Don_Retardo

Enterprise Account Executive

Base salary raise - asking for more

Heey all,

Just wondering, I have been in the sales game for some years now and have had several salary talks. For me I have almost always argued for a higher salary then what has been presented to me (I am also a global top performer).

I have a few questions, first being, am I trouble maker for asking for more (doing it while keeping it to the point of course and actively think about keeping emotions out of it)? Do you guys accept whatever is proposed to you or do you request for more? When the manager suggest a salary increase what do they justify it with usually, if anything? What is a “normal” % annual base salary increase for you guys?

💰 Compensation

14 comments

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SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

If you're not getting an inflation raise annually, then you are losing money. ~2% annually.

Go in with, I know times are tight right now, but I have to ask for a raise to keep up with inflation. As the price of goods go up, my spending power goes down. I feel an annual rate based on the CPI of our state/city/county is fair. Are you the right guy to pull the trigger on this?

Ask to have a CPI Indexed raise annually at the minimum.

Don_Retardo

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

Agree that it is bare minimum but would like 5 % make your balls tingle or is 5 % average for a good performing sales rep? 10 % great?

I usually feel my manager is bsing me with all reasons why they cannot raise it more. I often (not always) also get more than what they initially propose.

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

Double CPI would be ideal. Avg inflation is about 2% annually, so if you don't have 10% over 5 years, you took a decent haircut.

How long have you been with the company, start there. "I started in 2010, I haven't seen a raise, my spending power is down, here are the stats. I think a 2% since start date to current time, would be fair?" So right there you just got yourself a 22% raise... asking to keep up with inflation.

Anchor with a small number, let them do the compounding... and remember, 2% over 5 years is actually. 10.41% since you're compounding the 2% increases annually... Shoot for the moon, ask for 5 sure, but get that shit annualllly.

If they push back, ask why they change the comp plan annually to agjust to expected earnings? Why can't your salary do the same.

If you're a phenom sales person and exceed quota, meh, still replaceable. Make it about you as a human keeping up with inflation.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

This is great. Plain math keeps the emotions out of it. This is how I approach it every 6 months.

Also use this time to ask for non financial benefit increases. Do you want more time off? Better travel benefits (I asked for better rental cars and airplane seats because I’m relatively tall. They’d never had a request like that and it was approved easily).

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

Lock in something longer if it's every 6mo. I locked in a CPI or 2.8% annual increase whichever is greater for 5 years.

This way they (employer) can have cost certainty.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

That’s a great call. Advice like this is why I log in here non stop

Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

I thnk you should be asking annually - at least the rate of inflations (~2%). If you're in sales and not asking for things, I'd question how good you were at your job (your manager might as well). I think the key is to be respectful and have some data points to help make your arguement.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

I wanted more from my new place in base pay than what they wanted to give me. They argued they wanted to see me perform and that the commission would be the incentive, which it was.

I've been burned before waiting for raises, so this time I negotiated a fixed raise to be instituted no later than 18 months after my start. Since then my base is less than 50% of my take-home, but it is still nice to see it go up.

I agree with the other post on here about inflation. I got no raise for years and yes you are losing money.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

It's a little scary to bring it up now when so many are getting laid off.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

I agree. The squeaky wheel may get more than the grease now, might get a pink slip.

Money

Executive

Head of Sales

When starting a new sales gig, I usually ask for OTEs to be 2x base salary. If they don't proactively offer an increase after year 1, I'll wait to ask for 5% in year 2 if I'm exceeding target.
Every situation is different though.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

You're a global top performer. Global top performers carrying large quotas on a IC basis typically have between $150k-$250k in base salary. If you're not there, my focus would be getting there. If you are there, it's hard to replace you. Try to raise your base and OTE every time they raise your quota.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Go in with fact based statements as to why.

Don_Retardo

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

What has been your average % annual salary increase? Just inflation based or more?

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Don_Retardo

Base salary raise - asking for more

14 comments

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