Few people like to talk about money. But don’t wait for initiative from the boss, don’t hide, and don’t screw yourself up — go and talk. You deserve a salary increase, even if you play at the website National Casino during the breaks instead of improving your work skills. Here’s how to ask for a raise.
Stop Being Afraid
What’s holding us back? Fear. We are afraid to approach a person because we are sure that they will refuse. For some reason, in serious situations, we think more about the bad than the good.
Employee surveys have shown that people are afraid to ask for a raise. They are sure that the boss will make a disappointed face and tell them to sit down and keep their heads down. Some people decide that they are not worthy of a raise, even in advance, without discussing it with anyone.
Most often, fears are groundless. If you doubt your qualifications, figure out if it’s really so.
Describe your education and work experience. Be sure to indicate the courses you have taken, even if the outcome of the training did not issue a certificate. Don’t forget to write about the business books you have read.
Evaluate, on a ten-point scale, what duties you perform and to what extent. 10 — I cope 100%, one — I don’t cope at all. Be sure to prove each rating with facts.
Try to remember how your work is evaluated by the management. If there are comments, try to change tactics.
Calculate How Long You Have Been Successfully Working for the Company
Some subordinates hope that the salary will increase by itself. Others don’t wait for the employer to take the initiative but are eager to fight.
Many people work for years for the same salary: they keep quiet and tolerate, and they are afraid of losing what they have. And the bosses think that everyone is satisfied with everything.
Talk about your successes. First, remember how many successful cases you have worked on, by what percentage you increased sales, and how many new clients you brought in. Keep track of how often you exceed the plan and stay at work, working for the benefit of the company.
Remember if there are any complaints about your work? If so, what are they, from whom, and why? Perhaps it’s about bias, which shouldn’t be present in work and business relationships.
Write down the arguments in a notebook or a Word document.
Study the Market and Ask for a Reasonable Raise
To prepare for a conversation with your boss, analyze market offers. Go to a job search site, type in the job title, and specify the city.
Look at the upper limit of salaries, average, and lower. Be sure to open each vacancy and study the requirements. Compare them with your responsibilities.
If you see that your salary is lower than the market average, you will have more arguments.
Find out what competitors are paying their employees. But don’t manipulate management: it will only make things worse.
Gain Experience
If your employer doesn’t pay for team training, look for courses on your own. From free advice from expert bloggers to paid webinars and conferences, the internet is full of offerings.
Look at posters and attend offline events in your city. In addition to experience, you will gain useful acquaintances.
Record all the training courses you have attended. Ask the organizers for certificates, diplomas, and other documents. They will be the basis for a salary increase.
Ask About Bonuses
The easy way is to ask about bonuses. Each company has its own gradation. Somewhere they pay extra for exceeding the plan, attracting customers, increasing website conversion, and a high percentage of sales.
Also, carefully study the requirements and bonus percentage.