Asking for a raise
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- gramme
Ok so I've been working here for a year and am wondering whether to ask for a raise or wait.
I think I've done great work, I've learned a lot. My bosses' only criticism at the yearly review (back in December) was that I need to "let her manage me more."
Though I thought and still think she often misinterprets me, I've been extra careful to carry out her instructions to a T. The problem wasn't so much that I was ignoring or showing her a lack of respect, but that I have a shitty memory and forget most things that I don't write down. It's the ADD I guess: I'm extremely detailed but sometimes miss the forest for the trees, or I'm so busy checking out the flowers that I stumbled over boulders (ok enough with the analogies).
Then in February I totally shat up a print job. However, this is partially due to the fact that my boss didn't review the files before I sent them off, and we couldn't make it to the press check. It wasn't a huge job, but it was 20 grand down the drain. I accepted the blame, apologized (sincerely) and moved on. We reprinted and I was EXTRA EXTRA careful to do everything correctly this time.
Then the boss goes off and travels the globe for a month. I'm now in holding patterns for everything, or it's all been finished. I've done an average of three hours of real work per day for the last month, no joke. Before that, I was breakneck-pace busy 60 hours + per week.
Sorry for the long post. Down to brass tacks: now that I've been here a year, should I ask for a raise? Should I wait til I've shined up my rep a bit over the next couple projects? Am I losing my marbles as a result of the enforced boredom??
Thanks friends.
- material-10
20 G's
that was your raise holmes.
- material-10
I guess it can't hurt to ask for a cost of living increase. still 20G's...
- RoomFive0
yeah the 20G's thing is REALLY gonna hurt your case?! plus is a year that long... and if you're not that hard pressed at the moment with workload... :/
- -sputnik-0
i'd say yes...wait a bit. shine on a project or two and just around the time she mentions you're doing a good job, go in for the request
- flavorful0
Every company at the very least should have a year salary review for at the very least a cost of living increase.
However, you might want to let it go for awhile until you pull off something pretty good ... and not rite after you cost your company 20K, haha.
- johndiggity0
so in the span of a year you've managed to fuck up a $20k print job, you are doing half as much work as you used to, and you want a raise?
- flavorful0
Personally ... I’ve never been complacent with a cost of living increase, or let them think that anything like that would keep me around.
- j_red0
ask for a review every 6 months, set goals in the review, and then discuss the goals each 6 months. then you have concise benchmarks that you can use as proof of your value to the company.
- Mimio0
The scuttled print job was last month? Maybe wait a bit to ask for a pay hike.
- gramme0
so in the span of a year you've managed to fuck up a $20k print job, you are doing half as much work as you used to, and you want a raise?
johndiggity
(Mar 22 07, 07:46)Thanks for the advice all. johndiggity, when put that way it does make me sound like a jackass...in light of what happened last month I wasn't planning on asking for a raise too soon, just wondered how long I should wait.
I didn't mention in my original post that I've pulled many 80 hour weeks, for one stretch working every day for 7 weeks straight, and receive kudos from my boss and clients on nearly every project.
There's a brochure for an engraver that I worked on, samples should come soon and I REEALLY hope they look as good as I saw them in my head...
:/
- material-10
the 20 G's would be hard to forget, IMO
- gramme0
the 20 G's would be hard to forget, IMO
material
(Mar 22 07, 07:56)it was actually just under 7 G's that we paid. The printer didn't follow the several correct instructions I gave, and the client totally snoozed on the press check...we split the liability 3 ways. Still, you might be right...that might have been my 7G raise for the year.
Guess I'm stoked to still have a job. It just sucks when you care so much about the quality of work you do, and then shit the bed in public like that...
- jevad0
ask, and ye shall receive...
...or be told to fuck off.
But really, no harm in asking.
- gramme0
heh now i guess i made it really public...
- gramme0
thx jevad, i think the consensus is that I should wait a good while. The next review that I'm aware of is in December. It's not like my wife and I are applying for food stamps or anything....much to be grateful for.
*goes back to doing make-believe projects until a real one comes along
- flavorful0
Don’t fucking wait until December.
j_red had some really good advice, my company does that to each of their employees to help gauge where people should be at, and where they are, and everything is in writing.
- gramme0
good call flavorful, I'll hit her up in June and ask how I'm doing.
If nothing else gets botched.
- johndiggity0
i'd look for a new job. get a fresh start with a clean slate and higher starting salary.
- gramme0
i'd look for a new job. get a fresh start with a clean slate and higher starting salary.
johndiggity
(Mar 22 07, 08:49)Unless you know something I don't, I think I'll hang around for a bit. She's back in town tomorrow and promised we'd talk about the 4-5 projects that are gathering dust in the closet. Plus at least one new job is coming down the pike, presumably.
It's a brilliant job when there's work to be done.
However, if tomorrow is another snoozer, I might just take your advise john. Few things drive me mad like enforced boredom. I've organized all my stuff, helped other people, plumbed the depths of NT...maybe tomorrow I'll bring in some DVDs and back up some work.
- johndiggity0
it's easy to get stereotyped and difficult to over come, especially so at a smaller company, and even more so if you ever made a mistake.
nor harm in looking and you will have some leverage. you never know what is out there waiting.