Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don’t teach you in design school, but should

78. How to Ask for a Raise Without Asking for a Raise

I’ve asked for a raise only once in my career, and in retrospect, I was an idiot for doing so. The company I was with was struggling. The board of directors had just ousted the CEO, and one of the board members had been put in charge. Like a junior-minded, brainless employee, I decided that I should go plead my case as to why I felt I should be earning more money. The new company head heard my case and took it under consideration. A few short weeks later, I was laid off along with the rest of my production team. I am confident that my being laid off had nothing to do with me asking for a raise. However, in hindsight, I am certain that I looked like a total dolt for even asking. Why didn’t ...