The Best Way to Ask for a Raise

The Best Way to Ask for a RaiseThe Best Way to Ask for a RaiseAre you thinking of asking for a raise? If so, you might be feeling pretty nervous. Talking about money at all is taboo in our culture. As a result, many of us feel uneasy about salary negotiation. Research shows that one of the most common reasons for not negotiating salary is feeling uncomfortable asking for more money. Prepare to Ask for a Raise To overcome those nerves, prepare. Learn when and how to ask for a raise so that your request will be heard by a receptive audience. Then, build a strategy that will help you achieve the best possible outcome. That doesnt mean youll always get a yes, or that your boss will be able to give you the exact amount you request. But properly preparing before you make your proposal can vastly increase your chances of success. Top 10 Dos and Donts for Asking for a Raise Heres a list of the top 10 dos and donts when it comes to asking for a raise. 1. Ask after a big accomplishment . Just scored a deal or landed a big sale? Its a good time to ask for a pay raise. Capitalize on the momentum of your success, and you may find yourself in an ideal position to ask for a salary increase. 2. Write, and rehearse, an agenda. Dont walk into your meeting without having prepared beforehand. Brainstorm a list of concrete reasons as to why you deserve a raise, write them down, and rehearse them to ensure a confident and convincing delivery. In addition to listing your accomplishments, you could mention a recent expansion in your responsibilities at work, additional tasks youve taken on, new strategies youve adopted, projects youve spearheaded, and any plans you have to further increase your departments success. You may also want to consider typing up and printing out a copy for your boss, so they can look it over and discuss with other supervisors if necessary. 3. Time your request accordingly. Familiarize yourself with your companys review policy. Do they carry out perform ance reviews every three months? Every six months? Every year? Discretely discuss with your co-workers, or consult with your menschlich resources department to get a sense of the timeline. If possible, you should also try to align your request with the companys financial trajectory. Try asking when new funding is coming in, when the new fiscal year is starting, or when you think your employer could easily factor in an increase in pay. 4. Dress the part. Even if your schreibstube dress code tends to be lax, when it comes time for your meeting, you should look the part. Take those few extra minutes to put on a tie, iron your blouse, or pull your dress shoes out of the closet. Although you dont want to look like youre trying too hard, looking polished and professional cant hurt, and will only help you feel more confident as you make your case. 5. Have other options on the back burner. No one wants to hear no for an answer, but a rejection can present an opportunity to make another prop osition. Do you want to inquire about working from home one day per week? Are you in need of a new mobile phone or laptop for your work purposes? Is there a conference or industry event youd like to attend? Your boss may be more likely to say yes to a smaller request after saying no to a big one. 6. Dont ask via email, if possible. Although its acceptable to schedule a meeting via email, you really should have the conversation about getting a raise in person. Its the best way to show that youre serious and will also allow you to gauge your bosss reaction to your request. Ask your boss when they might have a block of time free to discuss a question regarding your salary. You might even landsee if they are available for a lunch meeting, which might be a more comfortable setting in which to have the conversation. If an in-person conversation isnt feasible, heres how to request a raise via email, and a sample salary increase letter to review. 7. Dont ask at a high-stress time. Use commo n sense when you approach your supervisor about the possibility of a raise. If your boss is particularly stressed and overworked, its probably not the best time to bring up the topic. If you can, wait it out and ask during a lull, or at least when you see that your supervisor is in a good mood. 8. Dont give an ultimatum unless youre willing to lose the job. Be careful about how you broach the topic. You dont want to come across as too demanding. Of course, be confident and assertive in your request, but be aware of your tone and focus on being patient, professional, and understanding. Use caution with how you negotiate. Youll probably want to avoid framing it in a way that sounds like a demand- I need this raise, or else- as you should try to stay on good terms with your boss even if they say no. 9. Dont use information about colleagues salaries as a reason why you should get a raise. Avoid bringing office gossip into your discussion. Even if you know someone makes more money than y ou and you think that you deserve a salary thats equal- or higher- its advisable not to mention it. Its just not professional, and you never know if what youve heard, or overheard, is true. Instead, focus on your own individual experience and accomplishments and why you should get a raise on your own merits, not based on what other people are getting paid. 10. Dont supply too much personal information. Ideally, you should try to craft your proposal in a way that focuses on the reasons why you deserve an increase in salary, rather than why you might need one. There are some things that are better left unsaid when youre talking about a pay increase. Unless you have an exceptionally familiar relationship with your supervisor, its a good idea to avoid citing personal reasons like if your spouse lost his or her job, if youre sending another child to college, or if an investment went bad and instead keep the emphasis on what youve done to merit a raise. What to Expect After You Have Asked for a Raise Even though you really want to know right away, dont expect an immediate answer. Unless youre at a very small company, your manager may not even have the authority to give you a pay raise even if they want to. It will probably need to be discussed with human resources and/or other company managers. Dont feel badly if your request is turned down. There simply may not be money in the budget for pay increases, regardless of how well deserved your raise may be. Many companies have formal company policies that determine salaries and pay raises, so there may not be flexibility to give you a raise other than when you are eligible for one under company guidelines. The Bottom Line CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOUR REQUEST Try timing your negotiation with the companys financial calendar. When will your boss be most likely to find money in the budget for a raise?ASK AFTER A BIG WIN Have you recently exceeded a major goal or accomplished something big for the company? Nows a go od time to make your request.DONT GIVE AN ULTAMATUM If you threaten to leave, you better be prepared to follow through.AVOID GIVING TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION Your boss doesnt need to know why you want more money. They just need to know why you deserve more money.