Asking For a Pay Rise

HOW TO GET A PAY RISE

It is easier for a company to give good employees a pay rise rather than risk them leaving for another company. Replacing an employee costs time and effort in recruitment, handover and training so if you are a good employee you are already in a decent position potentially to request a pay rise.

STOP FOR A MINUTE. DO YOU DESERVE A PAY RISE?

First, stand back and be realistic. Are you a good employee? Have you been diligent in your duties? Is your attendance record good? Have you delivered in the eyes of your boss? If you have only been in the job for a few months and have yet to prove yourself, you may too early to request a pay rise. Is the company struggling financially? Has there been announcements about company-wide pay freezes or similar? You have to start out with sensible expectations without curbing your ambitions.

START WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET

Once you have taken a sensible, hard headed look at your situation, your company’s situation than make a decision to move forward and proceed with absolute confidence. A positive mindset, posture and tone of voice will go a long way in getting that pay rise. It is all too easy sometimes for us, the “Dilbert” generation to think about the corporate culture as evil but this mindset will not help you at all. Believe that your boss and the company are on your side. They are not out to ‘rip you off’ nor willfully underpay nor exploit you. Go in with the mindset that they want to see you happy and receiving a level of salary which reflects your role and value within the company structure.

THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK FOR THAT PAY INCREASE

When is the right time to ask? Some business books say any time is the right time, but that is plain wrong. Timing can make all the difference.

A performance review is a good time obviously, but the end of the calendar year or financial year might work well too. This is when your company is planning their strategy, manpower requirements and budget for the future. Another obvious but often overlooked time is soon after you have accomplished a successful project or similar important achievement.

Once you have considered the best timing in terms of the company, you need to consider the best timing in terms of your boss.

You will need to your boss’ undivided attention for around thirty minutes. Before you book time in their diary, consider their personality, habits and current levels of stress and priorities.

Mornings tend to be stressful so afternoons are often better, but you need to consider your boss’ personality. They might be the type to get sluggish and a little grouchy by the afternoon, or they develop a mini-panic around 4pm as they realize how much work they still have to get through. Perhaps the end of each financial quarter is particularly stressful as he/she is trying to meet their targets.

If they ask what the meeting is about, it is best not to directly say it is about getting a pay rise, but you should emphasize its importance so they will take it seriously. It doesn’t hurt to get the boss slightly nervous about the meeting and what it might be about.

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

Never go into the meeting without being prepared. The more compelling you state your case, the better your chances of that pay increase. Consider your case from every possible angle beforehand and then list out your advantages in order of importance. If you have helped to the company to make money or helped them make considerable savings, this will probably be your strongest achievement in their eyes.

Other considerations could be additional training, qualifications and skills you have gained. Make a of list of times when you have gone above and beyond the call of duty such as covering for an absent colleague or taking care of an urgent task on behalf of the team. Or even volunteering for those thankless but necessary chores such as buying leaving presents or organizing the Christmas party.

Do not forget to list down your soft skills such as attitude, teamwork, attendance record and personal popularity. Do not make the mistake of assuming your boss will be aware of your good work and reputation.

COMPLETE THE HIGH PROFILE TASKS ON YOUR TO DO LIST

Before booking the meeting, make sure you have tied up any key loose ends and duties that might count against you. You might have an item that has been on your to-do list for ages. Your boss is aware of it and it has always niggled him/her that it was never completed. Or pick something ‘niggly’ on your boss’ to do list and assist them in completing that. Make sure your boss is aware of this task completion a few days or so before the meeting.

ACT THE PART

Walk into your meeting with confidence, seriousness and resolve. Sit up straight, do not fidget around and use strong, confident hand gestures. You might be nervous; this is understandable. If you are well prepared, you will find that your nerves will lessen.

Present your case clearly and concisely. Never say you want a pay rise because one of your colleagues is getting paid more or received a recent pay rise. Never make vague, self-centered statements such as ‘because I feel I deserve one’, ‘because I’m the best person in this department’. This is not considered a strong enough reason and worse, it may sound like you being personally resentful. And don’t belittle your boss in the process “because I’ve saved your bacon so many times’ because ‘you can’t do this without me’.

Tell your boss that you understand that you may have to take on extra responsibilities with a pay rise and you are more than prepared for this.

THINK OF A NUMBER, AND ADD A BIT MORE

Ask for more than you expect to get. Do not go overboard with this, but there is no harm is asking for a little bit more than the amount you are seeking.

Be prepared in case your boss says no. However, do not let the conversation get personal and do not make threats such as “if I don’t get this pay rise I’m going to quit”. If your boss gives an absolute no first time round, ask them for a period of time to consider your request, say you will book another appointment at a later time, say two weeks so they can mull it over.

BE PATIENT

Very few supervisors are in the position of granting a pay rise there and then. Your boss will have to review his/her figures and perhaps seek approval from higher up. In large organizations, the process may take weeks. Be patient but do ask for updates from time to time.

You may want to think about benefits available if it is clear that extra cash is not an option. This may include flexible hours, a company car, more vacation days or an increased contribution to your pension plan.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…

You may be rejected first time around, do not be afraid to ask again. Be careful not to over do it though and work smarter, achieve more in the intervening period to make yourself even more valuable as an employee.

I hope you found useful tips in this complete guide to asking for a pay rise.

Gemma Swansburg is a writer and researcher on a variety of topics. You might want to check out her latest articles, Luminess Tan review on the hottest airbrush makeup system plus a Hollywood pro’s airbrush make up tips.