I feel like I'm actually leading the projects I'm on and adding value.
However, since I depend on VISA sponsorship I have accepted a salary of 32K€ (before tax).
I have been working for a year and have ZERO savings, I can't afford vacation and I feel like I'm being exploited.
Should I ask for a raise? If yes, how?
PS: I work in the south of France[0] where most IT workers are depending on VISAs so companies are very aware of the situation.
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Antipolis
Regardless, I would definitely ask for a raise. To argue in percentages is something managers tend to do in your salary segment (where 10% sounds like a lot to some). That may come in handy later, though, when you've done this for a few years, where the same percentage will get you more substantial increases.
I'd ask for a meeting with your manager, and play the classic yes game. Are you happy with my performance? Do you feel I am contributing to the progress of the company? Things like that. And then end with a simple question that doesn't DEMAND more money, but simply states that you aren't sure what the career plan is, and having worked here for some time, you'd like to know what the next 3 or 5 years look like.
If things escalate, maybe ask him what his position looks like, does he get a raise from time to time? Don't say this in comparison to you, just to get a better idea of what long-term careers at this company look like. Framing is key, I think, and I'm just basing everything on imaginary situations here. You'll have a better feel.
MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH: Don't just demand more money. Make sure you do so with reason. You don't have to be extraordinary to deserve a raise. Your money is worth less every single year, your rent and food costs you more every single year (simply by inflation), so your company actually pays you less if they don't step your salary up with it. Mention all the things you are proud of, abuse this social phenomenon that your boss probably can't say much against it, as that would make it personal (I think I did a great job on this one project.... "no you didn't" isn't what he's going to say, is he). He may think nothing of you, but if he can't say it out loud, you'll have a chance at the upper hand. He'll say his budget is limited, people above him control the situation, etc. — just say: "what can I do, to help you get me on a career path that involves a progression of my salary?"
It is possible that the supervisor is ok offering a raise but hasn’t offered if he/she wasn’t asked.
3 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HqvbdOWpc8
5 minutes (see from minute 1:20 - 4:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKVK5rTrOlg
In short, figure out if you're an agreeable or disagreeable person and how that might play out when asking for a raise. Then when you ask for a raise, do it from a position of strength, which is to say, go into negotiations with solid reasons and a competing offer from another company.
Seeing your colleagues doing same work and being paid more is definitely not a healthy aspect to live by. I was there.
You have two options: Ask for a rise, if you get it then continue working for the same company until you gain more experience.
If you didn't get it then change employer. Changing employer allowed me a rise of 20%
An important question to ask yourself is whether or not that would that change if you get paid a few thousand Euros more?
Chances are that it wouldn't. Really you're not looking for just a pay rise - you're looking for a promotion so you get recognition for what you're already doing. Talk to your boss about how you can make that happen.
I don't know what a promotion or recognition would look like, or how i might ask for one?
I'd be willing to bet many of them feel exactly the same way you feel. They'll feel they're under-appreciated and unrecognised for what they do, and they'll think more money will change that. It won't. How much you're paid is not a sign of how well you're appreciated.
Probably better results to spend all your effort cultivating alternative options- who else would give you a job? How much would they pay you?
It's trickier if your visa is tied to your employer. Stating the obvious: that's not a great position to be in if it makes it much harder for you to switch jobs.
edit: it might also be useful to read about negotiation
e.g. the book "getting to yes"
"The Art of Letting Other People Have Your Way: Negotiating Secrets from Chris Voss" -- https://www.fs.blog/2018/01/chris-voss/
You may also want to take into account the political situation in your company. Who makes decisions on raises and promotions? Is there a process in place? Is what you do visible to them (and how could it be more visible)?
P.S. Thanks for the transcription.
Last night, I had my yearly meeting with my boss. I talked about all the progress I have made, my critical contributions to the project I'm in, and kind of hinted that the client would be stuck if I left the team in a short notice.
He straight away gave a number of 37K, I took it.
Isn't that the average wage, generally?
Hear me out:
No one ever gets a raise before they start doing the extra work.
It is always a case of "wow, we better give Alice a raise since she's doing so much and it would suck to try and replace her with someone else at her current pay".
Achieving above your pay grade for a long period can also place you in the tricky situation of management agreeing to a raise if you up X/Y/Z, if you're already performing to a high level without monetary recognition then you're in a tough spot.
All this leads into why lots of engineers struggle to get raises within the same company and then with a few career hops will instead double/triple their salary.
The cost of the lost productivity from domain knowledge within companies leaving with engineers who can't get raises must be far higher, especially as going out into the current hiring market means you'll probably have to pay equal or more for a similarly skilled but without domain knowledge engineer.
The OP specifically said that he feels like leading the projects and adding a lot of value. 32k in euros before taxes is awful. No one will give you anything unless you ask for it. Exploiting VISA workers is a common thing - he is afraid he is being exploited.
It is always a case of "wow, Alice is working like a superwoman for that shitty salary, thank God we have her on the team, because other people would have been a lot more expensive".
