Hi, I am the sole freelance graphic designer for a fairly new company, and I've been working for them for a few months over a year now. I asked for a raise about 3 months back, and they told me that the company hasn't broke even yet, so I should ask 2-3 months later, which is now. How should I go about it this time around to make sure I get the raise I deserve?
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Asking for a raise 2
- Thread starter Thoe99
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- #2
CajunCenturion
Programmer
Given the current economic situation (at least in the USA) and the current job market, that being the number of jobs available vs the number of IT professionals, including graphic artists, not practicing their chosen profession, you might want to take note that only a very few of us are receiving what we in fact deserve.
Given that you're with a fairly new company, and one which, only three months ago indicated that they were not even breaking even, I'm not sure that re-broaching the subject of the raise is a good idea.
If you do not believe that management was totally honest with you with respect to the company financial situation 3 months ago, there is no reason to think that things would be any different right now, and asking for a raise not be a good idea, especially if you have potential replacements on the street, and can easily be replaced.
If you do believe they were honest 3 months ago, then ask yourself if the business has improved enough in the last three months to recover some of the debt being incurred by not breaking even, and still have enough left over to justify handing out raises. Its quite likely that it has nothing to do with what you deserve, but rather limited by what the company can afford to do.
Under the circumstances, it simply may not be a good time to ask. I understand that I'm not in your situation, and things may not be as they seem, but I think that you should analyze your situation before proceeding. In any event, I wish you the best. Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
Given that you're with a fairly new company, and one which, only three months ago indicated that they were not even breaking even, I'm not sure that re-broaching the subject of the raise is a good idea.
If you do not believe that management was totally honest with you with respect to the company financial situation 3 months ago, there is no reason to think that things would be any different right now, and asking for a raise not be a good idea, especially if you have potential replacements on the street, and can easily be replaced.
If you do believe they were honest 3 months ago, then ask yourself if the business has improved enough in the last three months to recover some of the debt being incurred by not breaking even, and still have enough left over to justify handing out raises. Its quite likely that it has nothing to do with what you deserve, but rather limited by what the company can afford to do.
Under the circumstances, it simply may not be a good time to ask. I understand that I'm not in your situation, and things may not be as they seem, but I think that you should analyze your situation before proceeding. In any event, I wish you the best. Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
- Thread starter
- #3
I'll shine some more background on this...
I'm a student right now and they hired me as a freelancer based on the fact that I was a student, that they could hire me for cheap. I started with some easy projects, then advanced to more complicated projects, but my rates have been the same. I'm at a point where I'm accustomed to their work settings and routines that for them to hire another person, they would have to retrain him/her, and they've told me that on an occasion. I have since moved and work solely by sending them the projects through email.
I do not know for sure whether they are honest about not breaking even, but I do know that their marketing and products have skyrocketed. I know this because with some of the projects I work on, they make claims, or testomonials, about how many institutions, people, workplaces use their product, and that number changes pretty well each time.
I can understand what you talk about, Cajun, but I'm willing to risk it. I'm at a point where my life situations have changed, and my priorities with them may change as well if I do not get my raise (they are a side job for me). With that in mind, I would like to hear more suggestions, similar experiences, and/or advices.
I'm a student right now and they hired me as a freelancer based on the fact that I was a student, that they could hire me for cheap. I started with some easy projects, then advanced to more complicated projects, but my rates have been the same. I'm at a point where I'm accustomed to their work settings and routines that for them to hire another person, they would have to retrain him/her, and they've told me that on an occasion. I have since moved and work solely by sending them the projects through email.
I do not know for sure whether they are honest about not breaking even, but I do know that their marketing and products have skyrocketed. I know this because with some of the projects I work on, they make claims, or testomonials, about how many institutions, people, workplaces use their product, and that number changes pretty well each time.
I can understand what you talk about, Cajun, but I'm willing to risk it. I'm at a point where my life situations have changed, and my priorities with them may change as well if I do not get my raise (they are a side job for me). With that in mind, I would like to hear more suggestions, similar experiences, and/or advices.
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- #4
I would go into it with a positive outlook. Don't use the attitude of "They owe me a raise." Instead, go in and remind them that a few months back, they indicated that this would be a better time. Justify the raise by showing how much you have grown and accomplished, and why the higher salary would be justified. Remember that it is a business and not personal. If you can show them that with a higher salary (cost to them), you can still help them increase their revenue (return to them), then you should stand a good chance. Just remember, business boils down to numbers. Show them the numbers, and you increase your odds of getting a raise.
- Thread starter
- #5
As you put together your thoughts in a manner KornGeek mentions put it on paper.
Use facts not guesswork, such as quantity of work last period and quantity of work this period.
Quailty improvments, site exact cases.
And one thing that management needs to know is what would the actual cost of replaceing you be. Figure training cost. exteneded length of time on projects, what would this cost in real dollars.
The key is to speak in facts, that cannot be disputed. To state your goal up front. To validate why you deserve your stated goal. And remember it will most likely be a negotiation. So don't sell yourself too short in the first round.
Good luck
Use facts not guesswork, such as quantity of work last period and quantity of work this period.
Quailty improvments, site exact cases.
And one thing that management needs to know is what would the actual cost of replaceing you be. Figure training cost. exteneded length of time on projects, what would this cost in real dollars.
The key is to speak in facts, that cannot be disputed. To state your goal up front. To validate why you deserve your stated goal. And remember it will most likely be a negotiation. So don't sell yourself too short in the first round.
Good luck
I'm not sure I would get too much into the cost of replacing you, unless you are actually threatening to leave unless you get a raise. This can be taken as a threat, so don't use it unless you intend it that way.
The main piece of advice I would give is that you won't get what you don't ask for. If you don't ask for a raise, you won't get one. If you ask for $5 / hour, you won't get $6. Ask for what you want, but be reasonable. If you can't convince yourself it's worth it, you won't be able to convince them either.
Good luck.
The main piece of advice I would give is that you won't get what you don't ask for. If you don't ask for a raise, you won't get one. If you ask for $5 / hour, you won't get $6. Ask for what you want, but be reasonable. If you can't convince yourself it's worth it, you won't be able to convince them either.
Good luck.
He who doesn't ask, doesn't get.
Asking for a raise doesn't have to be a threat, or a judgement call on anyone or the company itself. You're perfectly within your rights to ask for more money. One assumes you'll handle the thing courteously and not turn reproachful if turned down. If a raise is not a stay/go decider for you, then by all mean reassure management of your commitment to your job and the company. But if you were told to ask again in X amount of time, then ask. The worst they can say is no.
Your value is very much market driven. But do you know what the market says about you? One of the best ways to find out is participate in that market by shopping yourself around. I know of a human resources manager who makes a point of conducting a job search every 18 months, both to see what her market value is and also to study her industry from a different perspective.
A job search for people like us can not only give a more accurate sense of worth, but also show technology trends. Perhaps you'll discover that one sector pays way more than another for the same technology. Salary surveys can help round out market research, but are by no means accurate for determining individual worth.
In any case, it's worth it to pop our heads out of our cubicles once in a while to see what's going on across the street.
Cheers,
cyclegeek
Asking for a raise doesn't have to be a threat, or a judgement call on anyone or the company itself. You're perfectly within your rights to ask for more money. One assumes you'll handle the thing courteously and not turn reproachful if turned down. If a raise is not a stay/go decider for you, then by all mean reassure management of your commitment to your job and the company. But if you were told to ask again in X amount of time, then ask. The worst they can say is no.
Your value is very much market driven. But do you know what the market says about you? One of the best ways to find out is participate in that market by shopping yourself around. I know of a human resources manager who makes a point of conducting a job search every 18 months, both to see what her market value is and also to study her industry from a different perspective.
A job search for people like us can not only give a more accurate sense of worth, but also show technology trends. Perhaps you'll discover that one sector pays way more than another for the same technology. Salary surveys can help round out market research, but are by no means accurate for determining individual worth.
In any case, it's worth it to pop our heads out of our cubicles once in a while to see what's going on across the street.
Cheers,
cyclegeek
- Thread starter
- #9
Well, here's a follow up on what happened. I asked them for the raise, a little higher than what I really wanted, because I was expecting a little negotiating. It turns out, there was no negotiating, and I got the raise I asked for! Makes me happy! Thanx for your advice, no guts no glory, I guess.
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