How do I ask for a pay raise?

[James Bond]

I have been working at my current job for 6 months so far. My roommate and I moved over here when I was first hired (we both got jobs on this side of the state), and decided to sign a 6 month lease. Our lease is going to be over at the end of April, and my roommate told me last night that he plans on moving back home.

I'm overqualified for my position, and grossly underpaid--the thing is, I really want to continue to work at this company for at least another six months (as opposed to finding a job back home). The company, at this particular moment, is sort of in a crossroads--the next six months will pretty much make-or-break the company, depending on how an emerging product does, so this probably isn't the best time to ask.

If I want to continue living and working here, I would need a 5-10k raise. I've never had to ask for a raise before, and I'm a little unsure on how to approach it.

Any ideas?

Update: 3-28-07
I was talking with one of my co-workers and he said that the company has "evaluations" in June. He said that pretty much everyone in our department will get a raise--apparently it was a 10% raise last year, but some of the managers are pushing for 15%-20% for our team.

The only problem at this point is that I won't be able to stick around that long, unless I got my raise sooner.

 

[leftyman]

Get a second job if you really want to stay?

 

[theeedude]

Get another job offer. Then tell them to match it or kiss your @ss goodbye.

 

[markgm]

I do x above and beyond what I was hired to do. I would like to discuss receiving additional compensation for this work in the amount of $5-10k.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Thats a ballsy thing to do 6 months into your employment.

 

[theeedude]

Also, don't let the company drama have any effect on your decision making. They are at a crossroads, that's their problem. If they want you to worry about that, they need to give you a lot stock options so you have a stake in the company's problems. If you are just making salary, you need to get paid what the market will bear, and the only way to find that out is to shop yourself around at other companies.

 

[Squisher]

Do not tell them you need the money because of a personal problem.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Thats a ballsy thing to do 6 months into your employment.

Yeah, I know. I don't have many options though... and if they say no, that just means I will go make twice as much on the other side of the state.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Do not tell them you need the money because of a personal problem.

ie: my living situation?

I know my main boss on a semi-personal level (I met her through a family friend before I applied)

 

[dainthomas]

"SHOW ME THE MONAAAAAY!!"

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Tizyler
I have been working at my current job for 6 months so far. My roommate and I moved over here when I was first hired (we both got jobs on this side of the state), and decided to sign a 6 month lease. Our lease is going to be over at the end of April, and my roommate told me last night that he plans on moving back home.

I'm overqualified for my position, and grossly underpaid--the thing is, I really want to continue to work at this company for at least another six months (as opposed to finding a job back home). The company, at this particular moment, is sort of in a crossroads--the next six months will pretty much make-or-break the company, depending on how an emerging product does, so this probably isn't the best time to ask.

If I want to continue living and working here, I would need a 5-10k raise. I've never had to ask for a raise before, and I'm a little unsure on how to approach it.

Any ideas?

Move to a cheaper apartment? That's what I'd do, anyway. You've only been at the company for six months, so you don't stand a chance in hell of getting a large raise.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: Tizyler
I have been working at my current job for 6 months so far. My roommate and I moved over here when I was first hired (we both got jobs on this side of the state), and decided to sign a 6 month lease. Our lease is going to be over at the end of April, and my roommate told me last night that he plans on moving back home.

I'm overqualified for my position, and grossly underpaid--the thing is, I really want to continue to work at this company for at least another six months (as opposed to finding a job back home). The company, at this particular moment, is sort of in a crossroads--the next six months will pretty much make-or-break the company, depending on how an emerging product does, so this probably isn't the best time to ask.

If I want to continue living and working here, I would need a 5-10k raise. I've never had to ask for a raise before, and I'm a little unsure on how to approach it.

Any ideas?

Move to a cheaper apartment? That's what I'd do, anyway. You've only been at the company for six months, so you don't stand a chance in hell of getting a large raise.

I'm only going to ask for 5-10k. Most people here get raises in the 6mo-12mo period.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Thats a ballsy thing to do 6 months into your employment.

especially for 5-10k

 

[dawks]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: Tizyler
I have been working at my current job for 6 months so far. My roommate and I moved over here when I was first hired (we both got jobs on this side of the state), and decided to sign a 6 month lease. Our lease is going to be over at the end of April, and my roommate told me last night that he plans on moving back home.

I'm overqualified for my position, and grossly underpaid--the thing is, I really want to continue to work at this company for at least another six months (as opposed to finding a job back home). The company, at this particular moment, is sort of in a crossroads--the next six months will pretty much make-or-break the company, depending on how an emerging product does, so this probably isn't the best time to ask.

If I want to continue living and working here, I would need a 5-10k raise. I've never had to ask for a raise before, and I'm a little unsure on how to approach it.

Any ideas?

Move to a cheaper apartment? That's what I'd do, anyway. You've only been at the company for six months, so you don't stand a chance in hell of getting a large raise.

I'm only going to ask for 5-10k. Most people here get raises in the 6mo-12mo period.

So you're already making $70+k? If you're making less, $5k is the most you'd want to ask for. And even then its a little high for only six months. Something like 2-3k is reasonable.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: Tizyler
I have been working at my current job for 6 months so far. My roommate and I moved over here when I was first hired (we both got jobs on this side of the state), and decided to sign a 6 month lease. Our lease is going to be over at the end of April, and my roommate told me last night that he plans on moving back home.

I'm overqualified for my position, and grossly underpaid--the thing is, I really want to continue to work at this company for at least another six months (as opposed to finding a job back home). The company, at this particular moment, is sort of in a crossroads--the next six months will pretty much make-or-break the company, depending on how an emerging product does, so this probably isn't the best time to ask.

If I want to continue living and working here, I would need a 5-10k raise. I've never had to ask for a raise before, and I'm a little unsure on how to approach it.

Any ideas?

Move to a cheaper apartment? That's what I'd do, anyway. You've only been at the company for six months, so you don't stand a chance in hell of getting a large raise.

I'm only going to ask for 5-10k. Most people here get raises in the 6mo-12mo period.

only? thats a lot of money for only being there for 6 months. hell, i'm not sure where you could ask for that much of a raise no matter how long you've been there.

 

[theeedude]

It doesn't matter how much of the raise you are asking for. If you can get 15K raise by switching companies, you are doing them a favor only asking for 10k raise.
Make sure you are not emotionally involved in the company's problems and cutting them slack at your expense, unless you have a financial stake in the company that will make your sacrifice pay off. You need to look out for number one.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Thats a ballsy thing to do 6 months into your employment.

Yeah, I know. I don't have many options though... and if they say no, that just means I will go make twice as much on the other side of the state.

I would suggest getting another offer in hand before doing this. If someone 6 months in came and told me he's not making enough, I'd think he was an arrogant prick. If the offer was acceptable 6 months ago, it should be acceptable now. Barring a change in your job description, or something you have done that was way above and beyond that made or saved the company alot of money, you pretty much have no grounds to stand on, and they probably wont forget that you asked either.

 

[her209]

How much involvement did you have in the upcoming product that will make or break the company?

 

[dannybek]

"yo biznatches, this mudafker needz mo monay, yall undstandt? If you dont Ill be up outta heRE!

But seriously,

Pull your boss aside, and ask for a raise. "I would like a raise if it is possible."

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: her209
How much involvement did you have in the upcoming product that will make or break the company?

That's kind of a difficult question. It is my main focus though.

My main stance is that I'm very well qualified for this position, and I'm probably a good contender for higher positions in the future--so I'm hoping that a pay increase in the near future wouldn't be too big of a deal as long as they know they will be able to keep me for the long run.

 

[DougK62]

You had better have a lot of documentation showing how you went above and beyond your duties, what your accomplishments have been, why you're so valuable to them, etc.

 

[PingSpike]

I think you should just interview with companies on the other side of the state and move there. It almost sounds like you're in a losing position here.

Plus, if you go in tough they may call your bluff.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I think you should just interview with companies on the other side of the state and move there. It almost sounds like you're in a losing position here.

Plus, if you go in tough they may call your bluff.

Yeah, I think that is the route I might take.

I plan on interviewing with some companies over there, then asking for a pay raise where I'm at "because I value the company".

 

[jiggahertz]

What are you making now and what industry is this? $5k if you're making $50k is pretty high but much more reasonable if your salary is around $100k.

 

[James Bond]

I'm making about 50k.

Computer Networking.