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Getting a pay-raise

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  • M MatthysDT

    How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

    "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
    "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

    V Offline
    V Offline
    Vasudevan Deepak Kumar
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

    Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage Tech Gossips

    C V J R 4 Replies Last reply
    0
    • M MatthysDT

      How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

      "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
      "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

      R Offline
      R Offline
      Roger Stoltz
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      You might find something useful in Christopher Duncan's articles here[^].


      "It's supposed to be hard, otherwise anybody could do it!" - selfquote

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • V Vasudevan Deepak Kumar

        When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

        Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage Tech Gossips

        C Offline
        C Offline
        charlieg
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Why? It's a free market. Obliged? nah, makes good business sense? You bet. I would simply act like a professional and prepare to justify your request. Of course, if you have a pissy boss, might want to have some other oppoerunities lined up.

        Charlie Gilley Will program for food... Whoever said children were cheaper by the dozen... lied. My son's PDA is an M249 SAW. My other son commutes in an M1A2 Abrams

        V M 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • M MatthysDT

          How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

          "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
          "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

          D Offline
          D Offline
          Daniel Turini
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          evilnoodle wrote:

          How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise?

          I'm a boss, so I can only say what worked with me. First, a word of advice for your "friend" (it's you, right? ;) ) : some professionals don't even notice that their boss is highly unsatisfied with their job, no matter what their boss says. Can you imagine your boss reaction when a professional like that comes to talk about a raise? :) How to not get your raise: "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." So, try this: "Boss, I feel I'm underpaid. I believe I should be earning at least $X because I researched the market and that's what other companies are paying for a guy like me." I like this approach. It's honest, simple, professional, and your boss cannot question $X, because probably he knows it's true. Moreover, it leaves a subtle, elegant message "I'll leave soon to one of those companies if you don't raise my salary" without needing to say. Just be careful to really research what $X means. Don't lie. Also, your boss cannot use the cheap trick "you deserve it, but the company does not have money right now", which I find as stupid as the "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." approach. If this doesn't work: "I'm leaving. I found a job that pays me more." And be careful, only do this if it's really true. If you're really underpaid, there should be no problem finding a better paying job.

          C 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • M MatthysDT

            How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

            "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
            "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

            B Offline
            B Offline
            Bradml
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Simply say: "Would you like to see your children?"


            Brad Australian - Christian Graus on "Best books for VBscript" A big thick one, so you can whack yourself on the head with it.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • C charlieg

              Why? It's a free market. Obliged? nah, makes good business sense? You bet. I would simply act like a professional and prepare to justify your request. Of course, if you have a pissy boss, might want to have some other oppoerunities lined up.

              Charlie Gilley Will program for food... Whoever said children were cheaper by the dozen... lied. My son's PDA is an M249 SAW. My other son commutes in an M1A2 Abrams

              V Offline
              V Offline
              Vasudevan Deepak Kumar
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              :)

              Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage Tech Gossips

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M MatthysDT

                How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

                "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
                "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Rage
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                evilnoodle wrote:

                I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

                ROTFL. "Hi Doc, well I am perfectly OK, but I have got a ... eh ... friend that has ... well ... syphilis and I would like to know how I could get ri... well how HE could get rid of it." :rolleyes:

                D 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • C charlieg

                  Why? It's a free market. Obliged? nah, makes good business sense? You bet. I would simply act like a professional and prepare to justify your request. Of course, if you have a pissy boss, might want to have some other oppoerunities lined up.

                  Charlie Gilley Will program for food... Whoever said children were cheaper by the dozen... lied. My son's PDA is an M249 SAW. My other son commutes in an M1A2 Abrams

                  M Offline
                  M Offline
                  MatthysDT
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  charlieg wrote:

                  Will program for food...

                  LOL, guess your pay-raise includes a jacket potato?

                  "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
                  "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • D Daniel Turini

                    evilnoodle wrote:

                    How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise?

                    I'm a boss, so I can only say what worked with me. First, a word of advice for your "friend" (it's you, right? ;) ) : some professionals don't even notice that their boss is highly unsatisfied with their job, no matter what their boss says. Can you imagine your boss reaction when a professional like that comes to talk about a raise? :) How to not get your raise: "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." So, try this: "Boss, I feel I'm underpaid. I believe I should be earning at least $X because I researched the market and that's what other companies are paying for a guy like me." I like this approach. It's honest, simple, professional, and your boss cannot question $X, because probably he knows it's true. Moreover, it leaves a subtle, elegant message "I'll leave soon to one of those companies if you don't raise my salary" without needing to say. Just be careful to really research what $X means. Don't lie. Also, your boss cannot use the cheap trick "you deserve it, but the company does not have money right now", which I find as stupid as the "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." approach. If this doesn't work: "I'm leaving. I found a job that pays me more." And be careful, only do this if it's really true. If you're really underpaid, there should be no problem finding a better paying job.

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    Christian Graus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    Daniel Turini wrote:

                    "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." approach.

                    Yeah, that's just stupid.  I need a Lear Jet.  That is NOT my bosses problem.

                    Christian Graus - C++ MVP 'Why don't we jump on a fad that hasn't already been widely discredited ?' - Dilbert

                    M 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • R Rage

                      evilnoodle wrote:

                      I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

                      ROTFL. "Hi Doc, well I am perfectly OK, but I have got a ... eh ... friend that has ... well ... syphilis and I would like to know how I could get ri... well how HE could get rid of it." :rolleyes:

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      DRAquilA
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      Hehe! "A Friend of a friend of a friend..." Goto lovit!

                      M 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M MatthysDT

                        How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

                        "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
                        "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

                        V Offline
                        V Offline
                        V 0
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        Go to your boss, sit down with him and tell him you'ld like to have more. Make sure you know why you want it and why you deserve it. Good luck (to your friend ;))

                        V. I found a living worth working for, but haven't found work worth living for.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • V Vasudevan Deepak Kumar

                          When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

                          Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage Tech Gossips

                          V Offline
                          V Offline
                          V 0
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          an employer will always try to have a minimum cost for maximum labour...

                          V. I found a living worth working for, but haven't found work worth living for.

                          D 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • V V 0

                            an employer will always try to have a minimum cost for maximum labour...

                            V. I found a living worth working for, but haven't found work worth living for.

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            Daniel Turini
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            V. wrote:

                            an employer will always try to have a minimum cost for maximum labour...

                            You're partially right. Maybe you should rephrase that as "an employer will often try to have a total minimum cost for total maximum labour". Sometimes, this means a lot of stupid people working with the lowest salaries possible. Sometimes, this means a small group of highly qualified people working with the biggest salaries possible, so I don't lose them. On a lot of companies, even on the service industry, the payroll is not the biggest expense, so often it makes sense to pay a lot to make sure you can create morale, experience, and reduce turn-over.

                            V 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • C Christian Graus

                              Daniel Turini wrote:

                              "Boss, I need more money because I now have to spend money on (X)." approach.

                              Yeah, that's just stupid.  I need a Lear Jet.  That is NOT my bosses problem.

                              Christian Graus - C++ MVP 'Why don't we jump on a fad that hasn't already been widely discredited ?' - Dilbert

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Mike Dimmick
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              Well, "I need a raise because otherwise I can't pay the rent and my landlord will kick me out, then I can't actually come to work for you" might work. Having said that, I doubt that many programmers are on subsistence income and marginal enough that a small increase in rent will push them over the edge. The housing market in this country is currently awash with idiots trying to become private landlords, which is pushing property prices up if you're trying to buy, but a glut of property available to rent, so rental prices are barely moving. I've just renewed my contract for another six months, and the price I'm paying hasn't changed since I moved in two years ago. A friend's rent has increased I think about 3% in five years, and I think that's because the agent increased their fee.

                              Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder

                              M 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • V Vasudevan Deepak Kumar

                                When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

                                Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage Tech Gossips

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                James R Twine
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                Vasudevan Deepak Kumar wrote:

                                When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

                                Hell No!  The job of a (for-profit) business is to make money.  If they can pay a developer that is worth $120K only $75K, then they most likely will!    The employ_ee_ has the responsibility to make sure they are getting paid what they are worth.  If you are worth it, the company already knows this and you will likely get the raise.  If not, you will not get the raise.  It is usually just that simple.    A common BS response to be prepared for:      Nobody else here [at that level] gets paid that much.      Not your problem - you are not the same as everyone else there    Should it come down to it, you would be surprised how much incentive another offer of employment can have on your current compensation...  It really helps to put things in perspective to realize how much you are really worth, especially when your current employer matches or even beats the offer.    Remember: a software company generally **IS** its developers.  All of a software company's business starts and ends with its development staff.  Without them, there is nothing for Marketing to sell, nothing for QA to test, nothing for PMs to manage... no company for the Executive Staff to run.    Peace!

                                -=- James
                                Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * * If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                                Avoid driving a vehicle taller than you and remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                                See DeleteFXPFiles

                                L J 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • M MatthysDT

                                  How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise? I'm asking for a friend, he's a programmer and feels he's underpaid.

                                  "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
                                  "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

                                  H Offline
                                  H Offline
                                  hairy_hats
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  evilnoodle wrote:

                                  How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise?

                                  :confused: What is this "pay raise" of which you speak?

                                  C 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • J James R Twine

                                    Vasudevan Deepak Kumar wrote:

                                    When there is a good performance of the employee, I think, any employer is obliged to reward him. Isn't it?

                                    Hell No!  The job of a (for-profit) business is to make money.  If they can pay a developer that is worth $120K only $75K, then they most likely will!    The employ_ee_ has the responsibility to make sure they are getting paid what they are worth.  If you are worth it, the company already knows this and you will likely get the raise.  If not, you will not get the raise.  It is usually just that simple.    A common BS response to be prepared for:      Nobody else here [at that level] gets paid that much.      Not your problem - you are not the same as everyone else there    Should it come down to it, you would be surprised how much incentive another offer of employment can have on your current compensation...  It really helps to put things in perspective to realize how much you are really worth, especially when your current employer matches or even beats the offer.    Remember: a software company generally **IS** its developers.  All of a software company's business starts and ends with its development staff.  Without them, there is nothing for Marketing to sell, nothing for QA to test, nothing for PMs to manage... no company for the Executive Staff to run.    Peace!

                                    -=- James
                                    Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * * If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                                    Avoid driving a vehicle taller than you and remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                                    See DeleteFXPFiles

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    James R. Twine wrote:

                                    Nobody else here [at that level] gets paid that much.

                                    True

                                    James R. Twine wrote:

                                    Remember: a software company generally IS its developers. All of a software company's business starts and ends with its development staff. Without them, there is nothing for Marketing to sell, nothing for QA to test, nothing for PMs to manage... no company for the Executive Staff to run.

                                    I will

                                    S o h a i l K a d i w a l a
                                    To Err Is Human; to Debug, Divine

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                                    • H hairy_hats

                                      evilnoodle wrote:

                                      How does one approach your boss for a pay-raise?

                                      :confused: What is this "pay raise" of which you speak?

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      Colin Angus Mackay
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      It's in the same category of things as early-60s sitcoms with mice running around and women standing on chairs.


                                      Upcoming events: * Glasgow Geek Dinner (5th March) * Glasgow: Tell us what you want to see in 2007 My: Website | Blog | Photos

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                                      • D DRAquilA

                                        Hehe! "A Friend of a friend of a friend..." Goto lovit!

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        MatthysDT
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        Traitor!:mad:

                                        "you can't forget something you never knew..." M. Du Toit
                                        "Watching Migthy Joe Young made me hate my life..................................I want a gorilla!" A. Havemann

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • D Daniel Turini

                                          V. wrote:

                                          an employer will always try to have a minimum cost for maximum labour...

                                          You're partially right. Maybe you should rephrase that as "an employer will often try to have a total minimum cost for total maximum labour". Sometimes, this means a lot of stupid people working with the lowest salaries possible. Sometimes, this means a small group of highly qualified people working with the biggest salaries possible, so I don't lose them. On a lot of companies, even on the service industry, the payroll is not the biggest expense, so often it makes sense to pay a lot to make sure you can create morale, experience, and reduce turn-over.

                                          V Offline
                                          V Offline
                                          V 0
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          Daniel Turini wrote:

                                          the payroll is not the biggest expense

                                          It is in Belgium.

                                          V.
                                          Stop smoking so you can: Enjoy longer the money you save. Moviereview Archive

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