# Question about asking for a raise **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713 "2010-08-19T05:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713/21 "2010-08-19T23:31:46Z")
> [@TNWPsycho](#): > > Question about asking for a raise I may have been a little harsh in my initial responses to you. I’m glad to see others are offering you some good advice. If you really want a raise in your current job you have to show your boss that you are more valuable than the rate of your pay. As everyone in this thread has mentioned, it won’t help to compare yourself to other employees. Unfortunately you are in a bind because raises will almost always be a small percentage increase of your current pay. In order to break through that limit you have to demonstrate greater value to the business than your normal job requires. You can add skills or education. You can show a better understanding of the business beyong the scope of your specific job. You can dress better and be impeccably groomed (unless its a creative job, then dress weird and skip all grooming). You can improve your communication skills. You can do more than doing your job well. Always on time is a minimal standard, start early, leave late. Is there a problem on a Friday afternoon? Work over the weekend to resolve it. Learn how to do other jobs at the company, and increase your general knowledge of the business. Engage the boss so he knows you are doing these things. But that is an inefficient way to increase your pay. The best way is to get a new job, as often as possible. People may tell you that you can’t change jobs quickly because you will look ‘unstable’. But you can change jobs as often as you can find one if you have something to add to your resume each time. Every new skill enables you to move up the ladder. Each new job also gives you an opportunity to negotiate a better base rate. Even if you find the job you love, you will still be facing incremental percentage increases. You have to get as much as you can when you start. Sure the unemployment rate is relatively high, but its not as bad as the news indicates for people who continue to learn and work hard. Good luck in the future. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713/22 "2010-08-20T01:08:02Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > I know its a different world, but this is really the only way to get a substantial raise in academia… I am completely unfamiliar with that territory. But IME changing jobs is the only way to get a “substantial raise” in any industry, unless you’re lucky enough to have a boss like me. 🙂 I had an employee who was way underpaid, his contributions far exceeded expectations for his years of experience and I went to the mat with my management to get him a big bump. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Presidente](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@El\_Presidente](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Presidente)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713/23 "2010-08-20T03:23:12Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > > [@El\_Presidente](#): > > > > If you like your job, and think the employer likes you, get another job offer. If they like you enough, they will renegotiate to keep you. > > I strongly discourage this. If you want to leave, get another offer at a place you would really want to work, and then take it. Fishing for an outside offer only to use it as leverage leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. > > If you use this simply to get a raise, your current employer may decide he doesn’t want to be held hostage and will refuse to negotiate with terrorsts. He lets you leave, and you better nev I fully agree with what you are saying. I guess I should clarify, get another offer you would take either way, a job that pays more for a company yuo could live with, not just to hope your boss doesn’t call your bluff. But it seems as if the OP is dis-satisfied with their job anyways. Again, it does seem odd to me someone who is a rookie at a job feels entitled to call out the performance of a co-worker who has been there 15 years, whatever their flaws. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713/24 "2010-08-20T04:27:16Z")
Since the OP is seeking advice, this is better suited to IMHO than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-asking-for-a-raise/550713.md?page=1)