How to Ask for a Raise

Asking for a raise can be nerve-racking and unpleasant.  But you can eliminate the anxiety if you are well-prepared.

Simply waking into your boss’ office and asking for a salary increase without a clear and detailed explanation as to why you deserve the raise, will most likely not get you the raise you want.

How do you prepare?

Follow this step by step guideline to prepare.

KNOW YOUR VALUE

Identify the areas of your performance in which you have exceeded expectations. Think about the ways in which you have performed beyond your boss’ expectations or beyond the duties outlined in your job description. For example:

·         Did you consistently complete projects ahead of schedule and under budget?

·         Did you consistently exceed your sales goals?

·         Did you initiate a new procedure that created more efficiency thereby saving the company time and money?

·         Did have add job responsibilities not defined in your job description or original letter of offer?

·         Did you accomplish projects that your predecessor was unable to do?

·         Did you do something indirectly that made the company a significant amount of money?

·         Do you have indispensable skills and knowledge? Would the company experience major setbacks if you left?

·         Did you single-handedly increase followers on social media by 50%?

Here’s the important part: Do you have data to back up your claims such as sales figures, productivity numbers, client testimonials, performance reviews, analytics?  

Backing up your claims with data is extremely important and powerful since it’s hard for someone to argue with you if there’s unassailable evidence to prove your point!

You don’t have any data? Then start by keeping a file (digital or paper) of your achievements, and continue adding to it so that you have leverage to negotiate with when the appropriate time arises.  Don’t forget to add quantitative data to your achievements. Simply saying you are great and you deserve a raise is not enough.

KNOW YOUR WORTH

What is your position worth in the marketplace? What do other companies pay for the same position? Is your compensation in line with your roles and responsibilities? How do you know? Where do you look for data? Before you create a number that sounds good to you, be sure there’s data to support your request. 

WHERE TO FIND SALARY INFORMATION FOR YOUR POSITION

For some obscure or uncommon positions, it can be difficult to find salary data. However, for most positions the following websites can offer useful information.

• Salary.com
• Glassdoor.com
• Indeed.com
• CareerOneStop.org
• PayScale.com
• Monster.salarly.com
• SimplyHired.com 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND SALARY DATA?

• Sometimes major corporations have administrative pay guidelines detailing the pay scales for each position and level.  Your company may have this information handy. Ask your HR personnel
• Perhaps a co-worker who has held that position can provide pay details (be careful who you ask)
• Competing companies- do you know someone who works for the competition, can you ask for comparable pay rates? 
• Try to find recent postings for the position you are seeking and see if compensation is included in the posting
• Ask trusted friends, mentors and others from industry or the firm, tap into your network of alumni, parents, friends of parents, neighbors, etc. You never know who holds valuable knowledge about your industry

After you have done your research on pay, and armed yourself with a list of your outstanding achievements including data, you are now ready to schedule a meeting.

SCHEDULING A MEETING WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR TO REQUEST THE RAISE

• Request a meeting with your supervisor letting her know that you would like to discuss your salary requirements and responsibilities 
• Before you schedule a meeting – make sure you rehearse what you are going to say, what you are going to share (have achievements and quantitative data to back-up your points, as well as market research for your position, including salary request)
• Practice your request in the mirror, and watch your body language and tone.  (If you have a trusted friend or relative to practice with, then even better)    
• Unless your supervisor works in a different location, meet in person to discuss your raise; unless you absolutely have no other choice, don’t request a raise in an e-mail
• If your supervisor works in a different location, try video-conferencing. If you don’t have those options, conduct your discussion via telephone
• If you can meet your supervisor in person, request to have the meeting in a neutral area – such as a conference room
• Timing is everything.  Don’t ask to have the meeting if your supervisor is in a bad mood, stressed out or has too much on her plate that day, that week. When you plan, be cognizant of other stressors in her world and when they are occurring
• Sometimes around the holidays people are in a better mood, or after a major project completion or product launch. Scheduling the meeting after you have achieved a major accomplishment is also a good time, granted your supervisor is also excited about the accomplishment. Also during a performance review (Don’t ask for a raise if the company is going through reductions in force (RIFs), or if the company is in poor financial health 
• Prior to the meeting put your achievements in writing.  When you meet, provide your supervisor with the written document/memo outlining all the reasons why you deserve the raise; make certain that you provide pertinent data. Discuss each point
• Request the amount of increase you think is fair
• Once you ask for the raise and make your case, then remain silent. Let your supervisor speak. Sometimes she is silent because she is thinking. Don’t interrupt
• Keep in mind that sometimes your supervisor cannot give you a raise without discussing it first with her/his boss or the HR Director.   If that’s the case, ask approximately when you can expect to hear back from her. If after that time frame your supervisor has not responded, follow up with her in person (if possible).

Examples of what to say vs. what not to say:

Don’t say:  Everyone else in my position/department is making more money, so I am requesting a raise.

Do say: During the last two quarters, I exceeded my sales goals by 6.5%, completed two additional sales training classes/certificates, and created an internal training program for new sales staff, saving 35 hours per trainee. As such, I would like my compensation to reflect all my achievements and contributions to the success of the company/department.

If your supervisor says "No" to a raise: 

Often, your supervisor cannot give you a raise because of a company policy, or if the company is in poor financial health, or if there are pre-determined salary caps for certain positions, and simply because she doesn’t think you deserve one. 

What do you do?

• Don’t get upset, and give your supervisor any ultimatums.  Remain professional and calm 
• Ask why you are being rejected for the raise 
• If the reason is for performance issues; then ask your supervisor what you can do to improve your performance; how you can exceed her expectations, and how long she thinks it will take you to achieve those objectives 
• Ask for a three to six-month plan, identifying objectives about how to earn a raise  
• Agree to meet again after that period to revisit the request

If the reason provided is lack of budget, or the company is not doing well financially, then try negotiating other benefits in lieu of a raise.

Examples of benefits to negotiate:

1. A year-end bonus
2. Mentoring/Coaching from your supervisor or someone else you have identified at the company
3. Extra vacation days
4. Flexible work schedule
5. Tuition or professional development reimbursement
6. Additional training

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More Good Reads About Asking for a Raise

How to Ask for a Raise
Does the idea of asking for a raise make you anxious? You are not alone. Elana Lyn Gross shares her experience: “I asked for a raise for the first time last year. Asking for what I thought I deserved and having a frank discussion about money was definitely outside of my comfort zone – but I did it anyway. I researched the typical salary for my position, consulted mentors and confidants, practiced my points countless times, and found inspiration and confidence from several influential businesswomen I admire. I may not have Sheryl Sandberg or Diane von Furstenberg on speed dial, but I read their advice and it gave me a much-needed boost of confidence.” … Read more

When and How to Ask for a Raise at Work

Often employees ask for a raise without first assessing their worthiness, a key factor in preparing for the raise discussion. Check out this article that emphasizes self-evaluation. … Read more

7 Signs It’s a Good Time to Ask for a Raise
As with many things in life, timing is critical, especially when it comes to asking your boss for a raise. Writer Aaron Gouveia reminds us, “essentially you’re asking your boss if he/she thinks you’re worth investing more money in, and no one wants to deal with feelings of rejection of worthlessness should the answer be no. But the fact remains, even some who deserve a raise don’t get it. And why is that? Because too many people don’t ask themselves if it’s the right time to ask for a raise….read more