Asking
for a raise - When, how, and how much?
You've
been working at a place for a while and proving
your worth, and it's dawned on you that you should
ask your boss for a raise. There are right ways
to do this and wrong ways. Here are some things
to consider.
The first thing you must ask yourself is do you
deserve a raise? Are you an asset to the company?
Have you increased profit turnovers? If you have
answered yes to these than you definitely deserve
a pay rise.
Stay
positive. Make sure you come up with a good reason
for asking for a raise. Perhaps you're working
harder than everyone else. Maybe you're bringing
in more money than others. A good reason for a
raise does not include the reason that "you've
been there a long time." While time of service
is important, you need to prove your worth.
Timing
Think carefully first about when the best time
is to approach your boss. You don't want to ask
for money the day after your company is going
through some downsizing. Wait for good news. If
you've recently had a run-in with your supervisor
for one reason or another, now is not the right
time, either. You want to ask for a raise when
conditions are right both for your particular
situation and for the situation of your company.
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.
Approaching the subject
Have a basic plan ready. Focus on all your accomplishments,
any new business that you have brought to the
company, how you've made your department and,
ideally, your boss, shine. Have you put in a lot
of over time? (we don`t mean the week before you
are about to ask for a raise).
Important
Your raises and promotions will come more quickly
if actually have a good track record and you've
put in long hours and shown the creativity that
fuel raises.
The
question of money
Take your time and do your research before you
even think of asking for a raise. The worse thing
you can do is ask for an unrealistic pay rise
or worse still not know how much to ask for.
Do your research
Research salary information. Find out how much
other people in your position would or do make.
Know how much you should be paid. If you can take
any kind of documentation or maybe even a quote
in with you when you approach your boss for a
raise, that may prove helpful.
Tips
Check newspaper ads, the Internet or even the
local Chamber of Commerce, as well as simply talking
to people to find out how much you deserve to
be earning.
Don`t
sound desperate
You are asking for a raise so you think you deserve
one. But what ever you do don`t sound desperate.
Be aggressive. When you talk with your boss about
a raise, talk as if you absolutely, undoubtedly
deserve the raise. Above all, never talk about
any debts that you have this will make you come
across unprofessional.
Most
important
Don't use an ultimatum, unless you're prepared
to follow through. If you are going to say you'll
quit if you don't get the raise, be prepared to
quit.
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