Think you deserve a raise, but not sure how to get one? Here’s a hint: It takes more than working hard on daily tasks.
Follow these tips to effectively ask for and receive a raise:
Earn It
Before you can even begin thinking about asking for a raise, you must first earn it. Contrary to the beliefs of some, pay raises aren’t required outcomes of quarterly or yearly reviews.
If you aren’t doing your job to the best of your abilities or are failing to bring innovation to the company, then you aren’t going to get a raise even if you ask for it.
Speak Up
As the article, “Hey workplace manager, is it time you got a raise?” looks at, you need to speak up! As a standard rule, the world (including your workplace) will take as much as possible from you by giving as little as possible in return. If you want a raise, chances are high that the only way you’ll get it is with a direct ask.
So, stop waiting for a raise to appear on your paycheck and take the reins on the change.
Research
Do you know the average pay rates of those in similar positions within your industry? If not, research this data prior to asking for a raise.
While you may not need to reference the data during your meeting with senior leadership, this is important info to have in your back pocket, just in case.
Use Proper Timing
A first step to effectively asking for a pay raise is to determine the best timing for the request. Perhaps your yearly review is approaching and this is the standard occasion within the business to ask for a raise.
If you’ve been working diligently the past several months and have accepted an increased workload, asking for a pay review meeting outside of your normally scheduled review may be in line.
Be courteous about your senior leader’s time. Send an initial email asking for the best time to schedule a meeting to discuss your performance.
Schedule the meeting by sending out a calendar invite for the best date chosen by your senior manager. During the meeting, keep your remarks on topic and listen attentively to any feedback.
Also, be aware that you likely won’t receive a response to your request for a raise during the meeting.
If you don’t receive a response within a few days, email a thank you note to the senior manager with an offer to provide additional insight into your workload, if needed.
Think about the Company
The health of the business is the main concern of your senior leadership. With this in mind, don’t center your request for a raise on the fact that you want a raise. They won’t particularly care about what you want.
Instead, focus the request on what you’ve done for the company and how those actions are directly linked to sales increases, employee production and more.
These facts should make a strong case for why you deserve to earn more of the company’s money.
Think you deserve a raise?
Increase your chances of earning the amount you desire by researching the pay levels of those with similar work statuses, make a case for why you should get a raise and be cognizant of the mindset of your company’s senior leaders.
About the Author: Shayla Ebsen is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional writing experience both in the corporate and freelance settings.
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