I am approaching the end of my 3 month probation period with a company where I work as a receptionist/admin. assistant.

The company is growing quickly and now would be a great time to sink my feet in, but in order for me to stay, I would have to insist on a raise. I was also thinking of asking for their plans for my future with them.

This is my first time ever doing this, so I'm not really sure a) how to calculate how much of a raise to ask for b) how to ask.

I will also finally be a part of the company health benefits plan, which I will pay a premium for. Should I factor this in when calculating the amount of raise to seek?

Our meeting is on Thursday. Please help!

I do not think it's appropriate to ask for a raise after only 90 days of employment unless you were told your pay would be reevaluated at this point when you were hired. If so, I don't think you should expect more than a 3-5% increase, but it really just depends on the company. And, as far as how to ask, since you're meeting anyway I would just present a list of reasons you think you deserve it or accomplishments that you have made during this time to merit this raise and remind them of their initial promise. I don't think a growing company is a good enough reason for a raise.

With that kind of thinking, you would be going about everything the wrong way - here's what you need to do : for the raise, make a written list of all the accomplishments and contributions you have made to the company while you have been there; if you have only "done your job" without going above and beyond what was expected of you, then the raise will either be small or none at all..........from the employers viewpoint, they give raises to those who have shown they deserve the raise, by helping the co to gain in some way, or similar; not just because you were there everyday. You also do not want to give them an ultimatum of "a raise or else" because they just might say "OK, then it's something else" and you will be looking for a new job. The way to approach these situations is to look at it from the way the employer looks at you. Not trying to be negative in my answer, just truthful in the way the working world is..........hope you get everything you deserve ;]