Asking for a raise
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- d_rek0
Currently I am at a large company (2000+ employees globally).
Our company's raise structure allows for a 6% maximum increase from your base salary per year.
The last two years I have asked for double - 12%. The first year I received 7.5% and the second I received 6%.
Both years I have written out an informal list of accomplishments of the previous year and things I (think) I need to work on, along with whatever annual performance review sheets I am required to fill out.
Previously I was at a small studio (10 employees). Raises were almost completely out of the question and rarely given. Three years running I requested a raise... only to be denied.
Realizing that I had hit my pay ceiling at the studio I decided I needed to jump ship. My jump to the current job yielded a nearly 27% increase from my previous salary. While the client work at the small studio was, on paper, more lucrative the pay was subpar for the area.
I have discussed with several colleagues about bonuses and raises in the creative industry. From a pure word-of-mouth standpoint it seems that changing jobs is the only surefire way to guarantee a decent salary increase.
I've also heard that employers rarely match salaries when designers are entertaining other offers. It's nice to thing that you may be able to utilize another offer as a bargaining chip to get a salary increase, but most employers are happy to let you go and hire someone for the same pay or cheaper.
With all that said it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. At worse they'll say no and at best you'll get a raise. Just try to be realistic about what you're asking for. Lateral movement in a company rarely results in a significant pay bump. Vertical movement typically does, but it depends on the company. Sadly, I know that I make more than a handful of the 'Managers' here who are technically higher in the pecking order.
- I just had my annual review and it was off the chains, I am hoping to get at least a 6% salary increase!utopian
- Off tha chain yo, off tha chizzy.d_rek
- Heh, it's as absurd as it sounds. But that's what happens in large, beauracratic companies.d_rek
- Yep. More often than not you need to move to a new company.studderine
- utopian0
What would "Fouty" ask for?
- He'd fail to turn up at the meeting!Continuity
- 190k + benefitsukit2
- woodyBatts0
I have been keeping a casual vlog on freelancing that may come in handy here. I sold cars to put myself through art school and learned a whole lot about negotiating that I now use to negotiate rates, raises and product charges. Hope it helps.
- monNom0
You'll never get it if you don't ask for it. You can't get fired for asking for a raise, worst that happens is they say no.
Ask for 15%, expect to settle for 10-12%. Ask for extra vacation and other stuff as well so there's some room to negotiate.
FYI: A week vacation is worth 2% salary, plus whatever they're losing in production, so keep that in mind. If they lowball you and say there's "no budget", or "you can't make more than so and so", ask for extra weeks.
- Frosty_spl0
What is your ammo to think you are worth that much more?
- cbass990
one year, i just decided to ask for a bunch of shit at my review..pay increase and a 4 day work week. I even asked that my good friend at the company got the 4 day thing too...and I actually got all of that..So me a my buddy would hang out on Fridays and have a drink, laughing the whole time...lasted 2 years until some new Marketing Director came in and shut it all down. Fun while it lasted.
- lessfloor0
Just go freelance - BOOm! 15K Rise!
- ukit20
At my first job, I received a 20k raise after just one year. It may have been dumb luck because two other designers I worked with had quit for higher paying jobs. I didn't actually threaten to leave but they still offered me a raise to keep me there.
- happened to me too. only everyone that stayed got $5k. just cause 2 people left.capn_ron
- desmo0
I like the studio that I am working at and would like to stay. I have no plans to leave if they refuse my 15k increase. Im just not sure if 15k sounds to outrageous. I figure its better to make the asking raise to high then to low and negotiate from there.
- capn_ron0
what studderine said. you can use the bait of a higher paying job to get that raise easier than just doing your duties well. If you have an offer that is 15% higher at another job they may give you a raise if they like you and you are worth it. If you just go and ask for a 15% raise I am not sure you will have the same leverage. Moving jobs is the best way I've moved up in salary.
- studderine0
It took quitting and moving to a new company to get a large pay raise. I think that's just it goes if you're looking for the big $$$.
- utopian0
Unfortunately it is still an employers market out there...
- ZOOP0
blackmail
- Continuity0
Might just be me, but I don't think 15% is all _that_ insane.
Consider this scenario:
- You current salary is 55k
- You end up being on a pitch team for a major airline, worth several million annually to the agency
- Agency wins pitch
- When it comes to review time, that's your trump card, and you can start negotiatingThat was my scenario a couple of years ago. I start my negotiating position at 15%, and eventually we signed on a 11.5% rise, which is far away better than a kick in the balls, and still significantly more than 5%.
- That said, asking for such a hefty increase is definitely contingent on the value one brings to the agency.Continuity
- You got boned.studderine
- I was getting rodgered in my different ways there. Needless to say, I eventually left anyway.Continuity
- letterhead0
be prepared to leave the company if you are asking for a 15k increase with your current responsibilities.
- Continuity0
Three ways to get pay rises in the creative industries:
1) We on a team that wins a pitch for a massive account (massive in terms of revenue for the agency);
2) Win a boat-load of awards;
3) Change job, and go to another agency.- we = beContinuity
- < not applicable in in-house roles, necessarilymonospaced
- Oh. In-house, just play the seniority card!Continuity
- oh inhouse... no chance - just take your grade scale increase as per all the other gradersfadein11
- exactly, fadeinmonospaced
- doesnotexist0
it's never too much if you think you're worth it.
you are worth it! if you can prove it.
- use data to make your case: how much have you affected sales, new customers, &cdoesnotexist
- At work he only spends 20% on QBN while I should be working. He deserves it!utopian
- detritus0
Sounds like you should've started broaching this subject a couple of years ago...
- bulletfactory0
Depends on what you currently make. If you make 45k, then, possibly.
Look at it as a percentage of your annual salary. For instance, say you're making 100k (for easy math).
Do you think asking for a 15% raise is asking too much?
- 15%... laughing as you are escorted out of the building...utopian
- asking for $15K raise on $45K salary is pure insanitymonospaced
- MHDC0
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