How to get a raise
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That doesn't really work though. If you're worth the money then you shouldn't have to wait on the company offering you a raise just because you've resigned. Any company that does this is just taking the p!ss.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
What leverage does an employee have? An idle threat? Don't come to the table without a significant amount of leverage in your favor. It is up to the reader to determine the appropriateness of the leverage required.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway -
Done. I started one a while back - so I'll dust it off. The problem is - this is a very big topic. Very big. Others have done this topic, so I need to give it a unique angle in order to keep your interest. Here's a quick excerpt from it: "So you want to go it alone? You’re sick of the daily grind and office politics, and you think that you have the chops to earn more money through selling your skills. Before you take the plunge though, you need to be aware that being your own boss demands a whole set of skills that you might not necessarily have. This article will attempt to give you a glimpse of what you will need in order to succeed. Disclaimer This article will not guarantee success. It is not intended to replace all the hours that you are going to have to work in order to develop your client base. The role of marketing. I hate to say this, but you are going to have to learn how to market your skills. Before now you’ve probably looked down on marketing and you may think that they have an easy job. It’s time for a reality check here – marketing is a very difficult, demanding job that requires a set of soft skills that a lot of developers don’t have. The first thing that you are going to have to be aware of, when marketing yourself, is the fact that first impressions are paramount. I’ve seen far too many people shoot themselves in the foot thinking that they can recover from a stuttering start and that clients will be impressed by a mess of jargon. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Clients are impressed by a confident, clear expression of ideas and intent. Here’s a little test for you. Get somebody you know to ask you why they should hire you. You have 60 seconds on the clock – and go. It’s not easy, is it? Fortunately, practice does make perfect – so tape what you say and analyse it. Listen for the umms and aahs, and the bits where you have entered “waffle mode”. Repeat the exercise until you can do this without any prevarication or hesitation and you have your opening “speech” for potential clients. Next – marketing is about listening to what your customers want and then giving them what they need. If they don’t see the need as being there, it’s your job to get them to recognise that need. What client’s normally want is rocket science software for free – it’s up to you to work out what they need and then get them to come to you with this. Successful marketing is also about the long term. Which do you think is better, getting the client to agree to one campaign that’s worth 50K or ge
Pete, you have to finish this. The start is fantastic. You have to. It would be a real shame if you don't. You write in such a clear no BS manner and this happens to be a subject that I, along with other CPians I'm sure, would LOVE to read about and learn from someone that is successfully surviving the battle of running a business. This is now the second article in the Queue you have. There's the regex one that needs to be finished and now this. Best of luck :)
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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That doesn't really work though. If you're worth the money then you shouldn't have to wait on the company offering you a raise just because you've resigned. Any company that does this is just taking the p!ss.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
If you're worth the money then you shouldn't have to wait on the company offering you a raise just because you've resigned. Any company that does this is just taking the p!ss.
Exactly!
#region signature my articles #endregion
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Pete, you have to finish this. The start is fantastic. You have to. It would be a real shame if you don't. You write in such a clear no BS manner and this happens to be a subject that I, along with other CPians I'm sure, would LOVE to read about and learn from someone that is successfully surviving the battle of running a business. This is now the second article in the Queue you have. There's the regex one that needs to be finished and now this. Best of luck :)
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
Actually, it's the fourth. I've got one on the go about consuming Amazon web services using WCF and another one in the planning stage about extending Visual Studio using VSX. *Sigh* I wish I could turn out articles as clearly written as Sacha or Josh in the same timescale that they do. Oh well - I'd better buckle down and do it. One thought though - this probably should be a series of articles. There's just so much to cover in running your business that one article wouldn't do it justice.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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What leverage does an employee have? An idle threat? Don't come to the table without a significant amount of leverage in your favor. It is up to the reader to determine the appropriateness of the leverage required.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest HemingwayActually I'm coming from the other side. Don't hang around in a company that doesn't value you enough to pay you what you are worth. This tactic only works once.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Only 1 way, resign. Tell them it was about money and another company will pay what you are worth. Go to the other company. If your current company wants you they will counter, if not then thats it. If you don't have another offer, then perhaps, you are being paid what you are worth. Remember, a raise works both ways. If you don't offer enough to justify the money then there is no real point for the company. How has the night school been coming with the MBA? ...
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest HemingwayEnnis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
Tell them it was about money and another company will pay what you are worth
I would never tell them that, it sounds to hostile. Better to say as little as possible, with a smile on your face, and with a good attitude projected. Even a little percieved hostility can have rather severe negative consequences for future referances or even going back to the original company for employement.
MrPlankton
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Is it just me or does it seem like the only way to get a sizeable raise is to change who you work for? I get the max raise provided by the company, which is usually just under inflation. But, I don't get a merit raise unless I quite and go to work somewhere else. Does anyone else find this to be true? If it is, what is required to change this? I hear people in different careers talk about the same thing so it isn't just my profession.
The company I work for has (for the last few years) been quite generous in annual raises (inflation + 1-2%) - probably helps that our results are going in the right way (and also, I think our CEO is reasonably sympathetic). We do also have Performance Related Pay, which is awarded when you go above & beyond the call of duty, whether technically or in terms of effort. And yes, it exists, I've benefited from it fairly well :-) However, it's not unlimited - if you hit the maximum salary for your grade, you are encouraged to aim for the next grade up.
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Actually, it's the fourth. I've got one on the go about consuming Amazon web services using WCF and another one in the planning stage about extending Visual Studio using VSX. *Sigh* I wish I could turn out articles as clearly written as Sacha or Josh in the same timescale that they do. Oh well - I'd better buckle down and do it. One thought though - this probably should be a series of articles. There's just so much to cover in running your business that one article wouldn't do it justice.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
:sigh: I know what you mean. I've started 3 articles and that's not including the articles that were supposed to be a follow up to my first article and the syllabus I promise Chris ages ago. I'm so behind and my only excuse is the exhausting amount of work that I have to deal with along with an expectant mother and studying for my Masters degree.
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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Wow! :omg: Where do I send you my CV? I'll pay for relocation myself!
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
Actually - you do raise a good point. Next time I'm looking to hire a developer, I think I'll target CP rather than paying agency fees.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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:sigh: I know what you mean. I've started 3 articles and that's not including the articles that were supposed to be a follow up to my first article and the syllabus I promise Chris ages ago. I'm so behind and my only excuse is the exhausting amount of work that I have to deal with along with an expectant mother and studying for my Masters degree.
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
How about I continue with the regex stuff in my blog? That might be a way to get it out without having to go all the way through writing and revising an article.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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How about I continue with the regex stuff in my blog? That might be a way to get it out without having to go all the way through writing and revising an article.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
That should be fine. I'd love to see that one finished.
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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I must admit that I have given some thought to writing an article on the "softer side". In other words, dealing with clients, winning work, that type of thing.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Not a bad idea - I've got loads of ISO/Six-Sigma/ITL/Process babble floating around the noggin I could impart, if only there were a section a bit more specific than Development Lifecycle for such an article.
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Actually - you do raise a good point. Next time I'm looking to hire a developer, I think I'll target CP rather than paying agency fees.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Have you considered outsourcing?
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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Not a bad idea - I've got loads of ISO/Six-Sigma/ITL/Process babble floating around the noggin I could impart, if only there were a section a bit more specific than Development Lifecycle for such an article.
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Have you considered outsourcing?
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
Don't. The amount of crap I get in my inbox from Indian companies offering to handle all my development needs. Come on FFS - developing is what my company does. We don't need some substandard coding chopshop churning out below par code which we then have to rewrite because somebody doesn't understand the requirements - more importantly, I don't want to see somebody posting a question on a CP forum asking how to do something that we are paying them to do.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Don't. The amount of crap I get in my inbox from Indian companies offering to handle all my development needs. Come on FFS - developing is what my company does. We don't need some substandard coding chopshop churning out below par code which we then have to rewrite because somebody doesn't understand the requirements - more importantly, I don't want to see somebody posting a question on a CP forum asking how to do something that we are paying them to do.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
more importantly, I don't want to see somebody posting a question on a CP forum asking how to do something that we are paying them to do.
:laugh::laugh: That's a 5! :D
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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Is it just me or does it seem like the only way to get a sizeable raise is to change who you work for? I get the max raise provided by the company, which is usually just under inflation. But, I don't get a merit raise unless I quite and go to work somewhere else. Does anyone else find this to be true? If it is, what is required to change this? I hear people in different careers talk about the same thing so it isn't just my profession.
ramhog wrote:
Is it just me or does it seem like the only way to get a sizeable raise is to change who you work for? I get the max raise provided by the company, which is usually just under inflation. But, I don't get a merit raise unless I quite and go to work somewhere else. Does anyone else find this to be true? If it is, what is required to change this? I hear people in different careers talk about the same thing so it isn't just my profession.
Well, I am not sure I can help since every job is different. But unless it is a REALLY bad year for my work's customer, there is usually a pool of raises that start at just under inflation and go up based on merit. I have usually cleared the top of that pool every year. But I stay late as required, I work weekends as required. When the customer needs something I am willing to go that extra mile (sometimes literally) to get what the customer wants. I talk with the customers and provide direct input into the software to make sure what I write is exactly what the customer wants. There are very few of our customers who dislike my work, so there is a constant flow of letters of appreciation about me. Because I am willing to save the customer's bacon, they tend to be appreciative. That doesn't mean that everyone doesn't work as hard, and I make sure and tell the customer when someone else has helped because I am the only face they see. I don't steal credit, and offer it up readily to the company and others. I support the customer from design through testing to make sure everything is top-notch. My documentation is above required levels. My biggest problem is that I am too honest. When there is a real problem, they keep me away from the customer because I won't lie to cover it up. I am an over-grown boyscout, which is fitting since I was a boy-scout leader about 8 years ago. :laugh: Basically I take everything that you would expect someone to do as "just part of the job" and I go beyond it at every single step.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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It is in my experience that a company will NEVER give you more than the least they feel they can get by with. In other words, if they think they can give you 3 or 4% and you'll "be ok with it", then that's exactly what they are going to do. If you feel you've gone above and beyond, then you need to make a case for the salary increase; don't just say "I'm worth it". Why are you worth it? Did the last project you worked on net the company millions? Save the company millions? Does the industry pay someone with your skill level MORE? If so, how much more? Etc... Also, if you're going to do this, be proactive and also point out any flaws; don't leave it up to your boss to go find them ... if you present all the pros/cons and have an honest case, it will be far more difficult for them to turn you down. My two cents.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLDouglas Troy wrote:
It is in my experience that a company will NEVER give you more than the least they feel they can get by with. In other words, if they think they can give you 3 or 4% and you'll "be ok with it", then that's exactly what they are going to do.
this is very true. One reason I casually admit to contacts across the USA and in multiple industries. Then tend to keep the number high because they are afraid to loose me. It doesn't help that a few of the customers have wished to take me away. :-D
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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MrPlankton wrote:
Get a govi job. Doesn't matter which country, they all get yearly raises.
No amount of money is worth the mind-numbing, skill-atrophying, technologically stagnant, backstabbing Hell that is government employment. I'm just glad I got out with most of my sanity and enough remaining skills to still be employable.
Sunrise Wallpaper Project | The StartPage Randomizer | The Windows Cheerleader
Yes, I have seen newbe govi's report for thier badges at govi badge dispensing facilities. I hear when they pick up thier badge they get the ice pick through the eye sockets and are then issued sun glasses. They are much more maliable after the procedure. I have also noticed when I am in a govi facility with a govi and they have been working there awhile they have this yellow pasty patina, whites, blacks, doesn't matter they still have this patina... strange, and a goofy smile with a vacant look. However they do have a savant intelligense about them in that they can tell you the years, days, hours and minutes to the day they retire... it's amazing! I have heard rumars that some govi programmers can do the most amazing ASCII art on the daisy wheel printer using nothing but a FORTRAN 77 compiler, IBM 360 and a Dec writer. Astounding!
MrPlankton
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Is it just me or does it seem like the only way to get a sizeable raise is to change who you work for? I get the max raise provided by the company, which is usually just under inflation. But, I don't get a merit raise unless I quite and go to work somewhere else. Does anyone else find this to be true? If it is, what is required to change this? I hear people in different careers talk about the same thing so it isn't just my profession.
Good employers recognize valuable employees and find ways around policies to keep them happy and on staff. That said, you may just be in a situation where your employer is no good. This could be the company in general or just your direct superiors; I am not trying to pass judgment. So, if I were still in your shoes I'd do one or more of the following. A) Go Independent B) Find a new Job C) Start Your Own Self Funded company. D) Partner with others for C. E) Tell your boss you need more than they have offered to stay with the company. Many times in the past I have done E and it usually worked out. But, about four years I did B & C at the same time. About two years later I did A and began really focusing on C between contracts. Now, C pays my bills and A lets me play around with technology I like when I want. What I did may not be your 'thing' so don't run out and do anything just because I or somebody else did. But, if you want more cash you must be willing to do something.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long