salary review

[KellyK]

I apologize if this isn't the right place to post this. I wasn't sure where else to put it. I'm a 22 year old beginning programmer and I'm up for my annual salary review tomorrow. This is my first "real" job and I don't know what kind of raise to ask for. My boss wants me to present him with a percentage raise and explain why I deserve it. I've looked on salary.com but it's hard to find a comparable job description to mine in order to see how much people are making in my area. I'm located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. My question to you all is: what is a typical percentage raise/salary for a database developer/business analyst? I do above-average work but nothing outstanding.

Kelly

 

[gwinn7]

garwain,

Sure, economically for the worker's perspective, it makes sense. But it needs to make sense from the business point of view.

If you whine and complain that you aren't makin enough because you can meet rent or afford things, then you might as well be looking for another job. No employer I am aware of will listen to that lifestyle garbage. It doesn't matter to them as to what you can and cannot afford, nor should it!

All I am saying is that any salary or raise request must be presented to the employer as what is in the best interest of the employer; not your best interest. What I am not saying is you should undercut yourself and make yourself available for slave wages and live in a poor house.

What I am saying is consider the market you are in and what your skills are worth whereever you are and see what an employer will pay for those skills. If its not enough for you, then its time to re-evaluate career paths. I know I would, and have.

Gary
gwinn7
A+, Network+

 

[BeckahC]

gwinn7,

I almost think it should matter... I think it was already mentioned... if a company wants to keep its employees, the ones that keep that company in business and help them "look good"... they need to ensure loyalty... the way to do that is not to force their valued workers to leave by giving them less than what they need to make ends meet.... BeckahC

 

[Free2bjd]

I know Kelly has received many responses to her initial inquiry and I hope she has found out what her raise is and that she's happy with it. In the real world, though, and we are living in a stressed economy, I would bet that a 5% is what is offered. And Kelly should not feel that's inadequate, esp. if others in the co. are receiving fairly the same amount. I wore a human resources hat before switching to web development 6 yrs. ago. Believe me, if you depend on your co. to match your living requirements, you will be continually disappointed. Gone are the days where IT folks could demand a lot of $. Sure, there are always exceptions, but being realistic with salary expectations will get you a lot farther in your career (and happier with your choices) than trying to figure out what you're worth and being unhappy with a minimum increase. If Kelly decides she can't live with a 5% or whatever, then she'll need to move on. Because if she lets it affect her work or her self esteem, she'll not be happy wherever she works. And I've seen plenty of IT guys come and go who think their talents are worth so much more; their egos get in the way of true advancement in a company because they can't relate to their peers, their bosses or their employees. Good luck, Kelly. Be real.
Juanita

 

[gwinn7]

"Believe me, if you depend on your co. to match your living requirements, you will be continually disappointed. "

-- Free2bjd

Exactly!

Gary
gwinn7
A+, Network+

 

[KellyK]

Well the verdict has come, for those of you on the edge of your seat wondering what kind of raise I'd walk away with (come on, admit it. i know you all were! hehe).

I'll be getting a 7.5% raise. I'm pretty happy with that number, given the fact that my boss told me they had 4% budgeted in the department for raises. I have all of you to thank, because if it weren't for the info you all provided to me, I might have gone in there requesting the 4%. This way, I asked for 10-15% and got 7.5. Not half bad.

Thanks again!
Kelly

 

[MasterRacker]

Congrats!
Jeff
Working in IT is like trying to commit suicide with a very small hammer ....

 

[Stiddy]

Thats good, CONGRATS!!!!!!

 

[gwinn7]

OH Yeah! Good for you!

Congrats and all that!

Gary
gwinn7

 

[thelabguy]

Congrats!

Just keep those of us in mind who's companies couldn't afford raises last year and are "looking in to the issue" for this year!


The Lab Guy

 

[BeckahC]

Congrats Kelly! BeckahC