Too early to ask for a raise??

[ScoutMaster]

Hi Guys,

I'm new here so HI to everyone, but I want to start off with my first question as per my thread title.

So ja I've been a "trainee" at one of the big monopolies for about a year now. I originally took the traineeship as it would have been great experience for someone who hasn't worked a day in his life, so I didn't pay much attention to the salary at first.

But I now feel that I am being taken advantage of. The type of work that I do is meant to be done by Seniors 3 times above my pay grade and the work is quite complex. We are short staffed and I feel like they don't want to employ seniors or promote me instead they pay me peanuts to the work.

So back to my original question, can I ask for a raise? I don't want to sound ungrateful I mean it is only a traineeship, but I also don't want to be taken advantage of.

 

[Chevron]

Hi Guys,

I'm new here so HI to everyone, but I want to start off with my first question as per my thread title.

So ja I've been a "trainee" at one of the big monopolies for about a year now. I originally took the traineeship as it would have been great experience for someone who hasn't worked a day in his life, so I didn't pay much attention to the salary at first.

But I now feel that I am being taken advantage of. The type of work that I do is meant to be done by Seniors 3 times above my pay grade and the work is quite complex. We are short staffed and I feel like they don't want to employ seniors or promote me instead they pay me peanuts to the work.

So back to my original question, can I ask for a raise? I don't want to sound ungrateful I mean it is only a traineeship, but I also don't want to be taken advantage of.

You haven't mentioned how long you been working there. Weeks or months or years?

 

[xrapidx]

You haven't mentioned how long you been working there. Weeks or months or years?

"for about a year now"

 

[gregmcc]

If you don't ask you won't get. They will not ask you if you want a raise.

 

[ScoutMaster]

If you don't ask you won't get. They will not ask you if you want a raise.

Obviously. What I want to know is do I deserve to ask for a raise whilst being a trainee. It's unheard of...

 

[acidrain]

It won't hurt asking. Their answer will most likely give you an idea on where you stand in the company and whether its worth staying or not.

Also was there any prescribed period in your contract? Obviously if you signed a 2 year traineeship then asking for a raise is pointless and lastly does the contract state what you are responsible for? If you are being tasked with duties outside your contract then you may either request a raise or refuse doing the job.

 

[Merlin]

A good friend started off his career as an apprentice/intern/etc., working for a company and in a position that he quite favoured. However, once his allotted time was up, he quit and moved on, his reasoning being that no matter what he did, where he got to nor how long he stayed for, he would always be considered as the junior/apprentice/intern/etc..

That resonated with me. It makes a lot of sense, to me at least, and is something that you should perhaps mull over...

 

[Avenue]

What does your contract say? how long until you are no longer considered a trainee?

 

[ScoutMaster]

It won't hurt asking. Their answer will most likely give you an idea on where you stand in the company and whether its worth staying or not.

Also was there any prescribed period in your contract? Obviously if you signed a 2 year traineeship then asking for a raise is pointless and lastly does the contract state what you are responsible for? If you are being tasked with duties outside your contract then you may either request a raise or refuse doing the job.

What does your contract say? how long until you are no longer considered a trainee?

The contract doesn't state any duties only that I will be a trainee. However in out departments procedures it's sets out exactly what everyone from Manager to Seniors and juniors are responsible for and right now I'm doing my part and more.

 

[Arthur]

I see you posted at 08h49.

I'd wait until after lunch.

Don't ask. Inform your boss that your increase starts next month. Remind him about your stupendous performance and contribution to bottom line.

 

[acidrain]

If in the procedures it states duties, that you are currently doing, for positions other than what you have been employed as then I would ask for a raise. If they say no then get out ASAP as they are just using the fact that you are a trainee to pay less for someone who is doing more than what a trainee should be doing.

 

[MickeyD]

Is this a permanent or fixed period contract?

If permanent your contract should state the period for which you would be a trainee as well as a probation period. If these periods have lapsed you should negotiate a new contract.

BTW your probation period would have lapsed a few months ago (it's normally 3-6 months).

If it's a fixed period contract and it is nearing completion, all you can do is negotiate a new contract.

 

[wentworth65]

Be sharp about this. Rather start looking for employment elsewhere and after you secure an offer go to your current employer and use it as your bargaining tool. This way you have covered all angles.

 

[Cius]

Be sharp about this. Rather start looking for employment elsewhere and after you secure an offer go to your current employer and use it as your bargaining tool. This way you have covered all angles.

Depends on the boss. Some people take great offense to that instead of direct communication. I would start by asking my boss for a raise based on productivity. If that does not work or the raise is not satisfactory then I would look seriously. This also depends on qualification etc. Normally the bigger companies have policy on this type of thing so I don't see how they could keep under paying you unless there was an industry standard or something.

 

[Counterstrike]

Start looking elsewhere in the meantime. I was an intern at a fairly reputable company on a measly minimum salary with my contract period fixed for 1 year, and my job description was not that different from a junior permanent employee. At the end of my contract period they offered to extend it another 3 months with zero increase and a small bonus on the successful completion of a project.
Anyways, 2 and half months later I got offered a permanent post elsewhere, I resigned and they refused to pay my bonus even though it was complete. The fact is they would've just kept on giving me short term contracts with zero to very little increase and I would be performing the work of a permanent employee earning a market related salary. Interns are exploited, they either end up making coffee for the rest of the staff or they end up taking on "real" work for peanuts.

 

[smallearth]

Obviously. What I want to know is do I deserve to ask for a raise whilst being a trainee. It's unheard of...

Why not? I've appointed trainees to management positions after a year because they expressed interest and were very good at their job... enthusiasm, responsibility and ambition... very attractive attributes in a trainee...

Don't however go with a sense of entitlement... thinking that time served means deserving of raise... just saying...

 

[Nicodeamus]

Ask them for a raise directly or leave, if you're not learning anything new then the internship served its purpose.