Should I ask my boss for a salary increase?

noeld932

Hi guys,

I've been working with a small company now for over a year.
My starting salary was €19k and at the time, I was happy with that amount.
But now, I feel as my skills have increased as have my responsibilities.

I am doing so many things that I never did when I started. I have done major projects, ahead of schedule, which has enabled our clients to manage their cash flow more successfully.

I have not been told that I will be getting a salary review or a performance review.
I have asked my boss on Friday when will I be getting a performance review so hopefully he will get back to me tomorrow.

How can I bring up the topic of salary in the conversation? I have done my research and other job titles similar to mine range from €26k - €33k. As I said, I'm on €19k a year.

How can I talk about salary and negotiate without sounding cheeky or threatening? I don't want to start saying that if I'm not paid X amount well then I quit etc! I like my job, but I feel like my salary should reflect my performance.

Thanks guys!

Fluxfan

When you started your job were you given any objectives that you had to fulfil for the year? Generally this would be with the aim of getting a pay review at the end of the year.

Are you sure that a pay review wont be brought up itself? Its not unreasonable to expect some conversation around this! Fair play for asking for a performance review if it wasnt mentioned to you - show's you've good initiative and are striving to achieve.

You should let your performance be assessed, and at the end of this conversation say you would like to have a chat about your salary expectations, would it be ok to talk about it now or can you book a meeting on Friday? (Nail a date and send the meeting request as soon as you get back to your desk if they dont want to talk about it there and then).

I'd have a think about your performance through out the year and if you had any objectives as I mentioned above, score yourself on them. If not, have a think about the projects etc you mentioned in your op. Have some solid examples e.g. I increased sales by 10% for this product etc (hard to give an example for you without knowing your industry).

Tbh I dont think you can expect a jump from 19K to 26K unfortunately! Thats a 37% increase. Generally 10% is a good guideline increase but as you are on a low salary I think you could expect more than 10. Maybe 22/23K would be reasonable?

You mention its a small company - in my experience sometimes they can put off pay increases with "oh we're not doing that at the moment" - if this happens make sure you ask for some tasks and objectives to be set for you to strive for with an opportunity to review your pay again in 3 months if you have satisfied the employer. Don't wait another year for the chance to talk about it!

I have done my research and other job titles similar to mine range from €26k - €33k. As I said, I'm on €19k a year.

Why not apply for a couple of other jobs, just to see how it goes? Getting from €19k to the mid/high 20s is a huge bump, I know you like your job but that's too much money to not be making.

Kai123

Marc Alive Tap-dancer has it right. Probe around and see if places are interested in you (you can always say something else came up if they phone you), and be rigid when it comes to price. Ask recruiters and say you wont go down below 23k, and then they start phoning you you know your being underpaid in your current job.

Its hard asking for more money, but if your embarrassed about it then your company got lucky getting you. Also you will have the next guy/gal not embarrassed at all who will be making more money because of it. Employers generally know you like getting paid, so its not like your offending anyone. If they laugh in your face, well you know its time to go. If they say "in the future" then it means they like your work but don't want to pay you more, milking you for all your worth. Best scenario is they want you, and appreciate your work and bump your pay.

You honestly have nothing to lose.

noeld932

So I went in on Monday, had notes and a list of all the major projects I've worked on and how I have improved since I've start and was working myself up to what I was gonna say to him once I did get a performance review.
Well, all he did was say "I'll be over to have a chat now in a minute". He then came over to my desk, and asked me to show him what I've done while he was away on holidays, commented on it and that was it.
There is no way in hell that THAT was a performance review!!! I was so annoyed. All this worry all for nothing, I practiced what I was gonna say all weekend long and took the time to write out everything that I've done and the dates and how I've progressed.
It was like a major slap in the face.

Ray Palmer

noeld932 wrote: »

So I went in on Monday, had notes and a list of all the major projects I've worked on and how I have improved since I've start and was working myself up to what I was gonna say to him once I did get a performance review.
Well, all he did was say "I'll be over to have a chat now in a minute". He then came over to my desk, and asked me to show him what I've done while he was away on holidays, commented on it and that was it.
There is no way in hell that THAT was a performance review!!! I was so annoyed. All this worry all for nothing, I practiced what I was gonna say all weekend long and took the time to write out everything that I've done and the dates and how I've progressed.
It was like a major slap in the face.

In fairness if you think that is a slap in the face from your employer you never got a slap in the face from your employer.
You could let him know you were expecting more and hoping to discuss your wages also.

The reality most people find is your first job won't pay you what you are worth even after you prove yourself. The realistic option always turns out to be move on. The other reality you will need to accept is you are still very inexperienced and being able to do tasks in one company doesn't mean you can do them elsewhere. Quite often a lot of the tasks are being done for you without you being even aware. Sometimes it is managing what to focus on or the order along with preparing everything for you to a clear path.

Don't get me wrong you could easily be underpaid it just doesn't mean you really can earn much more.