Best way to get a better raise.

Mayfriday0529

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2003
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Usually the job I work for will get yearly reviews and raises in February but they are always late on it and it will probably be sometimes this month.

Anyways I got two and half years already with the company and I really need a good raise.

Last year I only got a about a 3.5% (3.5% x my hourly rate) raise which doesn?t compare at all to what most of my other co-workers make. Everyone that was here before I joined probably makes at least 30-50% more than me.

When my boss mentions the raise amount, usually he will tell me that it is the budget our department got and was approved by the CEO. I think they could afford more especially when several people that worked in my department left and now are paying three new people the salary of one person for all three.

How could I get more when my review is up? Should I just tell my boss that I contribute a lot and go out of my way for testing things etc? Should I mention how much I would like to get paid like a specific amount?

Any tips are welcome.
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
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Drink some liquid courage and then go ask him....how does he feel about you showing up to work drunk?
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
8,401
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usually once you've started at a place your kinda stuck at a 3-5% increase per year if your doing the same work year after year, and only if you take on more responsibility does it go up into the 10-20% range...thats just been my experience though.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
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Originally posted by: Drakkon
usually once you've started at a place your kinda stuck at a 3-5% increase per year if your doing the same work year after year, and only if you take on more responsibility does it go up into the 10-20% range...thats just been my experience though.

Ditto. I never hit a >10% raise until I got a promotion.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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The best way to get a raise is to leave, and have the company consider you worth keeping. It worked for me a few years ago.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
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Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: Drakkon
usually once you've started at a place your kinda stuck at a 3-5% increase per year if your doing the same work year after year, and only if you take on more responsibility does it go up into the 10-20% range...thats just been my experience though.

Ditto. I never hit a >10% raise until I got a promotion.
unfortunately true.
 

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
engage in a hostage situation. sorta likw the negotiator. :D
if movies has taught me anything, after you kill 20 sorrupt cops and yuo horrible boss, you get a huge raise, a hot gf/wife and then walk away happy.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
you need to get the ball rolling BEFORE your annual review, they (the mangers) have already decided what you are getting at that point and it is too late. you need to talk to him 2-3 months before your review and then during all your reviews, make sure you are performing higher than average/exceeds standards
 

Toasthead

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2001
6,621
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Ive been at my job for 2 years and my take home pay is actually 2 dollars LESS a month than when I started!
 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
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What worked for me is taking up a new task and then working my ass off to do the best/quickest job at it. After a few weeks the boss knows you're "the best," and pays you more, but after you've got that title you can basically be lazy and everyone still thinks you're the best. This is better for manual labor jobs but may work in the corporate world as well.
 

Slvrtg277

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2004
1,004
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Teh pron.

Seriously, like they said - consistently exceed expectations and hope for a promotion.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,971
1,679
126
Originally posted by: Toasthead
Ive been at my job for 2 years and my take home pay is actually 2 dollars LESS a month than when I started!

that wouldn't be bad a thing if you are putting more into your 401 or something...

but something else tells me that probably isn't the case...
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
Honesty works pretty good. If not, go check out nettemps or monster and get your resume ready. The best way to increase your salary is to change jobs.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
At my work, the last three years have been: 0%, 2.5%, 2%. I've been at the max every time. Gas prices have bumped my commuting costs by $100/mo, and the cost of living for the area has gone up about 25%. I'm struggling to figure out if I can afford a house.

...so if you find out, let me know.
 

Mayfriday0529

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2003
7,187
0
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Originally posted by: FoBoT
you need to get the ball rolling BEFORE your annual review, they (the mangers) have already decided what you are getting at that point and it is too late. you need to talk to him 2-3 months before your review and then during all your reviews, make sure you are performing higher than average/exceeds standards

There is not much more that one could exceed at my job. I work in Tech support and I make less than 30k a year. My responsibilities are Email and phone support and on the side i surf lots of forum websites looking for problems that customers have and will look for similarities and then bring them up with them and we look for solutions before going to the engineers.

I also test new software when it comes out look for bugs and even bring my work home sometimes. I have also represented my company in a few Microsoft road shows where my company was a partner and have also represented the company at a technology show in Germany.

Besides that there is not much more extra that i could do.

 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
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okay, then you need to get promoted. you need to find a new position they need filled and get hired for it

good luck
 

Mayfriday0529

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2003
7,187
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Originally posted by: FoBoT
okay, then you need to get promoted. you need to find a new position they need filled and get hired for it

good luck


There is Tech Support or Engineering which i do not quality for, there is no more up here.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
then move to another company or get "qualified" , you should always be adding new skills to your tool box
 

DougK62

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2001
8,035
6
81
Sit down with your boss and be honest. You'd better have a good case with examples of why you deserve more money. Saying you want more because the others make more isn't gonna fly.