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Asking for a raise is at the very top of the discomfort zone on most assertiveness scales. When it comes to looking for a raise, chances are that your boss hasn’t voluntarily showered you with six-figured bonuses or even offered you more than the annual cost-of-living raise. So it’s up to you to make the first move. This might seem very obvious but in fact it is something that many employees fail to realise. If you don’t ask for a raise, your boss will think you’re satisfied. Secondly, you can’t simply march into the boss’s office and demand a raise. You have to show that you have earned the raise. The focus must be on the raise you deserve, not the raise you need. Never say that you need more money to buy a new house, to pay off college debts or you car loan. If you’re convinced that you deserve as opposed to “want” or “need” a raise, then the following steps should help you. 1. Why Do You Deserve a Raise? Be ready to explain why you deserve a raise. There could be several reasons: – Your job has changed or you are doing more work than you were hired to do, or maybe you’re doing a different job altogether. – You’ve saved the company money. Or maybe you’ve developed your skills so that you do your job faster than your co-workers. – You have salary survey information that indicates other employers pay more for similar work. – You haven’t received a raise in more than a year, and inflation has reduced the value of your pay. 2. Prepare Documentation. Once you’ve determined that you deserve a raise, prepare documentation that shows exactly what you’ve done that deserves more pay. If your job has changed, show what new responsibilities you’ve taken on. List your accomplishments. Document your successes by saving emails and letters and compiling them into a portfolio. If you can show how you’ve exceeded expectations, you can show why you deserve a raise. 3. Know What You Should Make. Once you’ve documented your contributions, research the going rate for your industry. Get facts and figures. Before you meet with your boss, develop a realistic financial objective for yourself and be clear on the exact amount of the raise you are seeking. 4. Know when to strike. Be strategic about when you ask for the raise, ideally a moment when the boss is relaxed, and not before a big meeting. If your annual performance review is coming up it could be the perfect moment since you and your boss will be on the topic anyway. Try to strike at a time when profits are up, or just after you’ve finished a major project that made the department look good. It’s also a good time to ask for a raise if another company has made you an attractive offer or headhunters are courting you. In the spirit of fair play, give your boss the opportunity to match or exceed any offer from a competitor. 5. Show me the money. Remember that compensation is not just limited to money. Perks can be great too. You might want to think about more holiday time, training, stock options, getting a company-paid mobile phone, a lap-top computer, child care or more flexible work hours. Debbie O’Halloran
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