Can I ask for salary increase now that I've graduated?

Question

I did my final college internship at the company where I still work now. The internship was about five months long. At the end of my internship I kept working for the same compagny over the summer.

Now summer is ending and school is coming back. I will be missing a few courses before entering university so I asked them if they would have a job for me over the next year. They said yes. They know it will be somewhere around 25-30 hour per week depending on my schedule.

The salary they gave me during my internship is about 2/3 of the salary that people graduated in computer technology are actually making. For the summer I didn't ask them for more because I didn't want to be this guy "always asking for more".

Now I have graduated.

What would be the best way to ask them to raise my salary without looking like "I just graduated and you should pay me X more an hour"?

Edit: The classes I still need to take are in order to get to the university, those weren't simply included in my program.

Answer 1

You can always ask for more. You would go to them and basically say, "Now that I have a degree, I think I'm worth more." and see what happens.

But you aren't yet a full-timer. And from a hiring manager's point of view, they may not be sure if you will be sticking around for the long haul, or are just staying there until you complete your education. (After your latest comments, you indicate don't believe you will be sticking around and that they know it. I'd be surprised if they give you the same pay as someone who they think will be around.)

I know I like to give benefits to folks who I expect to be around longer, at the expense of those who may be gone in a year or two.

But, it seldom hurts to ask! All they can say is "No".

Answer 2

Actually, "I just graduated and you should pay me X more an hour" is a fine thing to say, if in fact you had graduated. But you haven't, you have some more classes to finish.

You could try negotiating now what your raise will be when you graduate. That will probably work out fine. But don't expect them to pay it to you until you are actually finished your school work.

Answer 3

You need to make a case for the value you bring to them, and how your graduating (if you really have done so, it's not clear) provides a benefit to them and is worth $X more. It sounds like you've already researched what similar companies in your area are paying for people with similar skills for a similar job.

It can be awkward asking for more money, and for ideas on that, I recommend reading AskAManager about ways to handle the actual negotiations. But you do need to have a solid case for the value you provide to them, and why paying $X more is reasonable. If they agree, fine. If they don't agree, then you have to decide how long you work for them to continue get experience, and then prove you are worth more by actually getting that better paying job.

Answer 4

I am near 40 and I have switched jobs alot over the years. I have never asked my current employer for a raise. When I interview for my next job, I tell them I want a raise. Asking for a raise rarely works. At a company large enough to have an HR department, your boss has little say over your salary. These days wages are pretty stagnant. However, I have found that I can still raise my salary by switching jobs. Works very well. When you are in a 'want a raise' job search instead of 'I need a job' search you can tell them up front you are looking for an increase so you don't waste your time just to find out later they don't want to pay what your looking for.

asking for a raise is too risky. Generally you won't get it. You also put yourself out there. Some places may fire you if they are concerned you will leave. They will probably call it a 'downsizing' or something else. Its just not worth it. You never really know. Safer to get the money somewhere else. Switching jobs is not a big deal.