Rachel, when should I expect a first raise?

Rachel,
Here is a simple question but one that has me puzzled. I started this job several months ago, just out of school, and in all the hubbub over getting settled in and meeting all these new people I never was told about or bothered to ask about raises. So my question is, when can I expect my first raise? –Lost in Manhattan

Dear Lost,
In the perfect world, someone would have sat you down in those first weeks at the agency and gone over all those pay-related issues, such as benefits and vacation policies and most important how and when raises are given out.

Media is not a perfect world. That didn't happen.

Now it is up to you to find out all this information, and depending on the size and the structure of the agency it may be a case of finding your way to the human resources department or talking to your immediate supervisor.

Frankly, I would make your supervisor your first stop.

HR departments are typically a headache to deal with and in my experience they tend to enjoy a unique ability to not have an immediate answer—or any answer at all–for whatever question is most pressing on your mind.

The important thing to keep in mind in going to your supervisor or supervisors is that you are not asking for a raise, merely asking when you might be up for consideration for your first raise.

You want to make that very clear.

In any case, you should not feel the least bit uncomfortable about asking such questions. 

When it comes to issues of pay and benefits, you are an equal among equals, regardless of the title of the person sitting across the desk. You are an adult who is exchanging work for pay.

You needn't feel the least bit inclined to put up with any amount of patronizing. You may be someone's daughter but you are not that person's daughter.

But of course along the way, as part of that conversation, certainly feel inclined to allow the talk to drift toward how well you are doing in the eyes of that person.

How that person sums up your work up will tell you loads about when you can really expect that first raise.

Tags: Dear Lost, HR, human resources, Manhattan, media, raises, salary, the talk