Hey guys its getting close to time to ask for a raise. So here's the letter I've drafted, I will also sit down face to face and explain this all to him, but I felt having it in writing is taking it one step further. Market Analysis: The current energy ...
08-07-2006, 08:51 PM
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| Administrator  libertarian Oklahoma 
| Letter to my boss v.Raise Hey guys its getting close to time to ask for a raise. So here's the letter I've drafted, I will also sit down face to face and explain this all to him, but I felt having it in writing is taking it one step further. Market Analysis: The current energy market for obvious reasons is flourishing. Gas and Oil are at record levels of demand. Because of this, market prices for labor, especially quality labor has gone up. Market conditions for similar jobs are paying anywhere from 45,000 dollars a year to as high as 75,000 dollars a year. The two offers I received paid 26 dollars per hour plus overtime and 59,000 dollars salary respectively. I feel that since my arrival I have done a good job at learning the product and interacting with our customers. I believe I have quickly gained the knowledge necessary to do the job and do it well. My troubleshooting skills are good, especially in areas regarding our host software. I have personally tracked, logged and brought to the attention of the software group several issues pertaining to a variety of software platforms. While I feel my ability to chase customer hardware and software issues is strong, I believe my customer service skills are even stronger. It is my prior experience specifically as a service manager that I believe makes me a large asset to the company. I consistently go out of my way to make sure the customers needs are met. This can be anything from making sure software bugs get the appropriate level of attention to voluntarily meeting customers onsite to pickup product. It is crucial we let customers know we are committed to making our products and services better. I strive to make sure they know we are working on their behalf. At the same time I also understand the needs of our company, the goals of XYZ and our ABC division. The combination of these two I believe make me one of the best in the group. Because my bachelors degree in MIS has been such a large asset with this company I am looking to increase my value to the company and have made a decision to go back to school and attain my MBA. This will allow me to further grow as an analyst and as a future manager for XYZ – ABC. I believe my ability as a customer service analyst far exceeds my current compensation. I believe my ability and market conditions warrant a raise that compensates me more appropriately for the job I do. I believe appropriate compensation for my job and performance is in the 54,000 to 58,000 dollar range. XYZ’s own payscale for the job is $37,440 to $70,560 with a mid range of $54,000. Given market conditions, competition and XYZ policy I do not find my request to be out of line. thoughts suggestions? | ||||
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08-07-2006, 08:54 PM
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| Braccae tuae aperiuntur.  Reform Party NJ
| Going over it now... First thing I noticed. Don't use the word "Good" regarding yourself. Use a stronger word. Never use "nice, good, ok, great" etc when talking about your work performance. Use words like first-class, superior, wonderful, top-notch, outstanding, brilliant, distinguished etc. Last edited by JaJae; 08-07-2006 at 09:03 PM. | ||||
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08-07-2006, 08:59 PM
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| Braccae tuae aperiuntur. Reform Party NJ
| Don't give a suggested 54-58k.. just mention the average pay. I wouldn't use the "out of line" line at the end. Start off as you did by saying market conditions, etc.. and therefore you "insert nice word here" believe that further compensation is reasonable. | ||||
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08-07-2006, 09:11 PM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by JaJae So why not have a suggested range?
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08-07-2006, 09:18 PM
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| Braccae tuae aperiuntur. Reform Party NJ
| Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95 You told them what you were offered. Tell them what their average is. Leave it at that. You might sell yourself short by giving a minimum. They may be more likely to match or come closer or even beat your highest offer if they really want to keep you.
Giving a range says you'd settle for $54k. That's not wise when negotiating anyting, including your salary. Let them use ther imagination, it'll likely be to your benefit. If they spit out $53k, repeat their average pay is 54k and you have an offer for 59k. Ask if they can come closer or match. | ||||
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08-07-2006, 09:20 PM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by JaJae Other suggestions ahve been to take out the competing offers which isn't necessarily a bad idea. So perhaps I should just put the mid range set by XYZ is 54,000 and I far exceed the performance of midrange?
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08-07-2006, 09:22 PM
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| Braccae tuae aperiuntur. Reform Party NJ
| Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95 If you want to take out the other offers, perhaps give them the average and say you've been offered more than that from competitors.
You said you liked your boss at one point I think. If that's true, perhaps going in there open and honest wouldn't hurt you. Saying I've been offered this. I like you guys and like working here. What can you do about it because as of now it just doesn't seem feasible for you with your wife and plans of starting a family (say this even if it isn't true). | ||||
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08-07-2006, 09:32 PM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by JaJae Yes thats my plan. I plan to discuss all this with my boss, tell him clearly and plainly that I am NOT leaving. Give him the letter and have him read it, if he thinks it should be passed on to the powers at be than so be it. But before I pass it to him I want to make sure its good.
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08-08-2006, 01:12 AM
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| ..... your a worthless poster  Realist
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08-08-2006, 08:22 AM
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| Perpetual Noob Independent
| Is it possible to sit him down and talk to him? Maybe discuss it over drinks after work. This all depends on your particular business environment, but I prefer people to come to me and talk about their wishes first. After the talk would be a better time to drop the letter IMO. First talking in person would signal your sincerity. Leaving the letter afterwards would signal that you have taken the time to examine the market and this is not some quick ploy to get some extra cash. whatever you choose, good luck  | ||||
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08-08-2006, 08:46 AM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by Phantom Yes thats my plan is to talk to him first. Then give him the letter.
My boss is a very personable guy, so I'll encompass much of whats in the letter when I talk to him and I like some of the ideas of gotten through feedback. I'll make some changes this morning and post the new one  | ||||
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08-08-2006, 09:02 AM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Updated letter: Market Analysis: The current energy market for obvious reasons is flourishing. Gas and Oil are at record levels of demand. This translates into upward price pressure in the energy labor market. I feel that since my arrival I have done an exemplary job working with customers and learning our products. I have quickly gained the knowledge necessary to do the job and do it well. I have quickly transferred my skills as an IT specialist to the flow computer industry as a result my ability to trouble shoot our products is among the best in the group. This is especially true in the area of host software. I have personally tracked, logged and brought to the attention of the software group several issues pertaining to a variety of software platforms as well as efficient ways to fix the software issues in question. While I feel my ability to chase customer hardware and software issues is strong, I believe my customer service skills are even stronger. It is my prior experience specifically as a service manager that I believe makes me a large asset to the company. I consistently go out of my way to make sure the customers needs are met. This can be anything from making sure software bugs get the appropriate level of attention to voluntarily meeting customers onsite to pickup product. It is crucial we let customers know we are committed to making our products and services better. I strive to make sure they know we are working on their behalf. At the same time I also understand the needs of our company, the goals of XYZ and our ABC division. The combination of these two I believe make me one of the best in the group. Because my bachelors degree in MIS has been such a large asset with this company I am looking to increase my value to the company and have made a decision to go back to school and attain my MBA. This will allow me to further grow as an analyst and as a future manager for XYZ – ABC. I believe an MBA will be necessary for the future of this company as the market and our customers change with time. Our current management staff within ABC are the best I’ve ever worked for. For that reason my hopes of becoming a manager down the road mean that I have to take the steps necessary to arm myself with the tools to do the job. This includes continuing my education by pursuing my MBA. Lastly, I believe my ability as a customer service analyst far exceeds my current compensation. I believe my ability and market conditions warrant a raise that compensates me more appropriately for the job I do. XYZ’s midpoint for the position is listed at 54,000 dollars and I believe my contributions warrant more than the current midpoint. I'm still thinking maybe I should take out that midpoint reference and just discuss the "numbers" with my boss in person? | ||||
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08-08-2006, 09:48 AM
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| ..... your a worthless poster Realist
| Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95 If he gave you that midpoint as a salary would you be happy? Ask yourself, honestly, if there a chance in hell that if you left it off he may come back with more than $54k?
If there's any chance he could come back with more (be honest...might he?) then remove it. If there's no way he'll offer more then leave it so he has a benchmark to use when figuring how much to give you. Also remember, you're not going to get a 20% raise. If you're making $40k now don't expect to get bumped up to $54k. They could possibly take you from $40k to $45k or so, but you're not going all the way to $54k in one year. They'll say the same market conditions that are making the industry so good now *could* change tomorrow.
 ). You'd deserve the raise even if the market sucked. If I was you I'd take it out of the letter but say it when you talk to him. You're going to make your case to him with the conversation but then (hopefully) he's going to use the letter to make your case to his boss, and the last thing you want is for his boss to say "market conditions can change, no." You deserve this raise no matter what. Don't make the argument "we're making a lot of money, give me some." | ||||
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08-08-2006, 12:29 PM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by 7960 Oh, man good suggestions here...I make 48,927 right now so I'm close enough that i feel a bump to midpoint is acceptable. I think if I dont put a number in here corporate may try to sandbag which is why I'm using that midpoint number. If I get bumped to the mid point by hte time next spring rolls around I'll be in the 56 to 57k range...maybe I should just ask my boss on that, I think he'll shoot straight with me.
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08-08-2006, 12:38 PM
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| ..... your a worthless poster Realist
| Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95 So you're basically asking for a 10% raise...that is not out of the question but tie it to your performance, not the company's.
Tell them you deserve it. Give them evidence that you deserve it. Give me a percentage of whatever you get  | ||||
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08-08-2006, 12:51 PM
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| Publius' Bish  Independent Richardson, TX
| i think it looks fine, but what do i know... Good Luck! | ||||
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08-08-2006, 01:55 PM
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| Administrator libertarian Oklahoma
| Originally Posted by 7960 I definately like the idea of tieing back in with my performance. I gotta test some communications on some shit when I'm done I'll make some more edits
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08-08-2006, 04:02 PM
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| :: This Space for Rent ::  Conservative Overland Park, KS
| Your gonna get fired.  | ||||
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08-08-2006, 04:05 PM
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| Hamiltonian > Jeffersonian  Libertarian Party DFW
| Originally Posted by Sheana you'll always be too scared to ask for a raise.
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08-08-2006, 04:08 PM
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| Publius' Bish Independent Richardson, TX
| Originally Posted by Publius when you first started, tracy told me it was about time for my evaluation or whatever. he said i might get a raise
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