How To Get A Raise

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Highlight what you’ve done for the company. How have you personally bettered business? Talk about your accomplishments and your goals. Discuss your strategies for achieving your goals and how you’ve already implemented them. From the docks to Wall Street, employers will reward successful employees – everyone wants to keep their best performers. Just as successful operations cannot afford to pay incompetent workers, they can’t afford to lose their top performers; be prepared to negotiate by showing that you are one of them.

Be Realistic

Remuneration packages indicate how much you’re worth to a company. When you’re asking for a raise, be realistic and judge yourself accordingly. If you haven’t contributed in a significant way, then perhaps asking for that raise should wait. If you have promoted growth, evaluate what it’s worth and assemble a negotiation strategy around your accomplishments. Unless you’re an executive, you must be exact in the raise you’d like to receive. Corporate executives have more security when discussing remuneration and bonuses because their pay is tied directly to the success of the company. Yours is as well, although not in a direct way - you cannot point to financial reports and take a percentage. It is key to identify areas where you have improved company standing and link that to growth. So be realistic. If you ask for a disproportionate amount you risk professional embarrassment, or worse, your job security.

Be Specific

When you do decide that it’s time for a raise and your accomplishments merit one, be specific in your terms. After highlighting why you’re worth more to your boss, ask for a percentage or precise dollar amount and don’t be vague or inconsistent. They probably also have a number in mind and putting a real number out there will set the stage for successful negotiations. Remember, raises are natural and employers accept that their workers will eventually ask for an increase in pay. Be confident and direct with monetary values and don’t use phrases like, ‘I feel’ or, ‘I’m pretty sure’. If indeed your boss thinks you deserve a raise, then they will be eager to talk with you and reward your commitment and work.

Feel Appreciated and Motivated

After you have successfully gotten that raise, don’t rest on your laurels. Your employer has just recognized your value and rewarded you with benefits, don’t let up. Hopefully you’re satisfied with your new salary; so let it influence your work for the better.  Follow through on your goals and continue to excel. That’s how you got the raise in the first place, right?

Asking for a raise can be a stressful conversation, but getting a raise is crucial in maintaining relevance with your managers, furthering your career goals and setting yourself up for that next conversation with the boss. If you know what you’re worth, be sure that you’re making that much. Business is business. Knowing how much you’re worth to your boss is critical in preserving the respect you receive in the work place.

 

 

 

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