How to interpret a performance review?

[sports_brah]

I'm fairly new to the world of professional work, so looking for some advise here.

I joined an investment bank and have been working away for just over half a year now.

I was called into the office today to discuss my performance and by virtue my pay.

I was told that payrises are not common after such a short time working, but that my performance had been strong. As such they were going to raise my salary by a token amount, with the insinuation that if my performance remained strong, that I could expect a far larger one next year.

Personally I wasn't expecting anything, and whilst I'm happy with the praise, I'm also questioning the point of the raise. The amount was small to my income which begs the question of why bother going to the hassle? I was fairly chilled about it, I explained where I was looking to go (sparing no ambition ), but I didn't really negotiate on the money or really question it much further.

Should I have done so? I'm now worried (with the benefit of hindsight) that I should acted differently, and to the implications of such a payrise. Would it have been more savvy to have negotiated for more, or to have questioned it or leveraged myself better?

I'm veering on optimism because I seem to have been the only one to have received a raise, but I was looking to get some more feedback from experienced people on here who would interpret it better.

Thanks!

 

[sports_brah]

Its a carrot obviously, or would you rather have had the stick approach, in essence what they've done is say keep plugging away & there will be much more to come, so stick with us & we'll see you right.

But I wasn't expecting stick or carrot, I'm only through the door relatively speaking, I was expecting a review after the year mark etc.

Eh you reap what you sow.

If you're being cynical and think they're trying to give you the minimum possible then see what happens at your next review. If you keep working to a high standard you will be able to put forward a case to getting the raise you want.

As above.

I'm happy with them trying to pay minimum, because I'll look for maximum and hopefully we'll find a common place.

I'm just questioning the timing.