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Ask HN: How do I assert my value in salary adjustment?

5 points by imafish ↗ HN
Hi

I have an upcoming salary adjustment meeting at my current job and want to be well prepared for the meeting - and I definitely sucked at the initial salary negotiation, so I need some help.

I work at a consultancy writing software for many different clients. They bill clients an hourly rate around three times my salary.

How can I convince my manager that I deserve a bigger piece of the pie?

6 comments

[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 26.4 ms ] thread
itamarst
Biggest threat is "I'm going to leave", but you need to credibly be willing to do so. And you don't need to say so _explicitly_.

1. Biggest hammer, but the most work: you get a job offer elsewhere for job you are willing to take, at higher pay, and see how it goes.

2. Less work: figure out coworker salaries. Figure out salaries in your geographical region. If you can show you are underpaid you are implicitly saying "look I can go get a job elsewhere for more" without having to do the interviewing.

3. Important—make sure you ask for higher salary _before_ the meeting. By the time the meeting happens they've probably decided on salary.

Much more detail here: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/08/22/engineer-a-raise/

wrestlerman
Second the advice here. Not sure about the first one, because from what I've observed switching jobs offers the biggest rise. But definitely talk with your coworkers about salaries. Write down what you have achieved for your company since you've started. Be on good terms with your coworkers, probably they will be asked about your work. And remember to ask for more than you want. If they give you exactly what you want, it means you asked for too less.
gesman
WTF is "salary adjustment meeting"?

Is that a thing where you trying to prove your worth to get a raise and your boss is trying to politely convey that you're "more than ok" as is?

Create "salary adjustment meeting" on your terms. Get a [real] offer from another place and put it on your boss desk.

Salary adjustment accomplished.

Unless of course your boss will shake your hand and wish you a good luck.

chrisbennet
If they got you cheap to start with, they almost never will adjust your salary to match market.
wrestlerman
I guess it depends if it turns out that you're a crucial part of the cog in the company and you play it well, you can get on track.