conversation: User (ShagBox): "I just got a 50% raise. Details below:\n\nI've been in my current role for about 10 months and doing very well, but feeling a bit under-valued. After some 1:1 sessions with my Manager, he suggested I ask for a raise. Was making $60k/yr, and the increase just got approved for $90k/yr. Started the conversation with an email. Here's how the email to HR looked: \n\n1) **State my case** - Was direct, asking for an increase in compensation, with high-level logic.\n\n2) **Logic** - Went into detail on my work, the value I bring, and the positive feedback I've received.\n\n3) **Data** - Linked data on median pay for my role/responsibilities from sites such as Bureau of Labor &amp; Statistics, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com. \n\n4) **Conclusion** - Recapped my logic and data. Closed strong with the direct request to increase my pay to $90k with a date of July 1st. (FY17) \n\n\nI shot high, thinking we would land in the middle. Was pleasantly surprised to get exactly what I asked for. Happy to answer any questions on the details. \n\n**Update**: Wow! Thanks for all the support everyone! I'll do my best to reply to your comments throughout the day today. Oh and I forgot to mention, I do not have a college degree either. I will also not be sharing the email. The details above should suffice, but feel free to ask questions! "
  Self: "What's high level logic?"
  user24 (user24): "&gt; What's high level logic?\n\nIn this context, I think it means not just asking for a raise but explaining from the company's point of view ('high level') why they should give it to you.\n\nExample off the top of my head:\n\nDear HR person,\n\nFollowing my annual review meeting with Mr Scorpio, I have been doing some serious thought about my place within the company. My work on Project Arcturus was pivotal in delivering the system on time and within budget, and this directly led to an increase in sales and improved market position for Globex Corp, culminating in the seizure of the east coast and positive nationwide press coverage.\n\nI greatly enjoy working here, and I feel that the time is right to enquire about the possibility of an increase in compensation. I have hit all my recent targets, and was told I had exceeded expectations in the February performance review.\n\nFurthermore, I feel that the market has moved on significantly since I was initially hired, and comparable roles in the industry are being offered at higher levels of compensation, for instance according to salary.com, our competitors have advertised for the positions of weather control and plague experts recently at higher salaries than my current package, see links attached.\n\nMy work here is rewarding and fulfilling, and I'm looking forward to making great strides with the mind control and propaganda projects we have in the pipeline. I can't wait to make them as much of a success as we made Arcturus.\n\nTo recap, I feel that I am working well within the company, meeting and exceeding my targets and expectations, and making serious contributions to the success of our mission. I feel that an increase to 90,000 for the start of the next financial year would be welcome and justified.\n\nYours,\nH Simpson.\n\n"
  Boochus (Boochus): "That is so well written.... Damn. \n\nI'm gonna save that and hopefully use it someday! (with changing names and details, of course) "
  user24 (user24): "Thanks :) Amazing what spending 3 years writing philosophy essays can do for you!\n\nedit: here's a little more in depth explanation as to how exactly I've put this letter together, and why I think it works:\n\n&gt; Following my annual review meeting with Mr Scorpio,\n\nProvides timeliness, and a name for HR to check up with.\n\n&gt; I have been doing some serious thought about my place within the company\n\nA serious sounding intro that is intended to ring some alarm bells, is this guy quitting? Makes them pay attention.\n\n&gt; My work on Project Arcturus was pivotal in delivering the system on time and within budget, and this directly led to an increase in sales and improved market position for Globex Corp, culminating in the seizure of the east coast and positive nationwide press coverage.\n\nI remind them exactly how good {recent-project} was, and that it was a success for the company. This is the high-level part really - provably demonstrating my value to the company, as well as the fact that I can think beyond the immediate requirements of the job into the wider context of what it means for the company, the knock-on effect on sales, publicity, etc.\n\n&gt; I greatly enjoy working here, and I feel that the time is right to enquire about the possibility of an increase in compensation. \n\nA soft and gentle inquiry.\n\n&gt; I have hit all my recent targets, and was told I had exceeded expectations in the February performance review.\n\nImmediately backed up with further evidence of my strong performance\n\n&gt; Furthermore, I feel that the market has moved on significantly since I was initially hired\n\nI'm proud of this phrase. It puts the 'blame' for my low salary on something external; the market has just moved on. This is nice because I'm effectively saying "My salary was fair when I started, but the market's changed since then". It makes it difficult for them to argue against while at the same time not blaming them for the low pay. It also makes the case that if they were to fire and re-hire they'd have to pay more anyway. It also shows that I'm looking around but it does it in a fairly abstract way so as to make any threat of "I can get more at Foo Corp" very subtle.\n\n&gt; comparable roles in the industry are being offered at higher levels of compensation, for instance according to salary.com, our competitors have advertised for the positions of weather control and plague experts recently at higher salaries than my current package\n\nAnd yet, there is a direct implication of the possibility of me moving to a competitor. Importantly, I'm only mentioning *past* job adverts from competitors so as to reduce the threat-of-leaving aspect. That can come later if you need to really push, but for an initial letter I think it's a bit strong to say "Hey, did you know our leading competitor is advertising my job at twice the salary?"\n\n&gt; see links attached.\n\nand yet, here is the hard evidence that I really could walk out the door if I wanted\n\n&gt; My work here is rewarding and fulfilling, and I'm looking forward to making great strides with the mind control and propaganda projects we have in the pipeline. I can't wait to make them as much of a success as we made Arcturus\n\nbut I don't want to, I want to stay here!\n\n&gt; To recap, I feel that I am working well within the company, meeting and exceeding my targets and expectations, and making serious contributions to the success of our mission\n\nAnd you want me to stay here too, I'm totally smashing it\n\n&gt;  I feel that an increase to 90,000 for the start of the next financial year would be welcome and justified.\n\nSo c'mon, pony up."
  ThrowawayAccount8755 (ThrowawayAccount8755): "Wow that's amazing, I could definitely see this being used!"
  