8 Tips for Asking for a Raise
Here's how to secure the salary you deserve.
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A Woman’s Worth - No matter how much you love your job, if you don’t feel you’re being paid what you’re worth, it can make reporting for duty feel like a chore. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Read on for smart tips for securing the salary you deserve. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel Do your research. You’ll get nowhere if you ask for a raise that puts you outside the pay range for your position in your city. Check Payscale.com or Salary.com to see what you should be paid and use that knowledge to inform the specific number you ask for. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Think about the future. - Some employers will offer a one-time bonus rather than a raise. It may be tempting to take it, but remember that your salary history determines your salary future, so it’s more beneficial in the long run to push up that number. (Photo: ericsphotography/GettyImages)
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Pick the right time. - If your company was just forced to lay off a dozen employees, it’s probably a bad time. And don’t do it during your annual review, because managers typically determine any salary increases before meeting with employees. Instead, ask right after you bring in a major new client, successfully complete a major project or win an industry award — your excellence will be undeniable. (Photo: Jon Feingersh/GettyImages)
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Focus on your contributions. - If your company was just forced to lay off a dozen employees, it’s probably a bad time. And don’t do it during your annual review, because managers typically determine any salary increases before meeting with employees. Instead, ask right after you bring in a major new client, successfully complete a major project or win an industry award—your excellence will be undeniable. (Photo: Aldo Murillo/GettyImages)
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Stay positive. - What did R. Kelly say in “I Believe I Can Fly”? “If I can see it, then I can do it.” He was right: Take time to visualize the meeting going well. See yourself (dressed in your favorite work ensemble) confidently making the case for a raise and see your boss agreeing to your request. Carry that good feeling into your meeting and you’ll shine. (Photo: David Tonnessen, PacificCoastNews)
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Be assertive. - Confidently ask for what you want. But don’t stray into the land of aggression; getting in your manager’s face could land you on unemployment. And passively waiting for her to recognize your brilliance and pay you accordingly will have you still sitting in your cubicle, mad. (Photo: Chris Ryan/Getty Images)
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Be flexible. - Be willing to give a little to get a lot. If your boss says she can only afford to give you half of what you’re asking for right now, ask if you can get half now and half in six months. (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/GettyImages)