Junior dev – when is the right time to ask for a raise?
I've spent quite a large amount of money for the bootcamp, moved to big city which is more expensive and I make around 15% less than my previous job (6 yrs of exp.). I took offer from my current employer and turned down other offer (around 15% more). I told to myself that I'm starting out, not even on junior level, barely can call myself a programmer so I'm not going to worry about salary for next 2 years - just try to learn as much as I can.
Well here I am, one year later. Managed to survive it and found out I really like my job (and also got married + mortgage). Recently I found out that friend got hired at big company as a QA tester. The job doesn't even involve coding, it's "just" clicking on screen and filing bug reports. Her starting salary is 20% more with benefits (I have none).
It's moments like these that I wonder if this is normal or not. I mean I know I'm not the greatest coder and I still have a long way to go but I'm also constantly improving myself (coding on weekends/outside of work, reading up books etc.)
I've been there for a year and they treated me good, I learned a ton but I was thinking of setting up a meeting in month or two and just ask for a raise. When they interviewed me I asked for 25% more than I make now - which is I think is normal rate for junior dev. They turned me down but I'm thinking of trying again, or at least match what the other company offered me (15% more) when I was a total beginner. How do I do this without sounding like I'm giving them some kind of ultimatum? I am grateful to them and I'd like that fact to be reflected somehow when I talk to them about money but at the same time I don't want to sound too cocky.