At some point in your career there will come a time when you feel the need to ask your Boss for a raise. Whether it’s because you’ve been taking on more responsibility lately and a heavier work load, or you’re simply more experienced and qualified. A lot of people really have no idea how to effectively ask for an increase in pay. Some even walk down the path of threatening to quit if they don’t get more money, which just solidifies their bosses implications that they don’t deserve any more (and usually ends up with them quitting). Trying to squeeze more money out of your employer requires more than just simply asking for a raise. You may get one every now and then, but if you’re not putting that extra effort into your job every day then you’re just going to keep getting those minimum increases that are handed out every 6 months, if anything at all.
Every day you should be thinking about how you can benefit the company. Do more than just what is expected of you. Most people are in the mindset of waking up, going to work, and waiting for 4 o’clock so they can go home. Be productive, innovative and take initiative. Take responsibility and don’t try to cover up your mistakes. Think about the “bottom line” which means the company either saves or makes more money. The more money they get, the more money you’ll get. At the same time you don’t want to annoy your co-workers by being the douche bag that’s always trying to get everyone else to work as hard as you do. If somebody isn’t doing their job it will usually work itself out so don’t worry too much about it. Just relax and have fun. You want to be on your co-workers good side so that everybody enjoys working with you. And don’t be afraid to discuss things with your boss. Talk to him from time to time about what he would like to see more of. Does he care about making more money, or is he more concerned with expanding the client base right now and making money from that later on? Make sure you know what his goals are and make sure you help reach those goals. There’s nothing worse than working your but off on something only to find out your boss couldn’t care less about it and preaches to you about how you should have spent that time on something else.
Timing is everything when it comes to asking for a raise. If the company is cutting back on labour or they just posted losses then it’s probably not the best time to ask for a raise. And if your boss is in a bad mood don’t even think about asking. Wait until he is in a good mood. The best time to ask is a few days after he praises you about the good job you’ve been doing lately. Also make sure that you catch your boss at the right time. Make an appointment for a 1-on-1 if you have to. You don’t want to start talking about a raise only to be interrupted by someone with an emergency.
Have a number in mind before talking with your boss and be prepared to negotiate. Do some research and find out what other people in your field are getting paid and compare it to your salary. And get straight to the point. Your boss will almost always critique you on how you’ve been doing and will probably even bring up an issue that you were unaware of. Don’t get mad and turn your boss into the enemy. Instead view at your work habits as an outsider looking in. Listen to what he has to say and improve on it. Use it to become a better worker.
Never say that you “need” more money. Whether it is because you have to keep up with bills or you want to save up for a new car. These are not valid reasons for your boss to give you more money. Instead, highlight how you’ve helped the company grow. Show him how you have saved the company money or brought new sales. Stress the “bottom line” and let him see that you care about the company and that you not only intend to stay with them but you are also excited about advancement opportunities. Again, don’t make your boss the enemy and say you’re not being appreciated for all the work you’ve done. Instead, show how valuable you are to the company.
If it doesn’t work out then maybe it’s time to start looking for another job. Continue being a valuable asset to your company while on the job hunt. You never know when your boss will have a change of heart and you don’t want to have ruined your chances because you didn’t get your way. Sometimes you will get more money for doing the same job at another company than if you just got a raise at your current company. Consider your options but keep good relations with your current boss.
