Ever had to ask for a raise?

ebagg

I need some advice, any help would be highly appreciated. I'm not quite in the game industry (yet) but I'm doing various forms of graphics for a production company. The problem now is that two of my coworkers quit, previously I was the little worker bee, just doing my assignments and not really attending meetings, dealing constantly with clients and the workload is growing rapidly. Take note I have been working here the better part of a year, but on the other hand the company doesn't really give raises. However this additional work and the fact that I am now a one man department would easily make a change in title and paycheck VERY justified. Even if they are to hire new people, I would have to spend a great deal of time training the person and even then my responsibilites will be much higher than they have been previously.

I am applying at game industry jobs, as that has always been my goal, but with the workload of mine growing bigger with each day, if I were to put in my two week's notice, I will be screwing over the company as well as many clients the company has. (which I may have to just look out for number one and leave the company crippled with several works in progress, although I don't like the idea).

Have you ever asked for a raise in pay? Does it ever work? Or does it usually signal the end of a job and the desparate need to find a new one?

ScoobyDoofus

Oh, no way. Ask. Come from a strong position. Know how much your worth to the company and ask for just slightly more for that, and negotiate down. Asking for a raise is not usually the beginning of the end in my experience.

Xenobond

'Asking for a raise is not usually the beginning of the end in my experience.'

Yeah, just make sure not to make it come off like they'd be screwed if you just up and left. That'd make them think about getting a replacement quickly, and then just canning you.

McIlroy

Hmm you live in the Seattle area like me . If nothing else tell them you need a cost of living increase . I mean gas is 3.12 for unleaded which is a lot considering just over a year ago we were paying less then 1.50

AstroZombie

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I mean gas is 3.12 for unleaded which is a lot considering just over a year ago we were paying less then 1.50

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If you think that's a lot ... they pay over 2x that in Europe

steady

Hey Ebagg! Congrats on winning the boardgame challenge! Anyways, yes, you definitely should ask for a raise. You said you have worked there a good part of the year, and have taken on a bigger workload and will have to train new hires soon. Just straight up go in the morning and at an appropriate time, say "Hey boss, I'd like to ask for a raise." And they'll probably ask how much you want and you say whatever you think is appropriate. I recently did this and bam I started earning $2.00 more per hour. I was pretty much going to quit if I didn't get it though. It's a great feeling though if you get it, you get to brag to all your friends and go out and get really drunk, but be sure not to buy too many shots for friends like I did LOL :P

ebagg

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words! I'll be meeting with him soon. I figure the best way is to summarize the huge amount of work I've been doing in the last two weeks alone, then bring up the pay raise that he had already mentioned when the second main coworker of mine put in his 2 week notice.

Hollowmind

I haven't gotten a raise in over 4 years. I know that doesn't help you or give you any advice, I just wanted to cry about it.

Josh_Singh

There's nothing wrong with asking, the worst they could do is say no. unless they are dicks then they will fire you.

noritsune

The best thing to do when asking for a raise is to have concrete examples, on paper if possible, of comparable positions which pay more than what you're earning. Just take the angle of "this is how much more I could be earning HERE, or HERE, or HERE." Doing a little research or flirting with other companies to gain this info can really pay off.

ebagg

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The best thing to do when asking for a raise is to have concrete examples, on paper if possible, of comparable positions which pay more than what you're earning. Just take the angle of "this is how much more I could be earning HERE, or HERE, or HERE." Doing a little research or flirting with other companies to gain this info can really pay off.

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Usually a good thing, but in this case I just want to make about as much as my ex-coworkers did, considering I am now expected to do almost both their jobs on top of mine. If I looked at other company's pay rates I'd apply elsewhere because I'd get paid twice as much for half the job...oh wait I have applied elsewhere!

JO420

I had to ask for a raise recently and i made a case for it,i outlined the ways i deserve it like my work ethic,improvement in work,good self supervision and etc. etc.

Try to give as many examples as possible.

Eric Chadwick

Good advice in here.

Asking worked for me. I was approached by a recruiter, got to know what the other company was offering (roundabout number), presented this info to my boss, said I'd prefer to stay but was offered this amount at that place.

In actuality, I really did not want to work at the other company, but I was taking a calculated risk, and it paid off. The current company upped me to nearly the same rate as the asking company.

Asking that way is a risk, since the current employer could say goodbye. But the good side is you're introducting more pressure on them to raise the bar.

sledgy

[ QUOTE ]
The best thing to do when asking for a raise is to have concrete examples, on paper if possible, of comparable positions which pay more than what you're earning. Just take the angle of "this is how much more I could be earning HERE, or HERE, or HERE." Doing a little research or flirting with other companies to gain this info can really pay off.

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Exactly. Quantify to qualify. Do the legwork. Your boss will more likely go after a raise for you if you present him/her with a good outline on why you deserve one. Otherwise your boss has to take time out to do it.

Justin Meisse

Show your boss you won the boardgame challenge, that should do the trick!