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When / how to ask for a raise

Posted on 11/17/12 at 6:02 am
Posted by dischNoutTAspd
Houston
Member since Nov 2009
909 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 6:02 am
I took my first ever salary position 6 months ago . No health insurance / benefits and a small commission of around 250$ a month after taxes .

I've researched the average salary of what my position makes and I make well less than the mean .

May you please give me advice on how to approach ? This position isn't performance based . A very general description is that the position is "compliance"
This post was edited on 11/17/12 at 6:04 am
Posted by lnomm34
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
12604 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 6:55 am to
quote:

6 months ago


Demand a raise NOW. You're overworked and underpaid and have been doing it for six whole long months!! Oh the humanity!!!!!
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
43452 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 7:23 am to
no insurance and benefits? Id find another employer.
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
42445 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 7:36 am to
quote:

No health insurance / benefits


Jesus.
Posted by dischNoutTAspd
Houston
Member since Nov 2009
909 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 9:53 am to
No need to flame . It has been 6 months but I've talked to fellow employees and was told 6 months is when most of them receive raises. Company has 50 employees .
This post was edited on 11/17/12 at 9:54 am
Posted by 756
Member since Sep 2004
14852 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 11:13 am to
if they normally give one at 6 months and you hit the 7 month mark and no raise I would start looking for another job

This post was edited on 11/17/12 at 11:13 am
Posted by Bayou Tiger
Member since Nov 2003
3657 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 11:14 am to
quote:

I took my first ever salary position 6 months ago . No health insurance / benefits and a small commission of around 250$ a month after taxes .

I've researched the average salary of what my position makes and I make well less than the mean .
Did you not research or realize any of this before accepting the job six months ago?

Are you saying you make less than the average of what your position makes at the company or the industry? If less than the average at the company for that position, what are the typical milestones where a new employee moves past "trainee" type pay into the average for that position?

If the position is not performance-based (just "compliance"), how much value are you really bringing to the company where they couldn't just let you go and fill the spot with another warm body?

If you are adding significant value beyond that, then good for you. Be willing to highlight this and how you plan to continue to grow your influence even more.

If it was me, I would first ask other employees about the typical milestones or timing to move out of the new hire pay range. Then I would assess where I stand against those. Next I would have a conversation with my supervisor.

The gist of the conversation would be that I am enjoying the job and company so far. Both seem to be a good fit. I feel that I have come up to speed quickly and am already making a positive impact (here are a couple of examples...). My understanding is that by doing x,y,and z, employees are often recognized as moving out of the trainee range (or to the next promotion, etc). Here's how I feel that I am already meeting these requirements.

Do you agree with these being the key milestones and how I am performing relative to them? If so, what are the next level of milestones and impact to the company that I should be working towards? What guidance or suggestions can you offer based on my work so far?

And by the way, what is the typical process and timing bring my current job title and compensation in closer alignment with my skills and my impact to the company?

Thanks for taking the time to discuss all of this. Now let's get back to work.
Posted by Sheep
Neither here nor there
Member since Jun 2007
19478 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 3:56 pm to
quote:

When / how to ask for a raise


Before you accept a job with:

quote:

No health insurance / benefits and a small commission of around 250$ a month after taxes


that pays

quote:

well less than the mean


If the pay is that poor, and the company doesn't appear to value its employees, I see two options. Ask for a promotion (i.e. "I'd like to take on more responsibility. The pay in my current role isn't sustainable, etc., etc.") or you can GTF on down the road, and be cognizant of all of these things when you take a new position.

Actually, I'd suck it up until you're in the shitty job for 12-18 months and THEN GTF on down the road. Go now and you're just butchering your resume.
Posted by jso0003
Member since Jun 2009
5170 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 4:07 pm to
quote:

This position isn't performance based


How does the commission work?
Posted by bamanmemphis
Member since Sep 2009
648 posts
Posted on 11/17/12 at 7:01 pm to
quote:

I've researched the average salary of what my position makes and I make well less than the mean


Would have payed off 6 months and 1 day ago.
Posted by Cool Hand Luke
Member since Oct 2008
1801 posts
Posted on 11/18/12 at 10:50 am to
Not interested.
Posted by lsuroadie
South LA
Member since Oct 2007
8392 posts
Posted on 11/18/12 at 3:46 pm to
Like some have said...why in the hell did you accept the job being paid under the mean?

If it was b/c of lack of experience you still don't have the experience.

Good employees don't have to go to good employers to ask for a raise. Ie, if your worth it they'll want to keep you. If you have to ask, either your expendable, don't deserve it, or you work for a bunch of plugs

In either case your future is not with these people
Posted by C
Houston
Member since Dec 2007
27816 posts
Posted on 11/18/12 at 3:59 pm to
quote:

Company has 50 employees


This adds a lot to the costs of the employer with the new health care law. I'd expect a pink sheet unless you are an above average employee.
Posted by RickAstley
Reno, Nevada
Member since May 2011
1994 posts
Posted on 11/19/12 at 9:34 am to
quote:

Like some have said...why in the hell did you accept the job being paid under the mean?

If it was b/c of lack of experience you still don't have the experience.


I find this thread of interest to me. I accepted my job well under the mean, due to it being my first job out of college, and I had to learn the technology. Now that I am a year in, I am expecting to bargain to get closer to the mean. Did I screw up by starting out so low? Or did I follow a protocol similar to several, where I took what I could get?
Posted by dischNoutTAspd
Houston
Member since Nov 2009
909 posts
Posted on 11/19/12 at 2:27 pm to
This was my first real job out of college and it was far more than I had ever made . I'm not living pay check to pay check , I'm completely independent , but the fact is is that I know I'm underpaid and over qualified . Not being arrogant , there are plenty who feel this way reading this . Point of this thread was to seek advice on when and how to ask for a raise since I've never been in the position in my life to go for it .
Posted by shutterspeed
MS Gulf Coast
Member since May 2007
63180 posts
Posted on 11/19/12 at 10:02 pm to
Wait a minute. Isn't the mean what the average worker is making? And by average, aren't we talking about those who are mid-stream in their career?

If this is your first job, and you're only 6 months in, you should definitely be making below the mean.
Posted by jso0003
Member since Jun 2009
5170 posts
Posted on 11/19/12 at 11:42 pm to
Do y'all have an annual/quarterly review type process?
Posted by ZereauxSum
Lot 23E
Member since Nov 2008
10176 posts
Posted on 11/20/12 at 11:00 am to
quote:

If this is your first job, and you're only 6 months in, you should definitely be making below the mean.


He said he makes below the average for his position, not necessarily his field.

He probably shouldn't have taken that little money, but there is nothing wrong with asking for a raise now. If they say no, he knows where he stands.

My advice OP, would be to start looking now. If you ask and they reject, you'll already have the ball rolling and your employer *should* be expecting you to leave anyway. Best case scenario, you get an offer within the next month and you can take that to your boss to negotiate.
Posted by NC_Tigah
Carolinas
Member since Sep 2003
123756 posts
Posted on 11/20/12 at 5:06 pm to
quote:

dischNoutTAspd
quote:

I've researched the average salary of what my position makes and I make well less than the mean .
"Average salary" means nothing . . . unless you're average.

In reality, you're attempting assessment of your value as an employee, or your potential value to other companies.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.

6 months in, I'd be dubious as to the accuracy of an employee's self-assessment FWIW. Does not mean your situation is not unique though. If you're assuming some entitled compensation in this economy, you're making a mistake.

Before you approach your employer, I'd recommend testing the market. See what actual opportunities are out there for you in your field. If there are none. Now is the time to count blessings for your current job.

OTOH, if you find IAW the data you've cited that you're being undervalued in your present situation, go after the raise. If under those circumstances it is not forthcoming, change employers.
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
43452 posts
Posted on 11/21/12 at 1:14 am to
the bigger issue to me is not having any kind of benefits. being underpaid and not having any benefits is a much worse position than just being underpaid.
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