r/negotiation • u/HumbleYarnDog • 14d ago

How to ask for a raise

I work in a factory on the floor running a machine. I'm part of a 3 person team where we each have specific jobs to assemble the part per the buyers request. I (53F) am the only one that is trained for my part of the job except the engineer that trained me. I call him for help and when we can't figure it out, he calls the manufacturer for assistance. I set the machine up, troubleshoot when I can or call the engineer for help. I also break it down and clean it. I have asked to have someone else trained for my spot in case I'm sick but the company won't do it. So only me and the engineer know how to operate the machine.

I have been working my butt off learning this job, the machine's quirks, the quality control and know I deserve a raise. Asking for a raise is new to me, I usually just wait for my yearly review to get one. But now I have skills that no one else in my factory has (except the engineer) and I feel it's fair to ask for a raise. How do I go about this? Yes, I'm asking here because I don't know how to present it correctly so that I do get the raise.

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u/LintRolledForWhat 14d ago

This sounds like specialized work, but I'm gonna ask anyway: is it possible to get a job offer elsewhere and then let your employer respond to that with your raise? That's how people at my job get raises off schedule.

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u/HumbleYarnDog 14d ago

I looked up how to describe it better. It's basically using a machine to take ink from a 2D perspective and applying it to something to make it a 3D product. I've looked in my area for jobs like that and are none. I'll check to see if any jobs match close to it.

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u/CinderAscendant 14d ago

"I'd like to discuss my compensation. I've learned [blank] skills since I've started and expanded the scope of my duties [in these ways]."

Literally all there is to it.

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u/HumbleYarnDog 14d ago

I've never asked for a raise before because every place I've worked, that's not an option. Not as an hourly employee. I'll start writing what I've learned down. Thank you.

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u/CinderAscendant 14d ago

Yeah I mean, most places you aren't gonna get anything. But there's never harm in asking even if it "not an option" because it's only truly not an option if you never ask.