How to Negotiate the Raise You Deserve

Photo Courtesy: Victor1558

It’s easy to sit at your desk, do your work, and go home to complain all night. You’re uninterested, underwhelmed, and underpaid. Well, you can likely fix the first two with a tweak of the third by asking for a raise. Before you go storming down your boss’s door, however, there are a few pointers you’ll need to be successful.

“’Asking for a raise reminds both you and your boss of all you have been doing to contribute to the company’s performance,’ says Jones. ‘Downplaying that for fear of upsetting the financial apple cart increases the possibility you’ll continue to do your work with a chip on your shoulder, which will likely cause your future performance to suffer.’” – Forbes.com

When to Ask

So you’ve been on the job for 3 months, and your performance has been top notch; time to ask for a raise? Not so much. There are good and bad times to ask for a raise, and it’s important to keep these in mind before scheduling this very important meeting. So when should you bite the bullet?

• After a year on the job – This gives you enough time to prove your worth and get relevant samples of your value to the company.
• Growth period – When the company is doing well, they want to continue doing so. Just show them how you can make that happen.

Have a Plan

The most important part of negotiating a raise is having a plan in place. Not only might this mean more money for you, but could potentially be costly for the company as well. This is your time to show how you shine in the office, in your field and in your position.

• Quantify – Companies want cold, hard facts. They can’t refute your worth when it’s spelled out in numbers and dollar signs.
• Your value – Gather customer testimonials that mention you directly. Refer back to a time when co-workers have referenced your good work.
• What you will bring in the future – Your boss is appreciative of the work you’ve already done, but their eyes are to the future. What can you continue bringing to the table? Can you take on my work?
• What salary do you want – Do your research and find what the going pay for someone in your position/time frame/experience is. Suggest this, as they will likely ask. It shows you did your homework and are prepared with that knowledge.

Consider Potential Rebuttals

When you ask for a raise, it’s important to think like your boss. While you are number one in your world, your boss likely has concerns about the company as a whole, your co-workers, etc. It’s important to predict potential rebuttals and how you’ll refute them.

• They say: “The answer is no.” – You say: “What can I do to improve in the future.”
• They say: “Now is not a good time.” – You say: “Is there an optimal time for us to revisit this?”

Points to Avoid

While there are a handful of points you want to be sure to include in your request, it is even more important remembering the ones you should not include.

• Personal needs – Your boss doesn’t care about getting your rent in on time, getting your cable bill paid, or the vacation you hope to take in December. Keep your meeting strictly work-related, and avoid anything personal.
• Co-worker comparison – Don’t compare your current or desired salary to other employees. Your boss doesn’t want to be put in this position, nor does it bode well for the confidence you have in yourself.

Negotiating a raise takes a lot of courage, and can be scary if you’ve never done it before. However, it’s important to go in prepared. Know your value and how to best present it. Do your research about salary ranges and be ready to stand by your hard work. Whether they say no, or not, it puts you on the radar and that just might be enough.

Jessica Sanders is an avid small business writer touching on topics from social media to phone systems. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including background checks for lead generation resource, Resource Nation.