Should I ask for a raise?
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
East Coast isn't descriptive enough. There is a huge difference between NY, Boston, Atlanta, or some rural area. (There are places where people would kill for a 28k job. I own my own company and you would be shocked how little I make.) Before you ask for a raise, try to get a feel for the health of the company. If there are fears about layoffs, asking for a raise would be silly. However, if they like having big parties every month, then either they are stupid or they are doing well. Also, asking for a raise is all about timing too. Asking just after a failed project is a REALLY bad idea. Asking for one just after a success can be advantageous. Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.
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East Coast isn't descriptive enough. There is a huge difference between NY, Boston, Atlanta, or some rural area. (There are places where people would kill for a 28k job. I own my own company and you would be shocked how little I make.) Before you ask for a raise, try to get a feel for the health of the company. If there are fears about layoffs, asking for a raise would be silly. However, if they like having big parties every month, then either they are stupid or they are doing well. Also, asking for a raise is all about timing too. Asking just after a failed project is a REALLY bad idea. Asking for one just after a success can be advantageous. Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.
Thanks for your thoughts! Yeah, getting a feel for the health of the company is a good idea. I would say we're doing pretty good, there's not concern about layoffs, but neither is the excessive spending on stupid stuff. I'm in the Washington D.C. area, does that help?
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
The Lady of Shallots wrote: I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise Hell, yes. The Lady of Shallots wrote: Does that sound ungrateful? Forget that. Don't forget to be grateful, but remember that you should seek to get what you're worth. If you don't ask, they will be just as happy to pay you less and get the same work. That's not boss vs you, it's simple economics. It's your responsibility to make sure you're paid what you're worth. Christian NO MATTER HOW MUCH BIG IS THE WORD SIZE ,THE DATA MUCT BE TRANSPORTED INTO THE CPU. - Vinod Sharma Anonymous wrote: OK. I read a c++ book. Or...a bit of it anyway. I'm sick of that evil looking console window. I think you are a good candidate for Visual Basic. - Nemanja Trifunovic
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Thanks for your thoughts! Yeah, getting a feel for the health of the company is a good idea. I would say we're doing pretty good, there's not concern about layoffs, but neither is the excessive spending on stupid stuff. I'm in the Washington D.C. area, does that help?
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
Why not, they can only say no. A good way to do it, is not to make it public that your going to ask....so as long as no one knows you on CP......... If they value you, and they think they may loose you, then they will cough up. Be clear though about what you want from them and why. State your case and how you bring far more in worth than your current cost to the company. An even better, if you know for a fact that your on less than other people at the company that do the same then you can fit that in. 28k USD, for a C++ programmer with Oracle does not sound like much. Good luck. Quote from a clever bloke : "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
The Lady of Shallots wrote: Does that sound ungrateful? Just to add to Christian's thoughts, there's nothing ungrateful about asking to be paid what you're worth. It just comes down to money. The company's goal is to get as much work from you, and as much benefit from that work, while paying you as little as it can. If you never ask for more money, the company isn't going to volunteer to give you a 10% raise or whatever you feel you deserve. --Mike-- THERE IS NO THERE IS NO BUT THERE IS MAGIC PIXIE DUST BUSINESS GENIE CODE PROJECT BUY MY SOFTWARE!! (please?) RightClick-Encrypt | 1ClickPicGrabber My IntarWeb Homepgae!!!11
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
The Lady of Shallots wrote: Does that sound ungrateful? No...Unfortunately, most companies, at least the ones I have worked for, are perfectly content not to give raises or to minimize the ones they do give. I have found the best way to increase your salary is to seek employment with another company. It is the only real way to determine your market value. Sometimes the company you work for will match the offer, but under no circumstances should you make the threat..."Give me a raise or I will quit". The just might take you up on it. P.S. Don't be afraid to switch jobs...I went throuh a stretch where I switched jobs 3 times in the space of 1 year. Increased my salary a net of 44%. The trick is knowing how many moves you can make before you look unstable. Gary Kirkham A working Program is one that has only unobserved bugs I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
Nothing wrong in asking for a raise. Of course if they refuse you the raise, then you are sorta in a position where they've basically told you that you may leave them and it wouldnt affect the company much. So make sure the company needs you enough for you to be able to demand a raise and get it. Nish
Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
And don't forget to never, ever, bring up that you want a raise for any of the following or similar reasons: 1) I need more money and am not getting by on what I make now 2) I've been offered a job elsewhere for more (if it's not true) 3) Bob makes more than I do and I've been here longer etc etc In other words, never try to co-erce your employer to give you a guilt raise or an under threat raise, even if it works there is definite long term harm that can come from it. Always ask for a raise based solely upon the value that you bring to the company you work for and be prepared to prove it. In other words if you feel that you are worth more to the company and are willing to substantiate that, then getting a raise should be a relatively simple and painless thing to do. Putting yourself in your boss' shoes can go a long way towards getting what you want ultimately. Keep in mind that what you think you are worth may not jibe with what they think you are worth, but it's very important to know that to have a good working relationship. If you think they are out to lunch then you can always start looking elsewhere. Remember it's not a confrontation, there is no need to fear it, the worst they can say is no, it's simply a business arrangement like any other. Just be sure to keep timing in mind as others have said, i.e. if the building burned down yesterday, it's probably a bad time to ask for a raise. Make an appointment with whoever you have to in advance, don't spring it on them as they are walking out the door one evening. That's of course only my opinion having been on both sides of the raise issue many times. And never forget that you should always endeavour to get paid as much as you can possibly squeeze out of your boss. There's nothing more pitiful that seeing a person who is a very good worker, toiling away, year after year and never asking the boss for a raise because they think they won't get it. We've all seen that person at one time or another and they nearly always end up going somewhere else. It's your responsibility to get as much money out of your employer as you possibly can and it's their responsibility to pay you as little as they can get away with while still keeping you happy. It's amazing, but a lot of people think they will just get a raise out of the kindness of the bosses heart with no effort on their part. (Of course many people that think that are not good employees for much the same reason.) Too many people are very wishy washy about this issue, it
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
I can only echo what Christian says. $28K sounds horrendously low for the US. Graduate developers in the UK were making £20k 5 years ago - I now suspect the entry level here is £25k (about $40k if my exchange rates are anywhere near right). Add to that my suspicion that the cost of living in the US is higher than here (though maybe not so much now as it used to be) and I suspect you should easily be on double what you are if you found the right company. It might be worth hunting out some salary surveys before talking to the company so you've got more solid information though. Good luck! Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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I can only echo what Christian says. $28K sounds horrendously low for the US. Graduate developers in the UK were making £20k 5 years ago - I now suspect the entry level here is £25k (about $40k if my exchange rates are anywhere near right). Add to that my suspicion that the cost of living in the US is higher than here (though maybe not so much now as it used to be) and I suspect you should easily be on double what you are if you found the right company. It might be worth hunting out some salary surveys before talking to the company so you've got more solid information though. Good luck! Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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Really? I always got the impression that the cost of living (aside from fuel) was higher in the US. Salaries seem to be higher for most as well. If the cost of living really is lower there the average standard of living must be way higher - most people I know are struggling here. Just wondering - if you do come back over, where in the UK do you expect to end up? Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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Really? I always got the impression that the cost of living (aside from fuel) was higher in the US. Salaries seem to be higher for most as well. If the cost of living really is lower there the average standard of living must be way higher - most people I know are struggling here. Just wondering - if you do come back over, where in the UK do you expect to end up? Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
i would come back over if gina wanted to study there which she might ... then we would live either in bath or london ... cant think of anywhere else worth living in the uk if i remember right its not that i want to cos there are far too many more beautiful places to live but for a year or so it wouldnt kill me (i hope) and i would get the chance to catch up with family for a bit too dunno yet ... its all up in the air
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Thanks for your thoughts! Yeah, getting a feel for the health of the company is a good idea. I would say we're doing pretty good, there's not concern about layoffs, but neither is the excessive spending on stupid stuff. I'm in the Washington D.C. area, does that help?
I'm in the DC area (Ashburn, VA) and 28K is definitely too low. Especially with Oracle skills, which are in high demand. Ask for your raise politely. Also, be prepared to look for another job if it is not forthcoming BUT don't threaten your current employer with that. Those willing to trade liberty for security deserve neither - Benjamin Franklin
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
28k? For a programmer? Good lord, you can make more than that flipping burgers!
Through 86 years of perpetual motion, if he likes you he'll smile and he'll say, "Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way"
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i would come back over if gina wanted to study there which she might ... then we would live either in bath or london ... cant think of anywhere else worth living in the uk if i remember right its not that i want to cos there are far too many more beautiful places to live but for a year or so it wouldnt kill me (i hope) and i would get the chance to catch up with family for a bit too dunno yet ... its all up in the air
I must admit I've never been to Bath, but I've heard it's a beautiful city. As far as London goes I don't particularly like it - but the night life is definitely appealing! If you do both come over, we must all meet up sometime! :) Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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i would come back over if gina wanted to study there which she might ... then we would live either in bath or london ... cant think of anywhere else worth living in the uk if i remember right its not that i want to cos there are far too many more beautiful places to live but for a year or so it wouldnt kill me (i hope) and i would get the chance to catch up with family for a bit too dunno yet ... its all up in the air
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I'm trying to decide if I should ask for a raise, so I thought I would ask all you smart people what you thought. Here's the situation: I was hired by a small private software business right out of high school where I started out as the shipping person. After a couple months I started taking programming classes at the local community college and the lead developer (also the president of the company), started giving small projects to work on. The company paid for my classes as well. 3 years later - the company I worked was bought by a large software company (a little over a year ago). I am now an associate developer programming in Visual C++, with a mix of Oracle, PL\SQL, and Delphi thrown in. I am about to graduate from the community college (which I have been going to all this time part-time while working full time) and will have my 2-year degree in Computer Science. My company is no longer paying for my school, as they have no provision for that, instead, when we were bought, they gave me a raise. I also still have the same boss as I did before, whom I am very grateful to because he is the one who has encouraged me to go to school and made sure the money was taken care of. I currently make about 28K before taxes and am on the East Coast of the US. I am thinking about waiting until I get my degree in May and then going to my boss and asking for a raise. What do you all think? Does that sound ungrateful?
Let me tell you something about corporate loyalty to employees - unless the company is no largere than 30 employees, there's no such thing. I know that's pretty cynical, but that's the reality of the situation. After you get your 2-yr degree, go ahead and ask for the raise, and ask for a specific amount. Remind them that you're familiar with their products and corporate "lay of the land", so you are obviously a valuable employee. You have also showed the initiative to maintain a full-time job while attending college in order to make yourself more valuable. If they balk, start looking for another job. Don't bother with trying to get your current employer to counter-offer either. If they were TRULY interested in keeping you around, they would have given you the raise that you asked for the first time. As a rule, big companies SUCK when it comes to reqarding employees for their work. IMHO, a programmer with experience is a difficult to find commodity, and $28k/year in Washington DC is abysmally low. We were starting programmers with similar experience at $35k in Sanb Diego, 8 years ago. ------- signature starts "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 Please review the Legal Disclaimer in my bio. ------- signature ends
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Let me tell you something about corporate loyalty to employees - unless the company is no largere than 30 employees, there's no such thing. I know that's pretty cynical, but that's the reality of the situation. After you get your 2-yr degree, go ahead and ask for the raise, and ask for a specific amount. Remind them that you're familiar with their products and corporate "lay of the land", so you are obviously a valuable employee. You have also showed the initiative to maintain a full-time job while attending college in order to make yourself more valuable. If they balk, start looking for another job. Don't bother with trying to get your current employer to counter-offer either. If they were TRULY interested in keeping you around, they would have given you the raise that you asked for the first time. As a rule, big companies SUCK when it comes to reqarding employees for their work. IMHO, a programmer with experience is a difficult to find commodity, and $28k/year in Washington DC is abysmally low. We were starting programmers with similar experience at $35k in Sanb Diego, 8 years ago. ------- signature starts "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 Please review the Legal Disclaimer in my bio. ------- signature ends
Thanks everyone for their helpful advice! I feel a lot more confident about asking now and have a better idea of how to go about it (this will be the first time I've asked for one). Well, we'll see how it goes. :)
