how to ask for a raise - Page 2

So I'll give you two perspectives:
1) As a boss I hate ultimatums from employees, if a employee told me they want to make X amount or they would quit. I most likely would let them go. The best approach would be for you to be great at your job and demonstrate the value you bring to my business. If you do it long enough, I'll take notice and most likely will give you a raise anyways.
2) As a employee: I never created ultimatum but I would always ask my manager on the topics of career path and what I can do to bring value to the organization. My manager would lay out metrics for me to meet and then we usually evaluate at the end of the year on where I was till that next promotion. The more value you bring to the organization the more leverage you have during annual reviews.

Sound advice. I second this.

Also to add my personal experience. The job description you get with a job is a good guide of what you need to complete, but it should not limit you. If you can go above and beyond and help your organization in other ways when they need help, that is how you start becoming recognizable, and possibly molding yourself to a higher paying position.

Couple that with being open to train others in what you do and you create a perfect situation where you make yourself replaceable and makes it possible for you to move onto higher duties within a job.

I am working in a position that did not exist a year ago, but its necessity was determined out of my work experience.

Likewise, I have seen great employees leave other jobs where they where the peak of their position simply because the employer was not willing to put them in a higher position as they did not have someone to replace the position they would vacate.

It is disappointing and really causes very poor morale throughout.

I definitely learned the hard way that ultimatums are not the way to go. What sucks at my work is that there’s no structure as far as evaluations or reviews. Like I said I’m not “just a receptionist” I have important duties that relate to every department. So far I’ve spoken to my managers to see how I can step up and I’m coming in an hour earlier and working 45-50 hrs/week . I’m gonna keep this up and ask in April