How soon is it OK to ask for a raise at a new job? [duplicate]

Question

I started a new permanent job (my previous was contracted) back in the beginning of January, I negotiated a salary that was in between their initial offer and my hourly rate from the contract position. However since I started there have been 4 people who quit from my department (20 people or so max in the department including managers) and only 1 new person has been hired. As a result my workload has increased over the past few weeks.

I am still in the 90-probationary period (until April 9th) so I want to be careful. I have received great feedback after my 30-day and 60-day reviews and have even been given a special project by the department director that could make a big impact on department efficiency.

Would it be acceptable to ask for a higher salary at my 90-day review if I provide proof of the workload and accomplishments?

Answer 1

Yes, it is appropriate to ask.

Specifically in your case

1. If you can demonstrate the increased workload
2. You can also demonstrate significant accomplishments
3. There has been a rash employees who have left recently

With these factors in mind, you should be able to make a great case.

I would however caution you in terms of your chances due to the fact you have only been there for less than 90 days, but definitely worth the ask. At least 50/50 odds IMHO.

Answer 2

After over 20 years as a working professional, I can tell you that there is only one consistent rule with regard to raises: If you don't ask, you don't get.

Otherwise it's all relative. You have to consider the following:

• Are you adding sufficient additional value to the company?
• Is the increase within what that market expects for someone with your job?
• Would it be difficult to hire someone else to do your job?

And most importantly

• Can you easily quit this job and find another?

For example, in my line of work, it could potentially cost an employer $50K (or more) to find someone to replace me, since it takes a new employee about three months to get up to speed. Knowing this, and knowing the market, I have a good idea how much more I could get if I did negotiate a raise.

Of course you have to know your boss and the overall company culture. Some times they recognize they're getting a great deal with you and they should pay you more. Some times you have no choice but to strong arm them by threatening to leave if they don't pay you what you think you're worth.

But as I said, without taking the initiative, you'll never know. In your particular case I would take the tactic that you're doing a lot more work than you were told you would have to do when you got hired, so you deserve more, and possibly that you feel unappreciated since you've been given more work with no increase in compensation.

They will probably respond something to the effect that everyone is working harder, and you're the only one complaining, so why not be like all the others. To which you respond that you can't be responsible for anyone else's career choices, only your own.

At the end of the day, one of three things will happen:

1. They will offer a sufficient raise, and you will be happy.
2. They will refuse to give you a raise, and you will accept this and continue to work
3. They will refuse to give you a raise, and you quit.

or you never ask, and you never find out what would have happened.

Answer 3

No, I don't think you should do this. In general, it's not a good idea to ask for a raise until you've been there at least a year, and asking too early might make you look out-of-touch, or worse, entitled. The fact that you're still in your probationary period makes this even stronger.

I hear that you're getting great feedback, but great feedback at your 30-day and 60-day reviews means "You are learning this job well," not "Wow, you are so awesome that we should pay you more than we agreed three months ago."

An exception to this is if your job changes so substantially that it's really become a different job, and one you'd have negotiated a higher salary for. But it doesn't sound like that's the case here. You're doing the same job; it just got harder. It doesn't make sense to ask for a raise in that case; otherwise should everyone get a raise every busy season? Should they give you a raise now, and then take it away when they hire more people?

It's better to just keep doing a good job, and ask about a raise after a year. If you do well on this project, be sure to bring that up then. And congrats on your new job!

Answer 4

I realize you were on contract, so your first day as a full-time employee, you were probably doing more actual work than a typical new employee. If you are being paid a comparable salary and the workload has increased compared to the level at that time (you have documentation?), you should have a good reason to ask for a raise.

Consider waiting until the probation period is over. Make sure your positive evaluations are documented. You are going to be made an offer. You are in a much better position to counter-offer, so have a few values in mind and be able to justify each level.

If you know there is going to be a set raise, be prepared to have your documentation about the additional work you're doing. They will say this is "standard" or "company policy" but don't let that end the negotiation. Let them know you feel there is an exception and you think you deserve more.

Someone will probably have to get permission from a higher-up in the company. If they really want to keep you, they'll make the effort. This is why it is so important to fully understand what your immediate supervisor expects from you and their current impression on your work. Otherwise, they won't even bother to ask.