FluffyPenguin
FluffyPenguin

Only PM in the startup, how much appraisal should I ask for at 6 months?

Background: I work in a D2C consumer product startup, we have an in-house website and a growing tech team of 7 people. The whole business team is 100+. I'm a '23 grad from a tier 1 engineering college.

I joined the company back in September when the job market was at the bottom and I had to take a 40% pay cut (21LPA to 12LPA) (while switching (the last company ran out of funding). I was at a higher than avg base in my previous role but the current role is 20% below the average. (15LPA) The company is in a growth stage and lots of processes are yet to be defined which leads to a lot of chaos but I get a lot of freedom as well.

My manager is aware of the whole situation and we had also negotiated a 6-month review for ESOP allotment. My monthly reviews have been going well and we have shipped some good improvements and features over the last few months.

9mo ago
Find out if you are being paid fairly.Download Grapevine
FloatingWaffle
FloatingWaffle

Hmm I was about to write something bad but then saw you are already in a mess.

Maybe a useless advice but something to think about since you are young.

Do you really want to continue in product manager role? Don't you want to get a real skill? If it's too difficult to learn sde atleast analytics or data roles or even business analyst roles because I hope you atleast have to do some monitoring in your roles (I know many pms don't even do that?)

Why I say is , your breed of experience less people becoming product managers ruin companies. You first need to know what it takes to actually build something. Either in business roles or in tech roles itself. And then go into positions where you can analyse what's right to build.

Else you will simply become engineering's bit**. Am not lying. Product people are not respected at all. It's brutal, we put you in front of business folk to become a punching bag when things go wrong and also punch u ourselves when you don't get the requirement right for a products business case. I have seen your kind to literally resort to flirting if required, or play toxic politics to look relevant.

Think about a real skill if you like. Product is very less actual work and more toxic politics.

FloatingWaffle
FloatingWaffle

As per hike, talk freely with your manager, and just tell this is the market value (20lpa whatever is) and tell him it would not be an unfair ask to ask for the same, as many of your peers get the same. Also tell that you understand the company position, and then leave the ball in his court to decide how much you should get. That's the best play given youare a fresher. Learn properly till 2 years and then switch. Don't think too much about compensation because moment you switch you will be more than alright. Focus on learning. Sorry if the first post is toxic, it's just what your seniors have created in the industry

ZestyPenguin
ZestyPenguin

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 lol was fun reading this

CosmicLlama
CosmicLlama

Get another offer and don't ask for any hike. Just put your paper. Cook a story of "too far from home" or something to your manager. But to the HR, tell them in the face that it's not "affordable" any more. They will offer you the 40% hike.
Your manager will talk to you, tell him/her that they low balled you.
Ask for 80%. They will settle at 50%. Worst that can happen is they will let you go. Either way you win.

FluffyPenguin
FluffyPenguin

Actually we don't have an HR team yet, most of the salary negotiations happened with my manager only at the time of hiring. Appraisals will also go through him. Just startup things :)

CosmicLlama
CosmicLlama

Then changing companies is your only hope to be a hike.
If you ask your manager for a hike, most likely he won't agree. If you quit he will offer you a hike and you accept it, he will treat you with contempt.
You quit and leave and he will call you ungrateful during your notice period.
So quit.. asap..

QuirkyNugget
QuirkyNugget
Student9mo

Got not even inflation beating numbers

JazzyBoba
JazzyBoba

Same

FluffyPenguin
FluffyPenguin

;-;

JumpyUnicorn
JumpyUnicorn
Loco9mo

It’s tough market, so not sure your “ Going well “ does it translate into increase in revenue or funding ? If not then all by words or paper money they will try to convince you but not real cash mostly.

If they are still good and kind hearted then you will get the hike but that’s is very rare to find,

So ask the number what you have in mind and let the negotiations/conversation flow, then based on final decision decide whether to stick or jump.

All the best.

FluffyPenguin
FluffyPenguin

Thanks for the reply! The company recently raised series B, and the business is growing 15% MoM. I guess, I'll take my chances. :)

GroovyMuffin
GroovyMuffin

If you company has runway of 12+ months and you have been able to ship couple of successful features ... you may ask for 20-30% ... considering 6 months this would be quite good. Or atleast afjust the hike into esposnif you can see yourself sticking for sometime

FluffyPenguin
FluffyPenguin

Yeah, we just raised series B, we should have a runway of 2 years easily

Discover more
Curated from across
Product Managers

ESOP and Salary advise

Work as the only SPM at a seed startup in SaaS. Salary is 45 lpa and 12 lakhs of ESOP over 4 years .

Only PM reporting to the CEO and we have doubled revenue in the last 12 months I have been here and contributing .

I think I got lo...

Product Managers

ESOP and Salary advise

Work as the only SPM at a seed startup in SaaS. Salary is 45 lpa and 12 lakhs of ESOP over 4 years .

Only PM reporting to the CEO and we have doubled revenue in the last 12 months I have been here and contributing .

I think I got lo...

Indian Startups

How to ask for good appraisal

Currently working with series A startup as product marketing manager at 23lpa. Joined them in july at near zero increment because last company shut down. Have proven my metal here and getting extra responsibilities.

How to negotiate wit...