How to Ask for (and Get) a Pay Raise

How to Ask for (and Get) a Pay RaiseHow to Ask for (and Get) a Pay RaiseYou are long overdue for a raise, and your anfhrer doesnt seem to be doing anything about giving you one. Even if youknow you deserve a higher salary, you, like many people, may be hesitant to ask for a raise. You have three options. You can do bedrngnishing, but then you may stay at the same salary indefinitely. You can look for a job that pays more, or you can ask for a raise. Clearly, sitting around and waiting for your boss to make the first move hasnt worked so far, and looking for another job can be a big hassle. What are you waiting for? Heres how to ask for a raise. What Are Others in Your Field Earning Before approaching your boss, you need to do some research. Its time to learn about typical salaries in your field so that you can then figure out if you are earning less than you should. You can try talking to colleagues in your field. Be forewarned, however, that many people are reluctant to discuss money. You can also get salary information from published resources. Websites like O*Net Onlinepublish median salaries for a variety of occupations based on government data. You can even find salary information by state. If you belong to a professional association, check to see if it has salary information available. Begin by looking at the organizations website. Glassdoor.com is also an excellent resource for salary information. Figure Out How Much You Can Earn Remember that because of factors like education and experience, your salary may differ quite a bit from the median published salary for your field. You must be realistic when thinking about your expectations. Consider the number of years youve been working in the field, your education and credentials, and the length of time youve worked for your current employer. You should even take the location of your job into account. Jobs in major cities, for instance, usually pay more than ones in small towns. Evaluate the Fina ncial Health of Your Employer Be very cautious about your zeiteinteilung. Dont ask for a raise if you know your employer is having financial problems or if there is a lot of uncertainty in the industry. While, as an employee, you are probably well aware of your companys financial health,you shouldnt rely only on what you observe. Do some company research, which includes looking at financial reports and following business news. Prepare Your Case Once you are sure the timing is right and you have all the relevant information, get ready to meet with your boss. Start preparing to make a case for your raise. Even though you think you deserve one, that might not be as obvious to your boss. Its up to you to convince him. Sell yourself just as you would if you were trying to get a prospective employer to hire you. First, make a list of all your accomplishments. Start with the most recent ones and work your way backward. Describe how those accomplishments benefited your employer. Be ver y specific. For example, dont just say you increased profits. Prepare to tell your boss how much they rose and what role you played in making that happen. Next, make a list of your relevant skills - what makes you successful at work. Include your hard and soft skills. Finally, get ready to describe all the things you plan to do for the organization in the future. Remember to give details What If You Get Turned Down or Dont Get the Salary Increase You Want Before you walk into your bosss office to ask for a raise, think about what you will do if she says no or agrees to give you one that is much smaller than what you want. Will you quit your job or will you wait a while and then ask for a raise at a later date? Your answer may depend on what your boss says. For example, has she turned you down because of your performance or because of other circumstances? Set Up an Appointment Now that youve done all the preparation, its finally time to speak to your boss. It is not somethi ng you should discuss with him in passing - its serious business. Treat it as if it were a meeting with a client or a job interview. Set up an appointment to discuss your request. Dont ask for a raise by email, at the water cooler, or by telephone. The only reason for not having this conversation face-to-face is if you and your boss dont work at the same location. Present Your Case Your boss may agree to give you a raise immediately. Wouldnt that be nice? You may have to do nothing more than askher for one, which may leave you wondering why she didnt offer before you asked. It is more likely you will have to present the material you gathered. Stay calm and stick to the facts. Getting emotional will not benefit you, and may even harm your negotiations. Dont bring up your personal expenses because they are not your bosss problem. In your employers eyes, your salary has everything to do with how you benefit the employer and nothing to do with your needs. Respond to a No Your b oss may turn you down. What should you do next? It all depends on the reasons he gives you. If he says he is rejecting your request because of your performance, you have to decide if hisfeedbackis valid. If it is, think about what changes you can make to turn things around. If you conclude that your boss is just making excuses and his criticism of your performance isnt valid, you may want to go where you will be appreciated. Find out if there is any chance the situation will change. If you learn that is a possibility, get your boss to commit to a time to revisit your request. For example, you might want to have another conversation during your next ?performance review. Ask your boss to help you come up with a plan for what you will need to do to improve your chances of getting a raise by that time.??