u/fentyjudy

Hi everyone! I’ll try and keep it cute and concise:

I’m 29F, working as a senior sales person at a mid level luxury retailer. I have been with my employer for going on two years this fall. I became a senior within my first year, and did receive a raise when I hit that milestone.

Recently I was chatting with two of my colleagues. Colleague A is 20-something F and has been on the team for almost a year. Colleague B is a younger 20-something M, who has been with the team for roughly 4 months. We were chatting and complaining about how annoying things have been at work lately one evening (off the clock). The work load has seemingly increased, as we’ve had quite a few people leave and simultaneously we’ve had a huge influx of new hires recently, and the vibe within the boutique is ever changing as a result. Out of curiosity I asked them how much they made.

Colleague A tells me two dollars more than what I make. I’m aware that management has been hinting at positioning colleague A toward becoming a manager eventually, so I guess this doesn’t surprise me…but still.

Colleague B says 1 dollar less than what I make, which is actually $1 MORE than what my starting pay was. I’ve basically trained Colleague B, mind you.

I have a whole bachelors degree from a well known university and am currently working on my masters from that same university btw. I’m bilingual, and have showcased my ability to problem solve and alleviate any problems in my second language too (not a native speaker, learned from taking it seriously in school and practicing while traveling). I am an established creative and content creator outside of work too. It was clear I was overqualified for this position when I interviewed for it.

I have received MOUNDS of positive customer feedback within the 1.5 years I’ve spent with the company. My people skills have gotten me a slew of positive Google reviews, TikTok’s from customers raving about how great I am at my job, customers pulling managers aside and praising my customer service skills, and a seemingly bottomless pit of new connections from all over the world.
So much so, that I have received interest from not one, not two, but FIVE OTHER BOUTIQUES AND STORES located within the mall I work in. ALL FIVE are luxury brands, one being a brand that is a part of the LVMH fashion house. As a fashion lover, that is huge for me.

As a salesperson, I have to maintain certain KPIs. I’ve maintained and exceeded my own KPI goals, and have made this company so much money…this company is known to pay their employees well too, especially for retail. My current rate isn’t BAD, but to be honest I need more. Especially because of everything I just said.

I know all of this is my leverage, but I’m unsure what the best method is to even ask. I already know not to lead with “I want (NEED) a raise” but at the end of the day…I do. I’m a grown ass woman. I practically LIVE at the mall the store is located in because I’m always at work. I’ve only ever called off at the last minute ONE TIME and it was because a close family member got into a bad accident and I spent all night into the morning at the hospital. I’m a team player in ways no one even notices. I complete tasks and basically train the newbies without having to be asked; they know they can come to me with questions and I’m not evil, of course I’ll help.

I’m struggling with how to say all of this professionally, AND whether a nicely written email or an in person chat is the best method to say it. I worked corporate jobs prior to this, and have never had to ask for a raise because I always either got them as cost of living adjustments or with promotions. Any advice on how to approach this is greatly appreciated!

What did u/fentyjudy draw?

TRUDY has a hat and isn't afraid to use it.

Asking for a raise for the first time; how?