Just ask for a raise. If the company are happy with you and vise verse this would be the simplest solution.

Good luck.

Switch companies if it that easy in your profession

I'm not in your industry so I can't offer any insight into what should be fair pay. I do have quite a bit experience with employee compensation reviews though and have a couple of suggestions on your approach.

First up, there's nothing wrong having a compensation discussion with your boss but I wouldn’t think about this in terms of your age or what you're getting compared to your colleagues. I wouldn't even assume you deserve a pay rise just for doing your job well. In my book that's coming at things from the wrong direction and there's a chance your boss might as well. Bear in mind that you might not be able to distinguish your current contribution versus your colleagues but your boss almost certainly will and all you'll do is open yourself up before you've even got started. What people with 10 years' more experience than you are getting or what managers are being paid is irrelevant.

The way I would come at this is in terms of what's a fair pay for someone with your skills and your expeience, at your level in your role. If, having done some market research, you think you're being underpaid compared to the market, then raising this with your boss is appropriate.

But if you are being paid a fair market value, bear in mind for many jobs there's a going rate and you won't always get more just for doing your job well. To get higher up the pay scale you might have to change the role or get promotion to a higher level. That comes down to (a) your boss thinking you have the potential and (b) the opportunity within your company being there at the time you want it. Sometimes, even though you have the potential, you may have to patient until an opportunity comes up. This isn't a pay discussion. It's a career discussion. But again, nothing wrong with raising it if you think you're capable of doing more and feel up for it.

In terms of choosing the right moment to bring this up, I wouldn't choose your second anniversary but I'd include it in your annual performance review if you have one. If you don’t have one then ask for it. Present a case for why you think you deserve a pay rise other than simply because you’ve been here two years and nobody has complained about your work. Are you performing above the level your job requires? Have you taken on more responsibility?

Last thought - 20% a lot to ask for in one go, especially in these economic conditions. Make sure what you ask for is fair.

Good luck. Asking for a raise is never easy.

Thanks for suggestions and constructive critics.
Yes an Yes. They've given me an higher responsability role to cover just after 1 year I've been there.

After 2 years, by then my estimation is I'll be underpaid for about 16k CHF/yr, averages in hands for research and development stats.
Of course I'll ask more than average cause I think I deserve it.

For what I can say, everyone is in crisis when he's got to pay more so I won't listen such excuse in case this is given by them, and quit ASAP obtaining the increase from company switch.

I pulled something similar in my previous job. I had a discussion with some friends that do the same thing I do and they told me they were fooling me, I was making 20,000 Euros too little. I was mad and talked to my boss and told him that I wanted a raise. Time went by and I looked for other job opportunities and found several but the one that i have now really convienced me. Since I did not really want to move because I was very happy there, I told him, I have an offer and I am giving you the opportunity to make me another offer or I'd leave. I was very calmed and told him that I wasn't threatening him just giving him a chance . They gave me 20 000 euros more a year, 6 months later I quit. Why? well the offer here was far better and my chances of promotion and gettin further ahead in my career were better too. So I would recommend:

1.- Find other job oportunities
2.- Talk to your boss and ask for a raise if you dont get it and are unhappy leave.

Good luck!

An ex work colleague once, went grumpily to our boss, said he thought it was unfair that he was paid so much less than Person X. Thought he deserved more, and if he didn't get it he was going to leave.

So the boss said he'd be happy to see his resignation by the end of the day.

"deserve" is a very very funny word...

I think the others have summed it up nicely...be frank with yourself and your boss. If you honestly feel you deserve a raise after assessing factors such as the going rates for your type of work coupled with your experience as well as your performance and overall contribution to your team & organisation then start an honest discussion with your boss. If it takes you having to threaten to leave, then leave in any case...my policy is never to accept counter offers because this changes the relationship between you and everyone else in the organisation and brings your loyalty into question (it's less of a problem for contractors with so many good references)...if they couldn't see in you what they all of a sudden now see then you are in the wrong place but then again with the current economic climate you might have to swallow it for a while

Don't even think it twice, start looking around for new jobs. If you think you've been getting less that you'd deseve, that means there's something wrong with your bosses. It's easier to find another job, the marketplace seems a bit better nowadays, than getting a pay rise, as to my knowledge.

Cheers
Nick

I'll ask for pay rise before 4 months.
should they play dirty... I'll leave.

Not sure this is so smart.
Give the company a chance and give yourself a chance to grow with the job. 28 is young, you'll have many opportunities to get where you're going.

Bear in mind that many firms have had pay freezes this year. Indeed for IT contractors some firms actually cut rates last year (e.g. Goldman Sachs -15%).

I understand that your position may be frustrating, but it may be wise to delay these negotiations until further improvement in the economy.

I would add that you should expect a reasonable increase in your salary...sit down and think about the numbers really. Setting unreachble goals will do you any good

Good Luck!

Well, 80k for a 28-year old is pretty good in IT. I don't believe it's a smart idea to ask for a 20% raise (why so much, anyway? Normal annual raises are in the 2-3% area. You say yourself that your co-workers, who are all over 35, make +-100k- with an annual raise of 2% you'll be there in 10 years, which seems to be the normal development in your company).

It's also an especially bad time now that the economy is bad. Many companies are firing rather than hiring, there are thousands of unemployed people far more experienced than you who'd work for less than 80k if they could only get a job.

Just my 2 cents, though. Knock yourself out if you think you'll succeed.

Peter

There is nothing wrong in trying to increase your own self worth, and hopefully some of the advice here is helpful.

Im not judging, but on the other hand, lets say that someone else at your company sees that you use this forum. Then he reads your post where you say that you spied everyone elses numbers one by one, and then posted them publicly on a forum.

Instead of a promotion and a pay rise, you could instead get fired.

Time to maybe edit your initial post perhaps?

I guess the economy has afected most companies and families one way or the other. My husband was promaised a raise by the end of last year. They told him he will start getting his raise on February 2009, so when he saw the same amount he got very upset and talked to his boss. He [the Boss] told him the company was not doing very well and he will have to wait a little longer. Forgot to mention that his salary has been reduced for the past three years and that is not easy for a family of 4. Many co-workers have searched and found jobs in other companies but my husband has not been so lucky. He told me that when they think {in the company} that someone's salary is too high they would rather let him\her go and hire two unexpirienced people to replace one person and of course my husband is always frustraded because he always ends up doing his job and someone elses too. He is always traveling for this company, right now he is China and I already know that when he comes back he won't be able to read to his boys 3 and 5 years old, because he leaves the house at 5:30am and comes back at 9:00pm. I honestly believe he is getting under paid but we have to deal with it untill he gets lucky to find another job or he gets a raise. He has been working for this world wide company for more than 10 years and he is the "Global Supplier Quality Manager" ever since. Believe me guys we barely make it at the end of the month for the past six months. I just hope things get better in the near future. I wouldn't mind getting a job but if I have to pay for day care for two boys my whole salary will be gone on day care and taxes.

I would work a few more years yet. You may have ability but you dont have experience yet. Experience is more important than straight ability often.

There's one other downside to the "leave if you don't get a raise" tactic. Once you get that attitude when you're young, if it becomes a pattern, then employers will certainly notice that track record in the future. It all boils down to how you see your work - "just a job" vs "building experience and a career" mindset.

An approach that's worked for me a couple of times is to ask what you need to do to get an increase or step up to the next paygrade.

This not only shows that you want a raise, but also shows that you are not just expecting a free ride. It also gives you the opportunity to point out that you are already doing much of what they expect (always aim to exceed your current goals) and to show you where you might want to spend a bit more effort. It's sometimes surprising what might take you up the ladder a bit.

20% is a bit of a jump, especially in the present market - I would seek a raise but leave it to them as to how much. Tying it into career progression, as has been suggested, is also a good idea.

Once they come back to you with a figure (say a much lower one like 3% or even zero) you can respond with "I'll have to think about it" - I've found this to be an excellent way in the past of rattling an employers cage without making any ultimatums or direct threats. Either they will come back to you with an increased figure or they won't - accept it either way (a raise is a raise).

If not (or still far too low) then I certainly would look to jumping ship as you have essentially hit a glass ceiling in that company. Sometimes, especially early on in a career, you have to move companies to get the big rises as employers still see you in terms of who you were when you joined rather than who you have become.