both the spreadsheet and provide supporting documentation to go along with it?

Or does it really depend on my Bosses? I've never been in a position to ask for a raise, and I don't really have a "mentor" of sorts within the company that can give me any pointers. Can you actually give TOO much information when asking for a raise?

 

[dquan97]

How is the company doing? Can they afford to give you a raise?

 

[filmmaker]

Do both the spreadsheet and provide supporting documentation to go along with it.

Then suggest a raise.

 

[Fausto]

Carefully balance a loaded shotgun on your lap as you go through the presentation.....that always works well for me.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I am coming up for my three year review next month. I've only had one actual salary raise since I've been here, and that was more of an adjustment 6 months into my employment to make up for a lower than industry average salary for my position.

During the three years time, I've gained a significantly larger area of coverage, and added a whole slew of new users and extra responsibilities. My latest project has added an additional company under my belt and I'm basically doing a full time job on that company PLUS my regular duties of covering 3 other companies.

I want to go to the table with a salary proposal and some sort of supporting documentation outlaying the amount of growth my position has had over the three years time. I've got a rough spreadsheet drawn up comparing different areas of growth showing the differences between when I came on board and where they are currently.

My question is - what would be the best way to present this information? Should I keep it in a spreadsheet? Should I keep it short and sweet in a bulleted document? Should I do both the spreadsheet and provide supporting documentation to go along with it?

Or does it really depend on my Bosses? I've never been in a position to ask for a raise, and I don't really have a "mentor" of sorts within the company that can give me any pointers. Can you actually give TOO much information when asking for a raise?

From my, a manager, perspective the more information you bring to the table the better. Being well prepared with documentation on your duties, your daily activites, etc....is a very good thing. Also...have a plan for what you are asking for. Don't just say you want a raise.....give them a dollar figure or a percentage.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: dquan97
How is the company doing? Can they afford to give you a raise?

They are doing just fine, I'll leave it at that.

Plus, the way we are payed is out of a "management fee" spread out over 30+ retail locations. A $1000 raise works out to be ~$2.80 a month for each location.

Of course I'm asking for considerably more than $1000....

 

[vi edit]

From my, a manager, perspective the more information you bring to the table the better. Being well prepared with documentation on your duties, your daily activites, etc....is a very good thing. Also...have a plan for what you are asking for. Don't just say you want a raise.....give them a dollar figure or a percentage.

Yep, that's what I plan to do. I've got quotes from contractors showing what it would cost my company to have a third party do the work that I'm doing on my latest project. The raise I'm looking for is significant, but it's about half of what these fee's would run if I wasn't there to do them. This amount doesn't include all of the other additional responsibilities that I've taken on with the other three companies as well.

I've got a very concrete number in my head that I'm trying to aim for. It does sound like a lot ( ~20%), but I've never had even a standard of living adjustment in three years and I've nearly quadrupled the amount of "stuff" I'm responsible for.

 

[MichaelD]

I think your plan is a solid one. Especially all the "snapshots of then and now." Clearly demonstrates what you've done.

The only thing I think they might pull is trying to say that "but people at your level of responsibility don't make $XYZ a year."

At which point you whip out your other research that you've done already showing that "yes, they do." I dunno..want ads or something, which allows you to prove that you should be making that much more.

When I ask for a raise, I ask for a little more than what I'm willing to settle for. It's a rarity that you ask for 12K more a year and get it. They may offer 8K and that's it.

Good luck.

*edit*
You typed all that "third party info" stuff while I was typing. Great minds think alike. If they are smart, they know that it would cost them 3x what they are paying you to have a third party do your work, and they will bend to your will.

 

[nan0bug]

The only thing I think they might pull is trying to say that "but people at your level of responsibility don't make $XYZ a year."

At which point you whip out your other research that you've done already showing that "yes, they do." I dunno..want ads or something, which allows you to prove that you should be making that much more.

When I ask for a raise, I ask for a little more than what I'm willing to settle for. It's a rarity that you ask for 12K more a year and get it. They may offer 8K and that's it.

Pretty much what he said. Bring all that documentation, but don't back down. I wouldn't give them the presentation unless you have something lined up that will pay you what you want. If you're not prepared to hand in your 2 week notice when you get turned down, you aren't really ready to ask for a raise.

 

[vi edit]

The only thing I think they might pull is trying to say that "but people at your level of responsibility don't make $XYZ a year."

That's where I'm having troubles....

I'm IT...but I'm MORE than IT.

I manage Exchange, Win2k, and AS/400 servers.
I do data cabling and install phone cabling
I take care of over 70 desktops/laptops
I write custom reports
Keep 30+ remote sites up and running w/ broadband connections and get the lines running when they go down

BUT....

I also take care of an additional $1,000,000+++ worth of Point of Sales (register equipment) as well on top of all that too...

So I just can't go out and say "Ok, a systems admin makes $XX,XXX" or an "IT Guy makes $XX,XXX"....I have such a wide level of responsibilities that it's hard to pin both a job title and a "normal" salary on it.

 

[vi edit]

I wouldn't give them the presentation unless you have something lined up that will pay you what you want. If you're not prepared to hand in your 2 week notice when you get turned down, you aren't really ready to ask for a raise.

That REALLY concerns me as well....

The IT market sucks. They know that it sucks. I've TRIED applying to other positions but nobody is hiring people like me I'm either over qualified for an entry level position, or under qualified for a high level "Senior" position.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

The only thing I think they might pull is trying to say that "but people at your level of responsibility don't make $XYZ a year."

That's where I'm having troubles....

I'm IT...but I'm MORE than IT.

I manage Exchange, Win2k, and AS/400 servers.
I do data cabling and install phone cabling
I take care of over 70 desktops/laptops
I write custom reports
Keep 30+ remote sites up and running w/ broadband connections and get the lines running when they go down

BUT....

I also take care of an additional $1,000,000+++ worth of Point of Sales (register equipment) as well on top of all that too...

So I just can't go out and say "Ok, a systems admin makes $XX,XXX" or an "IT Guy makes $XX,XXX"....I have such a wide level of responsibilities that it's hard to pin both a job title and a "normal" salary on it.

OK, then if they give you crap, go from the angle:

"Well, XYZ Cash Register Company would charge us $XYZ per contract year to maintain 30 POS terminals."
"The going rate for Florida Bell to install/maintain phone lines is $XTY per year."
"Bob's Broadband would've charged $XYZ per office to wire up for the network connections."
"Plus I do all the reports, etc"

And as nan0bug said, it would probably be a good idea to have something else in mind in case things don't go so well. Not that you'd quit or they'd fire you, but you never know...