I have a job situation and would like feedback and advice.
I work a job that could be described as administrative paperwork. It is essentially processing client documents, working spreadsheets, and typing on computers all day. I’ve worked this job for several years now.
My coworkers and bosses are nice people. The job isn’t exactly exciting, but it’s one of the better jobs at my company, IMHO.
Now, here’s the situation: I’ve wanted a salary raise and/or promotion for a while. Promotion is out of the question for the time being, for now - the only position I could be promoted to would be the senior-rank position above me, and that position is so fully staffed it’s highly unlikely anyone would be promoted to it until one, or a few, people leave it.
I’ve never asked for a salary raise in my life, and not during the several years I’ve worked this job. My work performance is good and I’ve always had good performance reviews, but a job of my type - a paperwork, typing, computer-based job - does not sound like the kind of job you could request a raise for. It’s not a job particularly requiring leadership, ambition, ingenuity or overtime hours. It is difficult to “stand out” at my job.
Are there additional tasks you could take on or projects you could work on? Things sort of, but not really related to your job that you’d find interesting? It might be easier to ask for a raise if you can show that you’re doing more/different things, so the role’s slightly different and so deserves a better salary.
If you haven’t received a raise in several years, your real wage has decreased. You can ask if you are providing the same value as before.
But if you have to fight and scrape just to keep up with inflation, it may be time to look at other employment options. If that’s an option.
There’s no better way than being straightforward about it. You need to take the following steps, IMHO:
1- Think of a specific figure, and add up 20% on it to be your buffer zone in case your request for a raise becomes negotiable.
2- Get your shit together. Like Ruken said, if you didn’t get a raise in a few years, then your salary has actually decreased.
3- Wake up in the morning, go to work, knock on the door of the person in charge, and say that you want a raise. There is nothing to lose. If this causes you to lose your job somehow, like with arbitrary dismissal, then you’re better off. You may face a few weeks/months of hardship, but you will have moved forward.
4- Remember that you only live once. There’s nothing to be afraid of. You should only be afraid of how you will feel if you don’t try.
If I may piggyback a relevant question: How much of a raise is required to keep up with economic factors? Let’s say I don’t want to do anything but keep even.
If there is no room for advancement and no chance to shine, what you really need is another job. We only get so much time in our lives to grow professionally, and spending your time at a job that isn’t teaching you something new or developing you is wasting a precious non-renewable resource.
Ask for a raise-- for sure. Go on the Lifehacker website and look at their advice on the subject.
But also strategize on how you can get somewhere where you aren’t just spinning your wheels.
My company normally gives 2-3% raise. After this past year, I was ticked off, mostly because my boss had told me at my mid-year review that there was nothing I needed to be doing to improve my performance. then when I got my review, I got a mid-level score. The money is slightly less, but not significantly so. Mostly I was mad because I don’t consider myself a mid-level performer. I told him that it was evident that if I was going to get a decent raise, I’d have to leave either my job within the company, or leave the company altogether. With that threat he ponied up an additional 6%.
I’m an analyst for my company, with a relatively specialized knowledge of the databases. But I could be replaced. I’ve told my boss that I will always try for the most money I can get, because it’s my first job to look after myself and my future.
Your only danger is that they’ll think they can find someone to do your job for less. In that case you ought to be looking for a new job anyway. And Shalmanese is right, the the best way to get a raise is to get a new job, without a promotion you’ll probably never get more than small incremental increase. Just recap your value to the company and ask for a raise, it certainly won’t be the first time an employee there asked for one.
So your salary has been keeping pace with inflation?
It does sound like you’re not offering more value to the company, so perhaps you could ask your boss how you can increase that. Not a promotion, but perhaps a secondment to another department or perhaps you could identify some training you’d like to do and could the company help you there?
First, estimate what you’re worth, salary-wise. How much do people in your position with your skillset and experience make generally? If you decided to quit and get an equivalent job at another company, how much money do you think you would earn there? How much do you think it would cost your company to replace you if you quit? This should allow you to arrive at some ballpark figure.
Then go to your boss and ask for that, reiterating the things you do for the company and how you provide value.
If this is true, that the people and bosses you work for/with like you, and you like it there, then it is time to at least bring up the subject of a raise. Not in the way of a demand but by asking how it might be possible. They may say a little more training, more tasks, or just tell you that is the way it is. People who do not ask anything are not just handed out raises beyond the standard 2-3%. Asking how to get there in the future puts the idea in their minds without the threat of your quitting. They aren’t just sitting around thinking of ways to give raises to people who haven’t asked. Ask.
I would not do this. Management loves to make changes. This could be an unwanted catalyst for the idea mill. “What if we just divided that job up?” Change for only the sake of change. Corporations just love that shit! Don’t give your manager a new problem to solve, it won’t turn to your advantage.
The government should provide statistics on what inflation has been for the previous year. Multiply your salary by the inflation rate and your salary is theoretically keeping up with inflation. In Australia it has been around 3% for a long time.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this happened to me several years ago. I made the mistake of telling a seasonal employer during the slow season that I was worth more to him than he paid me. The next week I had a new job.
http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/compensation/Articles/pages/salary-budgets-consistent.aspx
Here in the US it’s been under 3% for a long time. Employees don’t like to hear it; we all seem to think we should get more since we are better than average, plus the cost of insurance, inflation, etc. is barely covered.
If you are getting the 2-3% and at some point your salary was fair, it’s unlikely you will be rewarded unless you have a very strong case and are irreplaceable.