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 (po

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 :-).