Asking for a big raise
Currently my company and direct competitors are short of Engineers due to retirement and growth in the industry. The field is very specialized and it takes years for an Engineer to know the product well. We have 6 Engineers in the department and looking to hire 2 more (preferably with experience in the industry). After 6 months of looking, we have no suitable candidate. Other direct competitors are also trying to hire me and well as my colleagues away. I am temping to ask for a big raise. How should I approach the boss and not be seen as opportunistic? If you approach your boss showing what you have accomplished and how your responsibilities have increased, it won't appear to be opportunistic, especially if it is the usual time for a review. While there may be a shortage, there is a reason why you and your fellow employees haven't jumped ship and why your company hasn't been able to pull in other engineers... it sounds like the market is at some sort of equilibrium. If you go in there and try to use the hiring problems as leverage, you might as well bring a hand gun and a mask since you will get the same reception. If you' re going to ask for an increase in salary it has to be on the basis of what you' ve accomplished - not on the supply of engineers in your field. Prepare a list of what you' ve done - goals met, objectives achieved, initiatives taken, responsibilities assumed, etc., etc. What you' re suggesting could be construed as a form of salary "blackmail" and I' m inclined to think that your boss would take a very dim view of trying to leverage more money on that basis, instead of on the bases of the quality of your own job performance! I would suggest you push to have all the Engineering positions re-evaluated upward, including the open positions. We can' t get anyone because we are not paying enough.... We can' t pay more to a new guy when we' ve all been here.... The industry is in short-supply.... We are being recruited away.... Lets become the priemier place for engineers to want to be.... You' ll probably end up backing down if you ask for a raise with: I want...I am... Try landing a job elsewhere. If you' re worth the money your current boss will give it to you. | |
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