Bad Time to Ask for a Raise
Dear Sue:
I recently was asked if I would like to move into another area of sales. within the company I work for. I have been with the company two years, and management felt I was best suited for this new position. The product I will be selling has a higher ticket price than what I have been selling, so I was informed that my commissions would increase.
I know what the job entails because I have been with the company for a while so I did not have any questions relating to my job description. When asked if I had any questions I asked if my salary would be increasing along with the commission. I was told no. Later on that day I received a call from my boss informing me that asking for a raise at that time was not appropriate, and that I breached corporate etiquette. He told me that I should have waited until a later date to discuss salary.
This has totally confused me. To me, it was an appropriate time, and logical to ask about pay with a job change. Please help me understand.
- Perplexed
Sue Says:
Your boss may have expected you to be more excited at the prospect of being offered the opportunity to sell a higher priced item, and disappointed in your overall response. Obviously, the change itself will bring you more money simply through your commissions, so the question about your salary could have seemed inappropriate. If he felt they were ‘giving’ you something that should please you, by asking for more perhaps you seemed ungrateful or greedy. I can understand how it probably seemed appropriate to you to ask the question, but since it was your only question, it may have appeared as though the money was all that mattered, therefore creating a feeling of frustration or disappointment with your boss.
Why don’t you approach him and tell him that you are sorry if he felt that you acted inappropriately and that you would like to learn from this and would appreciate an explanation as to why he was upset and felt your question was inappropriate. If your boss is the sensitive type, beware – you may want to think before you speak, and work at understanding the protocol and expectations within your organization.
-- Sue Morem is a professional speaker, best-selling author and syndicated columnist. Her books include How to Gain the Professional Edge, 101 Tips for Graduates, and the just released How to Get a Job and Keep It, Second Edition. You can send questions to her by email at asksue@suemorem.com or visit her web site at http://www.suemorem.com.
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