Warning: A manager in Denver once told me to never ask for a raise before hitting my one year mark.

I was working a project lead job and had just finished a huge client launch three months early. I went to my boss, let's call him Mark, thinking it was the perfect time to talk about a salary bump. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "You haven't earned the right to ask yet, wait for your review." It completely killed my drive for the rest of my time there. What's the worst career advice you've ever gotten from a superior?

3 comments

3 Comments

graceprice1mo ago

Oh man, "you haven't earned the right to ask yet" - that phrase just makes my blood boil. It's such a classic power move to make you feel small after you just did something great. That happened to me too, @casey393. I once finished a big project under budget and my boss told me I was "too new to negotiate" even though I had been there for over a year already. It really messed with my head, and I ended up leaving a few months later for a better paying job. Honestly, that kind of advice just makes good workers want to find someone who actually sees their value.

amybarnes3mo ago

Consider how that advice protects bad bosses more than it helps good workers.

casey3933mo ago

Wow, what a way to kill your vibe. Mark sounds like the type of guy who thinks "company loyalty" means waiting for a gold watch after 40 years. Telling someone who just delivered a huge win early that they haven't "earned" a chat is pure comedy. That's not management, that's just power tripping with a fancy title. Bet his idea of a raise was an extra pizza party.