Many people don’t know how to negotiate a pay raise at work. They find it stressful and anxiety-inducing, but it’s not impossible. But how do you ask for a pay raise? It’s a scary proposition, and it can be hard to know where to start.
Luckily, we’ve got some tips on how to negotiate for a pay raise at work — no matter what position you’re in or what kind of company you’re working for.
How to Ask for a Pay Raise
Carry out Your Research
The first step in learning how to negotiate a pay raise is figuring out what you want. You may have a number in mind or you might not, but it’s important to know what you’re asking for. This is where research comes in. You have to find out what others are getting paid for, why, and what their salary is like. You could ask questions around you or better still, visit job websites to figure out what some jobs offer to their employees in the same field as yours. From this research, you can analyze your company and try to see how it compares with other companies and what it will be like to ask for a pay raise. Do your research and come prepared with facts and data to back up your request. If possible, bring in some statistics from other companies or industries that are relevant to your field (this will help them understand why they need to pay more).
If you’re looking to negotiate a raise, you’re in the right place.
Find the Perfect Timing
Another tip on how to negotiate a pay raise is that you’ll want to make sure that the timing is right. Some companies have a standard time of year when they give raises, but others may have an informal policy that they don’t give raises during certain times of the year, like around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. If this is your situation, you might not want to ask for a pay raise until after those dates have passed.
Use a Professional Approach
Once you’re ready, it’s important that you approach this conversation in a professional way. It’s easy to get nervous and think about how much money we’d love to see on our paycheck each month — but remember that this isn’t just about money; it’s also about your ability to do your job well. You don’t want any distractions from getting the pay raise you deserve. So take some time beforehand and get your thoughts together so that when the time comes to negotiate a pay raise, all you have left are facts. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Be confident, but don’t be arrogant or rude to your boss. The worst that can happen is that they say no! But if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Proof of Accomplishments
Once you’ve figured out where your goal lies, then comes the hard part — convincing them! The best way to do this is by providing data about yourself and your performance that proves why it makes financial sense for them to give you a raise. Keep track of your accomplishments and make sure they’re visible to others, so they can see how valuable you are to the company as well as to yourself. During the conversation with your boss or manager, try to back up your request with the benefits they will get from you if they consider the pay raise idea. Also, discuss the ways you might have handled a particular project, managed a group, or anything that could stand out as a benefit to your boss.
What If they Say No?
Be ready with a plan B if they say no. This will help keep things friendly and professional if things don’t go as planned. You could ask in what ways you could improve your work in order for them to negotiate a pay raise with you much later.
Conclusion
Negotiating a pay raise is a great way to get the salary you deserve at work, and you just have to know how to do it right. It’s important to be clear about what you want and why you deserve it. And it is also advisable to have the conversation in person.