@jellycrystals
Assuming your questions were not rhetorical, I can only refer to my experience working for large enterprises, so YMMV.
Without sounding too cynical, in general, above average performance doesn't worth the effort. Be mediocre - overperformers will get the same measly raise, because there's a set budget for such and your boss doesn't want to get questions from HR.
I never got the better raises from my org (FYSM for the 3.5% raise against a 20% annual inflation, hello reality in other parts of the world), but always from the account teams or at the insistence of the clients.
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@jellycrystals
If you show new/improved skills which would warrant a promotion, i.e. move from junior assistan trainee to medior assistant trainee, you can get a raise, but only after two cycles, because of the "prove yourself first, so you can prove yourself later" BS: you'd be working against higher expectations for the same wage for at least a year.
Ultimately I moved to being self-employed, working in a small team doing niche projects, setting our rates we believe are fair. Is that an option for you at all?
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@jellycrystals
For the "I quit unless you give me a raise" part: if I'd be an employer (assuming a fair one and paying my people properly), I'd just wish you good luck and part on good terms: if you are already at a point of quitting, a pay rise would buy what, 3 months, 6 at best? You have already checked the market and compared the cons of quitting vs. the better pay and the latter weighed more.
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@yourfutureex Def wasn't rhetorical. Genuinely want to know. Thank you for your insight. I am a teacher in the international system so 1-2 year contracts at a time. Lots of schools want teachers for more than a contract but then do little to keep good teachers. I put in notice, was told I am hard to replace and would I consider staying. Asked for a small pay rise... Nope. Honestly, the extra cash would have kept me.
@jellycrystals There are certainly exceptions of good employers, who simply can't afford giving a meaningful raise, but I'd still take the role of a mercenary, if I have a safety net. I guess you can't quit mid-contract without some blowback, that's another one for a nope.