I started my job as an IT Systems Administrator last November, initially as a subcontractor. After my teammate left for another opportunity, I took over his role and really hit the ground running. I even earned Employee of the Month just a few months in! I enjoy my work and have been committed to supporting my colleagues, especially since people prefer coming to me for help rather than the new hire in the other position.
Now that I've officially been in my role for over 90 days, I'm considering asking for a raise. Given the rising cost of living and the fact that my landlord is listing the house I'm renting for sale, I was thinking of requesting a 10% increase. While this would put me in the six-figure range, it's also about 20k more than what the company originally budgeted for the role. I feel like I've worked hard to deserve this, and my manager seems supportive, but I wonder if it's too soon or too much to ask. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What advice do you have for negotiating a salary increase?
5 Answers
If you have a good relationship with your manager, consider mentioning your one-year anniversary and request a review. It’s the perfect timing to reflect on your accomplishments and use them to support your case for a raise. Gather any evidence to help them argue your case to the higher-ups. Good luck!
It's super important to know your worth before asking for a raise. Do some research on what others in similar roles are earning in your area. This will give you a solid baseline for what to request. If you find you're underpaid, it can justify your request much better than just relying on your personal situation.
Be aware that companies will often try to pay you the least possible. Your hard work is important, but it doesn’t always translate to a raise on its own. So if you can, get another job offer in hand before negotiating. If your company values you, they might counter your offer, but remember to always ask for a bit more than you want to leave room for negotiation.
When you ask for a raise, frame it as an 'adjustment' based on your contributions. You can highlight your achievements like Employee of the Month and how you've kept the workload manageable for everyone. Just make sure to avoid any personal financial reasons when negotiating—it’s better to stick to your value to the business instead.
Absolutely! Focusing on your contributions shows you’re committed to the company’s success, which is more convincing.
Honestly, sometimes you've got to go in bold with a list of reasons why you deserve a raise. Document everything you've done well and be ready to negotiate. And it never hurts to update your resume just in case things don’t go as planned! Make sure you know what your next steps will be depending on their response.
Good advice! Having a plan B is always smart!
Exactly! Knowing your market value will really help you make a strong case when you approach your boss.