Industry: Financial Services (United States)

I think asking for a raise is always a risk; I believe some performance based requests make it easier. After a few months in a new group I had taken on several new responsibilities and had managed to stay clear of conflicts in the group. I asked for a raise and got more then I thought I would get. My boss, then, gave me a 25% raise. I almost passed out.

Now I work for the same Company with a different boss, which was of no choice of my own, and have taken on way more responsibility and requested a raise with no result.

I am with a bank that was bought by a much larger institution and have not recieved any pay increase to a competitive salary.

When I first took over the Collection Manager position it was the first time this privately held company had ever hired a professional Collection Manager. Since I had been out of the industry for 4 years, I didn't mind taking a "lower" salary to start with, with full intentions of working my way up.

As a women in a "man's world" you have to be careful to come accross as knowledgable but not bossy or "pushy". During the review cycle I would hand in a "Department Report" listing all of the positive accomplishments in my department over the past year (I keep records during the year of major accomplishments or challenges and how they were handled). I then run a variety of "salary comparisons" off of the internet and attach them to my report.

During the review I simply remind the owner, that I trust his judgment, he has the statistics of what the industry is paying, and he has always treated me fairly in the past and I see no reason to assume that this year will be any different.

I have not been disappointed. Each year he has surprised me with above average salary increases and bonuses. 8 years later and I am in the 95% pay bracket for my position and location. The biggest thing is knowing your boss -- mine loves numbers -- the more I give him the better he likes it.

If you are a top performer, you just need to ask for a raise or promotion. Managers are not mind-readers and always follow the old adage ... "if you don't ask, you don't get!". Even if you ask and don't get it, at least the manager knows that you are not happy with status quo and may offer some other incentives to keep you happy.