4 ms·

That was a stupid statement. Raises don't come to anyone who doesn't ask, men or women. In addition, raises don't seem to come at all in IT, except by changing

by mhurron 12y ago

That was a stupid statement. Raises don't come to anyone who doesn't ask, men or women. In addition, raises don't seem to come at all in IT, except by changing jobs. Unfortunately, when you feel it's time for your compensation to be bumped, it's probably time to look for another job. And that's ignoring the situation where you have a bad manager/company where asking for a raise will instantly make the environment hostile.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Asking doesn't work in any corporation I've ever been at. There's an annual review cycle.
- illumen 12y ago
  You weren't doing freelance?
- hammock 12y ago
  They'd like you to think that. But I know companies where the raise cycle is separate from the review cycle (it actually happens right before reviews, oddly), and they don't announce the raises until after reviews are completed so that you THINK there's an association. I also know people who the only raises they've ever gotten were off-cycle, because they asked for them.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- mattmanser 12y ago
  It does work like that in those corporations. They just prefer you to think it doesn't as it keeps wages down. If a top sales guy walks into his manager's office and says he wants a 20% hike, he'll be getting a 20% hike. It's just you didn't try/get yourself in a strong enough position.
  - hnal943 12y ago
    That seems like an incomplete statement. He might get a 20% hike once, because he's undervalued. That's an "equity adjustment." But obviously that wouldn't work every day.
  - tomp 12y ago
    It can't work as you describe either. What if he asks the same thing the next day?
  - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
    I've been lucky in my career. I'm valued; I get paid well; I have equity and perks.
  - sjg007 12y ago
    In sales it works well, either by commission or you have actual numbers on your value.
- autokad 12y ago
  if you ask for a raise and they say its not part of the annual review cycle, or any other excuse, it means 1 of 3 things: They cant give you a raise because they cant afford it (very rare), they do not think you are worth it, or they think you are worth it but don't think you will walk. If you ask for a raise and they give you an excuse like that (or pretty much any other), start preparing to leave. It usually helps that you ask from a position of strength, so you can actually leave immediately.
  - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
    Extend this: be ready to leave every day. Treat each paycheck as a renewed offer of employment. Compare it with your current options of employment. Make the best decision for you. Even if you don't change jobs very often, this position and attitude give you clarity. Note: this is not at odds with the 'asking for a raise doesn't work' position. Its just that, employment means getting pay for work. If you can do better somewhere else, and you have no other personal reasons for staying, then go!
- sambeau 12y ago
  Asking has been the only way to get a raise above inflation in any corporation I've ever been at, even after taking on extra responsibilities.
clubhi 12y ago
I've received several raises over the last few years without asking. I also get large bonuses...If you are under good leadership this happens.
kyllo 12y ago
True in some situations but totally depends on the company, on your boss, and on your performance. At my current employer I've been kicking ass at my job and getting regular raises without having to ask for them. Granted, my starting base salary was lower than what a lot of tech companies offer, but I work for a competent, fair managment team and I rarely need to put in more than 40 hours a week.
codyb 12y ago
Anecdotal, and not only anecdotal but anecdotal with a sample size of exactly one. I'm currently working as a software engineer at my first post collegiate (post college? Collegiate sounds cooler.) position. I started a bit under market and after about eight months I scheduled a meeting with my CTO to review my compensation. Stressed that I enjoyed working at the company but I had come to understand that in similar roles at other companies I would receive a significant boost in compensation. I provided examples of value that I bought to the team (which was simple because I was one of the first programmers hired in the states by the company and had proved myself many times and received many exemplary quarter reviews from my CTO and super) and was asked for an indication of the salary I would like. I provided a range, and my next paycheck was at the top of that range. I got very lucky in that the day I asked, my CTO sent along a request, which happened to be on the day that all salary reconsiderations were happening and so within a few hours it was approved. That was merely chance. I had no internal understanding of the system prior. However, prior to asking, I did my research and concluded the best way to receive a raise was to 1) ask. 2) stress that I would like to stay in the company and enjoyed my work there. 3) show the value I bought to the team. and 4) to do so a little before my one year review. I'm now a vested employee :-).

by mhurron 12y ago

JoeAltmaier 12y ago

Asking doesn't work in any corporation I've ever been at. There's an annual review cycle.

illumen 12y ago
You weren't doing freelance?
hammock 12y ago
They'd like you to think that. But I know companies where the raise cycle is separate from the review cycle (it actually happens right before reviews, oddly), and they don't announce the raises until after reviews are completed so that you THINK there's an association. I also know people who the only raises they've ever gotten were off-cycle, because they asked for them.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
mattmanser 12y ago
It does work like that in those corporations. They just prefer you to think it doesn't as it keeps wages down. If a top sales guy walks into his manager's office and says he wants a 20% hike, he'll be getting a 20% hike. It's just you didn't try/get yourself in a strong enough position.
- hnal943 12y ago
  That seems like an incomplete statement. He might get a 20% hike once, because he's undervalued. That's an "equity adjustment." But obviously that wouldn't work every day.
- tomp 12y ago
  It can't work as you describe either. What if he asks the same thing the next day?
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  I've been lucky in my career. I'm valued; I get paid well; I have equity and perks.
- sjg007 12y ago
  In sales it works well, either by commission or you have actual numbers on your value.
autokad 12y ago
if you ask for a raise and they say its not part of the annual review cycle, or any other excuse, it means 1 of 3 things: They cant give you a raise because they cant afford it (very rare), they do not think you are worth it, or they think you are worth it but don't think you will walk. If you ask for a raise and they give you an excuse like that (or pretty much any other), start preparing to leave. It usually helps that you ask from a position of strength, so you can actually leave immediately.
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Extend this: be ready to leave every day. Treat each paycheck as a renewed offer of employment. Compare it with your current options of employment. Make the best decision for you. Even if you don't change jobs very often, this position and attitude give you clarity. Note: this is not at odds with the 'asking for a raise doesn't work' position. Its just that, employment means getting pay for work. If you can do better somewhere else, and you have no other personal reasons for staying, then go!
sambeau 12y ago
Asking has been the only way to get a raise above inflation in any corporation I've ever been at, even after taking on extra responsibilities.

clubhi 12y ago

I've received several raises over the last few years without asking. I also get large bonuses...If you are under good leadership this happens.

kyllo 12y ago

True in some situations but totally depends on the company, on your boss, and on your performance. At my current employer I've been kicking ass at my job and getting regular raises without having to ask for them. Granted, my starting base salary was lower than what a lot of tech companies offer, but I work for a competent, fair managment team and I rarely need to put in more than 40 hours a week.

codyb 12y ago

Anecdotal, and not only anecdotal but anecdotal with a sample size of exactly one. I'm currently working as a software engineer at my first post collegiate (post college? Collegiate sounds cooler.) position. I started a bit under market and after about eight months I scheduled a meeting with my CTO to review my compensation. Stressed that I enjoyed working at the company but I had come to understand that in similar roles at other companies I would receive a significant boost in compensation. I provided examples of value that I bought to the team (which was simple because I was one of the first programmers hired in the states by the company and had proved myself many times and received many exemplary quarter reviews from my CTO and super) and was asked for an indication of the salary I would like. I provided a range, and my next paycheck was at the top of that range. I got very lucky in that the day I asked, my CTO sent along a request, which happened to be on the day that all salary reconsiderations were happening and so within a few hours it was approved. That was merely chance. I had no internal understanding of the system prior. However, prior to asking, I did my research and concluded the best way to receive a raise was to 1) ask. 2) stress that I would like to stay in the company and enjoyed my work there. 3) show the value I bought to the team. and 4) to do so a little before my one year review. I'm now a vested employee :-).