Futurizm.io, Why Companies Suck at Raises and How To Get One

Hello, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Futurizm newsletter!

Let’s kick off by welcoming all our new subscribers. We’ve really grown in the past couple of weeks. At the end of the day, it’s the community that makes Futurizm, and it’s great to have you with us. Stick with us, as it’s only going to get better!

If you have any feedback or would like us to cover a particular topic in our newsletter or podcast, drop us an email at [email protected]. 

Or complete our poll at the end of the newsletter!

So…

COMING UP:

• Futurizm.io

• The Podcast (oops!)

• Grady’s Grip: Why Companies Suck at Raises & How to Get One

• Tech News Shots ICYMI

• Big Tech Dad Joke

FUTURIZM.IO

First for a bit of shameless self-promotion…

It may have taken us a while (some would say too long for a tech firm!), but our landing page is now up and running and it’s the absolute shizzle.

Head over to Futurizm.io to see our full list of services and see what we can do to get your CV to the top of the pile. Whether it’s just a quick resume tune-up or the full works where we completely rewrite your CV from the ground up, our team of former Big Tech recruiters will go all out to give you a leg up.

But don’t just take our word for it, you can also find testimonials from clients who have landed their dream job and doubled (yes doubled!) their salary.

THE FUTURIZM PODCAST (OOPS)

From blowing our own trumpet to eating some humble pie. 

We’d like to apologize to all of our podcast listeners. In our last newsletter, we teed up an episode that never actually materialized. Unfortunately, life got in the way and hosts Will and Pete were unable to connect to do the recording. 

This week we actually do discuss the travails of a millennial with two degrees who’s been unemployed since 2020. We talk about where he’s gone wrong and how he can improve his job search strategy.

Talking about improving, Amazon brings back “Bar Raisers”. We see what that means for the company and candidates alike.

The episode is already available on all main podcast providers, so check it out!

GRADY’S GRIPE

Why Companies Suck at Raises & How to Get One

This week, I spoke with a good friend who asked me for advice on securing an overdue raise. They were rather stressed about basically asking for money they had likely been owed for ages but had no idea where to start.

Let's face it, most companies treat raises like a root canal: something to be avoided at all costs. Sure, they'll throw around buzzwords like "merit-based compensation" and "performance reviews," but when it comes to actually putting their money where their mouth is? They're dogshit.

The "Budget" Excuse:

It's the oldest trick in the book. Companies love to hide behind the mystical "budget" like it's some unchangeable force of nature. But let's be real; people make budgets, and those people often prioritize profits over fair pay.

The "We're a Family" Trap:

Companies love to foster a cozy, familial atmosphere... until you ask for a raise. Suddenly, it's all about "the bottom line" and "market rates." You can't turn the 'Family' card on and off to suit your needs fuckers!

The "You Should Be Grateful" Mentality: 

Some companies act like they're doing you a favor by employing you. I've worked for some big players out there, and they are partial to a bit of subconscious propaganda that it's a privilege to work for them. Bullshit. They are lucky to have you and chose you likely over hundreds of other candidates. Don't forget that!

They expect undying loyalty and endless hours while dangling the carrot of a potential raise that never materializes. And if it does, it's often underwhelming.

So... how do you wangle some well-earned cash out of your employer?

I'm glad you asked. Grab a Negroni and get comfortable.

Firstly, let's manage expectations. This isn't easy. You may have to step out of your comfort zone, but that’s half the fun!

Asking for a raise can feel like walking into a lion's den, but you deserve to be paid what you're worth, and sometimes that means getting a little scrappy and rolling up your sleeves.

Know Your Value: Do your research. Check out salary surveys, talk to recruiters, and see what others in your field are making. Knowledge is power, and knowing your market value gives you leverage. Check out levels.fyi to get some solid intel!

Document Your Wins: Keep a running list of your accomplishments, big and small. Did you land a major client? Solve a tricky coding problem? Document it all. When it's time for that raise conversation, you'll have concrete evidence of your value.

Practice Your Pitch: Don't wing it. Rehearse your talking points, anticipate objections, and practice your delivery. The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll sound.

Don't Be Afraid to Walk: If your company refuses to budge, be prepared to walk away. But don't be a twat and threaten to leave; keep them guessing. There are plenty of other companies out there who will appreciate your skills and pay you what you deserve.

It's a classic cliche, but you really don't get what you don't ask for. You may discover that some of the people in the top end of the salary bracket may not be the best performers, but they know when and how to ask. Don't get left behind, so channel your inner badass and don't settle.

TECH NEWS SHOTS ICYMI

We know our readers are pretty switched on when it comes to the world of Tech, but you can’t keep on top of everything. So here are some top tech stories you might have missed:

TESLA HIRES PEOPLE TO OPTIMIZE OPTIMUS

Tesla is hiring people to help develop its humanoid robot Optimus. If you think it’s looking for programmers or engineers, you’d be wrong, the company’s looking for people to “do the robot” in motion capture suits. 

It needs people between 5’7’’ and 5’11’’ to walk around mimicking actions the robot will be doing while wearing a VR headset and carrying up to 30 pounds of equipment for up to seven hours a day. “Data Collection Operators” will be paid up to $48 an hour.

The only hitch is Tesla will need to collect millions of hours of data and there’s no guarantee it’ll work.

SUDO! LINUX MARKET SHARE REACHES RECORD 4.55%

Linux achieved over 4.55% per cent market share back in August. That figure leaps to over six per cent if you include ChromeOS.

Both the popularity of the Linux-based Steam Deck portable console, the cost of Apple hardware, as well as the upcoming end of support for Windows 10 are believed to have contributed to Linux’s success.

Research firm StatCounter acquired the operating system stats from code installed on 1.5 million websites.

APPLE AND NVIDIA MAY INVEST IN OPENAI

With OpenAI looking to raise several billion dollars in a funding round, tech giants Apple and Nvidia are reportedly looking to get in on the action, according to the WSJ and Bloomberg, respectively.

The move isn’t that surprising with Apple looking to integrate ChatGTP into Siri and OpenAI relying on Nvidia chips.

The funding round would value OpenAI at over $100 billion.

Talking of Nvidia…

NVIDIA’S DOJ PROBE DEEPENS

Nvidia’s dominance on the AI chip market has caught the eye of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bloomberg has reported that the company has been subpoenaed for information over claims it’s making it hard to switch to other suppliers and penalises customers that don’t exclusively use its chips.

Nvidia says it received no such request and that its chips are the best on the market in terms of performance and value and its customers are free to choose whatever supplier they like. 

Nvidia’s stock price tumbled over 9 per cent.

BIG TECH DAD JOKE

As a little thank you (if you can call it that!) for sticking with us till the end, here’s this week’s Big Tech Dad Joke to see you into the weekend. This one’s a nod to Linux’s recent success…

Why do vampires use Linux? Cos they don’t like Windows in their house!

As always, have a superb weekend folks and catch you next time!

Will Grady (Futurizm Founder)