Appraisal; asking for a raise?
Discussion
I have my yearly appraisal soon. I was wondering whether it would be worth asking for a pay review. I've been approached about numerous jobs that are paying circa 4k+ a year more, but would be (in terms of commute and time at home) worse for me. The added bonus is that I like it here, and work well within the team. I also do quite a lot of work here, both day to day stuff and major projects which have been noticed and commented on right from the top.
What's the best way about going about it.
I know saying "Ere, I want a payrise" isn't the best way, but how is the best way to approach it?
What's the best way about going about it.
I know saying "Ere, I want a payrise" isn't the best way, but how is the best way to approach it?
As you've said, detail what you've successfully delivered, where you've gone over and above and ask.
I'd not not want to bring up being asked to apply for external roles or being headhunted as in your own words they don't work for you the currently working arrangements are more important than the money.
I'd not not want to bring up being asked to apply for external roles or being headhunted as in your own words they don't work for you the currently working arrangements are more important than the money.
I was perfectly honest with my boss once saying "I'm getting lots of approaches from recruiters for similar roles to the one I'm doing. I'm happy here and enjoy my work but the pay differential is hard to ignore." (the pay differential was about £15k though). He agreed with me, said he was happy with my work and got me a pay rise bigger than the differential. I'd have been willing to leave for the money though and it doesn't sound like you would be. I have no idea what £4k is as a % of your current salary, but is it really worth it for downsides you mention?
For the downsides, no. If I got told no to the rise then I would happily stay.
A 4k rise is still nearly 10% of what I earn so it is hard not to consider, but when you factor in the benefits I get, the team I work with, the commute (which is mostly pretty pleasant), and the fact a new job would mean using my car for business then it becomes pointless to move.
Do I want the cake, and eat it? Possibly a little bit yeah, but if I don't ask, I don't get and The fact that I've had numerous people, including directors and above comment on how I work, I feel It's justified.
A 4k rise is still nearly 10% of what I earn so it is hard not to consider, but when you factor in the benefits I get, the team I work with, the commute (which is mostly pretty pleasant), and the fact a new job would mean using my car for business then it becomes pointless to move.
Do I want the cake, and eat it? Possibly a little bit yeah, but if I don't ask, I don't get and The fact that I've had numerous people, including directors and above comment on how I work, I feel It's justified.
Don't mention other jobs unless you are actually willing to go take them. I know that once you start thinking about taking another job, you will, sooner or later, scratch that itch and leave. It will never go away. I've been there. I was happy, and never thought about leaving, until I did, and then I couldn't stop. I treat my team the same now. If they mention other jobs, I assume that sooner or later they will be handing me a resignation. I adjust how I use them and invest in them accordingly (rightly or wrongly). So, don't call their bluff if you're happy where you are.
So, how's the company doing as a whole? Big profits all round, or selling the pot plants to pay the rent? Be sensitive to the company position. I'm not saying you're not worth more in the open market, but accept that you might have to go to the open market to get it. Don't take it personally if they can't offer it. Maybe they really can't offer it for a million reasons. Be prepared for how disgruntled you're going to feel if they say no, and whether whatever reason they give, if any, is a genuine enough reason for you not to start resenting them for it. You might actually end up hating the job you loved before you asked for more money. (That's not a reason not to ask, just think about it).
Next, are you really over-achieving? Is it measured? Objectives set, met and exceeded on paper? Performance review forms with your manager's glowing words of praise? Metrics? Statistics? Anything at all you can take in with you that isn't anecdotal or gut-feel or intangible will help your argument. I know not all jobs are target-driven, but if you can say "I was set a target of 20 widgets and I consistently turn out 25 per week, saving the company one meeeeelyon dollars", or, "no project I've worked on has been later or over budget in the last 75 years". Arm yourself with as many real, measurable, facts as you can; things they can't attribute to somebody else, or general company performance dragging you up with it, or your team doing all the hard work and you taking the credit. Things you've done yourself. That extra contract you won. That process you re-engineered, removing 1 hour of form-filling per week. That script you wrote to automate Mildred's job, saving the company her entire salary...
Avoid the fuzzy phrases, like, "I was instrumental in delivering project X". Tell them exactly how in a way that they can't dispute or reply with a differing opinion.
So, how's the company doing as a whole? Big profits all round, or selling the pot plants to pay the rent? Be sensitive to the company position. I'm not saying you're not worth more in the open market, but accept that you might have to go to the open market to get it. Don't take it personally if they can't offer it. Maybe they really can't offer it for a million reasons. Be prepared for how disgruntled you're going to feel if they say no, and whether whatever reason they give, if any, is a genuine enough reason for you not to start resenting them for it. You might actually end up hating the job you loved before you asked for more money. (That's not a reason not to ask, just think about it).
Next, are you really over-achieving? Is it measured? Objectives set, met and exceeded on paper? Performance review forms with your manager's glowing words of praise? Metrics? Statistics? Anything at all you can take in with you that isn't anecdotal or gut-feel or intangible will help your argument. I know not all jobs are target-driven, but if you can say "I was set a target of 20 widgets and I consistently turn out 25 per week, saving the company one meeeeelyon dollars", or, "no project I've worked on has been later or over budget in the last 75 years". Arm yourself with as many real, measurable, facts as you can; things they can't attribute to somebody else, or general company performance dragging you up with it, or your team doing all the hard work and you taking the credit. Things you've done yourself. That extra contract you won. That process you re-engineered, removing 1 hour of form-filling per week. That script you wrote to automate Mildred's job, saving the company her entire salary...
Avoid the fuzzy phrases, like, "I was instrumental in delivering project X". Tell them exactly how in a way that they can't dispute or reply with a differing opinion.
Edited by TartanPaint on Thursday 5th May 16:39
Are you going to ask for 4% or just let them make an offer?
I asked my boss (in my previous job) for a %'age to which he agreed. I worked hard(er) for about 6 weeks before hand to ensure i looked good and everything was completed and i had gone the extra mile etc.
When i handed my notice in, they offered to match my new salary offer! - I probably could have asked for more!
I asked my boss (in my previous job) for a %'age to which he agreed. I worked hard(er) for about 6 weeks before hand to ensure i looked good and everything was completed and i had gone the extra mile etc.
When i handed my notice in, they offered to match my new salary offer! - I probably could have asked for more!
The trouble with asking is, what will your response be if they say no; they could call YOUR bluff!
If they say no and you don't leave, that could be it for a number of years. Think hard. Another option could be to ask whether they think you're worthy of a rise; subtle difference and could develop in to a different type of conversation. A further option is to ask about additional responsibilities and then with that could come a rise. Good luck!
If they say no and you don't leave, that could be it for a number of years. Think hard. Another option could be to ask whether they think you're worthy of a rise; subtle difference and could develop in to a different type of conversation. A further option is to ask about additional responsibilities and then with that could come a rise. Good luck!
Thanks guys, It's certainly given me a lot of food for thought. I thought last night about asking them if they feel that I was also due one, so I may initially go in with that.
I wasn't actually going to go in asking for a percentage, I was going to hope (perhaps wrongly) that I would get a bit more (circa 2k) which will then, with the benefits bring me bang up to what the market pays for what I do, and what I'm trained in.
Do you think it would be better going in with a figure in mind, and only mention it when they ask, or leave them to decide the value?
I wasn't actually going to go in asking for a percentage, I was going to hope (perhaps wrongly) that I would get a bit more (circa 2k) which will then, with the benefits bring me bang up to what the market pays for what I do, and what I'm trained in.
Do you think it would be better going in with a figure in mind, and only mention it when they ask, or leave them to decide the value?
Blanchimont said:
Thanks guys, It's certainly given me a lot of food for thought. I thought last night about asking them if they feel that I was also due one, so I may initially go in with that.
I wasn't actually going to go in asking for a percentage, I was going to hope (perhaps wrongly) that I would get a bit more (circa 2k) which will then, with the benefits bring me bang up to what the market pays for what I do, and what I'm trained in.
Do you think it would be better going in with a figure in mind, and only mention it when they ask, or leave them to decide the value?
Definitely set a figure, your interpretation of a decent payrise may be way off theirs.I wasn't actually going to go in asking for a percentage, I was going to hope (perhaps wrongly) that I would get a bit more (circa 2k) which will then, with the benefits bring me bang up to what the market pays for what I do, and what I'm trained in.
Do you think it would be better going in with a figure in mind, and only mention it when they ask, or leave them to decide the value?
Glowing appraisal. Asked to discuss salary, got sucking through teeth, and told that it would depend whether there is enough in the company coffers, and that to leave it a few weeks (until new financial year and appraisals have settled back Down and ask again.
So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
Blanchimont said:
Glowing appraisal. Asked to discuss salary, got sucking through teeth, and told that it would depend whether there is enough in the company coffers, and that to leave it a few weeks (until new financial year and appraisals have settled back Down and ask again.
So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
One wonders what the point of getting a glowing appraisal and the appraisal process in general is if it doesn't then feed back in to getting a pay review. Good luck next month, don't forget to ask! So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
Blanchimont said:
Glowing appraisal. Asked to discuss salary, got sucking through teeth, and told that it would depend whether there is enough in the company coffers, and that to leave it a few weeks (until new financial year and appraisals have settled back Down and ask again.
So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
Well done, though "ask in the next financial year" is a great way to string an employee along and then say no as revenues or budgets are down (which they should know very well what they are by now). I know because I've done it!So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
No harm in asking, but how long are you prepared to be strung along if it wasn't already being considered?
prand said:
Well done, though "ask in the next financial year" is a great way to string an employee along and then say no as revenues or budgets are down (which they should know very well what they are by now). I know because I've done it!
This is true. However, hopefully there's budget for some sort of pay rise, and now he's set expectation that he's looking for something which may help juggle things in his favour when the pot of money gets allocated. OP, you do need to decide what you'll do if they don't come up with the cash though. Once you start to feel undervalued it's quite hard to shake that in my experience, and it it were me I'd be looking around for a job that both pays more, and works from a commuting aspect. One will show up at some point!
Blanchimont said:
Glowing appraisal. Asked to discuss salary, got sucking through teeth, and told that it would depend whether there is enough in the company coffers, and that to leave it a few weeks (until new financial year and appraisals have settled back Down and ask again.
So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
The management saying they are not sure if there is enough money in the coffers for a pay rise is a bit negative in my opinion. Either the company finances are precarious or the management are trying to guilt trip you into sticking on what you are earning now.. So it's not a no, nor a yes. I shall ask again in June
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