Upcoming review, need advice... 6

[mihmb]

I am looking for advice on how to approach my supervisor for a raise. Our yearly review is coming up shortly. The company I work for is great and I really like it here, however there are a few things that bother me. For one, when I go in for my review my supervisor has a number set for my raise, there is no negotiations. The other is that there is another engineer in my department that started 6 months before me and I am sure that we will be getting the same raise. Even though I have out performed the other engineer. My supervisor gives me the difficult projects and gives the other engineer cookbook projects. I like getting the difficult projects, but I think that I should be compensated for what I do. While I am working on difficult projects, the other engineer is filling out forms. What makes the situation difficult is that the other engineer is a female, the only female engineer in the company. I think that my boss is trying too hard to keep us equal in order not to discriminate against her. There are many times when I have asked her opinion on different things and she really does not even know some of the fundamentals. She has never given me any helpful ideas or solutions, where as I know that I have helped her with many projects.

Any advice on how to approach the situation?
I don’t think that I should even mention her during my review, being it is my review. But I don’t like her holding my advances back.
How do I communicate what I expect for a raise, if it is decided prior to the review.

 

[AlmostPE]

Nowadays just expect 3-4% raise unless you pass the PE or just finished your graduate degree or something. If you want bigger raises, you usually have to switch jobs.

Not almost anymore!

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I don't think it does you any good to compare your theoretical raise to someone elses theoretical raise. Are you compensated fairly and competitively for your skills and experience? If so, what does it matter what they pay another engineer?

I would strongly advise against saying anything like "I should get a bigger raise than XYZ" or "I'm a better engineer than XYZ" in your review. Comments like that would brand you as a troublemaker, particularly if you are young or new to the company.

 

[zdas04]

Damnit, life is not a competition among engineeers. You say that you like getting the tough projects (I do too), but then you bitch about her just filling out forms. Would you rather be filling out forms? NO! She is doing tasks that you would find abhorent. Don't worry about her compensation, worry about: (1) do you feel adequately compensated; (2) do you enjoy your work?; and (3) do you feel like you are treated properly? If the answer to all three questions is "yes" then go into the review with a positive attitude and get it over with. If the answer to one or more question is "no" then treat the review as a non-event and get another job--your boss does not have the latitude to change your rasie on the fly.

David

 

[mechengdude]

My two cents -

If you want to get a raise, start advocating for it long before review time. Generally, once review time arrives, the budget is set and your raise probably is also. Also, don't worry about what anyone else makes only lobby for and comment on yourself.

In most companies, the following holds true. Employees are put into pay grades, these employees make some percentage of the mean salary for that pay grade, this is called penetration into your pay grade, each employee is rated yearly and given marks like, does not meet expectations, meets expectations, exceeds expectations, etc. Based on your pay grade, penetration into your pay grade and your rating during a review your raise is calculated. End of story.

What you want to do is get on your Supervisors radar screen well before review time that you want more than the standard raise. During the year put in some extra hours, volunteer for jobs, etc. Around mid-year have a quick one on one with your supervisor and let them know you feel you are going the "extra mile" and ask for their feedback. In order to get a raise, your supervisor has to lobby for you to the folks that hold the purse strings.

All that said, it might not be enough to get a proper raise. There are many threads on this site that make reference to changing jobs to get a good raise. Work the job a couple of years and see how the system responds. Some places give good raises, others don't.

Good luck.

 

[TheTick]

I predict one of two possible outcomes:

outcome #1:
"Congratulations! You're doing great. You get a 3.5% raise."

outcome #2:
"You really need to improve in a few areas. We can only give you a 3.5% raise."

 

[AlmostPE]

TheTick, which one you rather have? outcome 1 or 2? lol

Not almost anymore!

 

[MadMango]

I don't think there is much you can do for this review period. You can start preparing for the next one though, by documenting everything that you have successfully accomplished in a notebook.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Twoballcane]

I agree with MadMango. I keep a small notebook in front of my screen. I put in not just the projects that I worked on, but also the sub-task to get it done. It is increadible how much you've done by the end of the year. And, when you start writng up your accomplishments, you will have a line by line of discription of all the blood and tears you have put into the company. Also, I put in all of my "soft" projects such as helping imporve company culture or improving some HR, Admin, CM...etc process (thinking outside the box, oh my!). This helped me to show how active I am in the company. This helped me in raises, promotions, and jumping to other companies.

I agree with the other posters that you should never speak / hint of any other person that crossed you. This will make you look katty which is negative. You always want to be on the positve side.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[KENAT]

Don't mention the other engineer. In fact dwelling on it will drive you mad. Come to think about it doesn't one of Jesus parables say not to do it, if you're religious minded.

Worry if you are compensated fairly based on your own merit as other have pointed out.

As others have mentioned and your own post says, by the sounds of it your raise amount is determined long before the review meeting.

My biggest raises came basically out of the blue, I'd gone out of my way to go above and beyond and got rewarded for it. In fact my biggest wasn't even on the yearly schedule!

Talk to your manager about what you need to do to advance yourself, don't just talk about pay though this is probably your main concern.

As others have said, a lot of the time the way to get a raise much above inflation is either a completely new job or at least some change at your current job such as new duties etc.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[ykee]

Agree with the other posts that your raise will be limited, likely based on your positions grade or level. If you want more $$, then you need to get your position reclassified. Ask for more responsibility and to have your grade or level changed. This way your boss may be able to make a case to HR to give you a significant raise.

 

[IRstuff]

Most companies do raises by a "pool," wherein the entire department's aggregate salary is raised, and the department head then divies up the raises to the individuals. What this means is that a lower-paid person can get a larger raise without eating into the pool as much as the same percentage for a higher-paid person.


TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

Good point IRstuff. That's exactly how it is here. Basically they don't want to give anyone less than about 2%. The average for the department is somewhere about 3% so, no matter what you do you're unlikely to get more than 4%.

Heck, last year my manager juggled numbers to give me the biggest he thought he could withoug hitting other staff and then got nocked down a little by HR/senior managment so I didnt' even get the 4%.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[EddyC]

mihmb,

I wouldn't make any comparisons with another employee to justify a higher raise. For all you know, the other person is a friend of someone higher up the corporate ladder.

 

[jistre]

For all you know, the other person is SLEEPING WITH someone higher up the corporate ladder.

The ramifications of bringing up coworkers in workplace discussions is something that always must be carefully considered no matter what the circumstance, even if you think you're being complimentary. What if the boss really irrationally hates the person you think is doing a great job and you praise that person? You've just been lumped in with someone the boss wants gone.

Professionalism in workplace matters breeds a good career. Familiarity in the same matters can go horribly wrong, no matter what the intentions.

 

[vesselfab]

worry about what you do and the money you make.

don't worry about what someone else does or makes. that is really none of your business.

You never know what they have negotiated up front.

 

[Gymmeh]

When you’re in the review remember to ask your boss what you can do to get the little "perks"

Example: Does the company provide any reward for getting my EIT or PE?

What classes can I take to improve my skill set and add value for the company?

Are their any certification classes available?

 

[plasgears]

I went into a performance review many years ago, and the unit mgr claimed that he was getting not much more than me. That shut my mouth.

What's even more disturbing is the boss dictating what percent you will give to the United Way. I never had that pressure in all the other companies I worked for.

 

[IRstuff]

Ah, in aerospace, there's always something that they'd like you to contribute to, savings bonds, USO, etc. We usually go for the minimum allowable contribution.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[jistre]

Telling me how much I have to donate to a charity sounds a bit shady/illegal to me.