How to Ask for a Raise: 5 Tips for Discussing Salary

Salary raises are a way for employers to reward great work. Some raises might come with a change in job title in the case of a promotion, while others might be more modest end-of-year increases with no real change in employee status other than increased seniority. For employees, raises are a way to keep up with the cost of living and feel a sense of value.

Pay raises are a built-in incentive for employees to do the best work they can at all times. Alongside perks like vacation time and insurance benefits, annual raises can keep people engaged and happy at their jobs. This stands to benefit employers as well. If they’re stingy with employee salaries, their workers are more likely to look for employment elsewhere, with companies willing to provide greater compensation.

Some companies promote or give raises throughout the year, whereas others have a set period of time in which they award merit increases. Choose a time when you feel like it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to talk with your manager about your current salary.

Preparing for difficult tasks helps reduce anxiety about performing them. These tips will help you feel ready to ask for a raise:

• Assess any new responsibilities. Ask yourself whether or not you now have any additional responsibilities at your company beyond your initial job description. If your current role is far more expansive now than it used to be, outline what’s changed and how you’ve risen to the task. This will help build a strong case for additional compensation.
• Collect praise throughout the year. Each time someone compliments you on your work ethic, team performance, or another element of your skill set, make a note of it. Especially when coming from your manager, these sorts of positive comments are valuable points in favor of you receiving a raise. A long track record of good behavior and excellent performance over the past year can go a long way.
• Consider the timing. Think about the time of year before you ask for a raise. If you’re close to an annual review, you should feel comfortable bringing the subject up with your boss. Still, there might be certain extenuating circumstances. For example, if your company just announced a round of layoffs, it’s possible they aren’t in the financial state to hand out raises.

Approach your employer with common sense and courtesy as you ask for a pay increase. Keep these tips in mind as you start a raise conversation with your manager:

1. 1. Articulate your value. Meet with your employer in person or over video conferencing software to talk about your performance over the last year. Bring up compliments they’ve given you and any positive feedback coworkers have shared with you, too. Talk about what you bring to the company and why you’re glad to give it your all every day.
2. 2. Be reasonable. Recognize you might not receive an answer right away. Your manager will likely have to talk to human resources and the executive team. Additionally, ask for a reasonable pay raise given relevant salary data. Shooting for the moon will make you appear unserious.
3. 3. Do your research. Try to gauge the average market rate for someone in your position with your years of experience. Perform salary research on similar roles, so you can negotiate if necessary. If you have a performance review every year, ask your manager for information on the metrics your company uses. This way, you can tailor your performance to their expectations.
4. 4. Focus on the future, too. As you highlight your excellent work from the past, ensure your manager knows your recent accomplishments are just a prologue of things to come. End your conversation with a concrete percentage or number you’re looking for as well as a set of goals you plan to achieve to justify such a pay increase for the next year.
5. 5. Stay professional. Try to focus on professional reasons for the raise. Articulating more personal reasons might create discomfort for both you and your manager. Avoid giving ultimatums as they can backfire.

The time after you ask for a salary increase can be especially nerve-wracking. Keep these tips in mind after making your raise request:

• Be ready for any answer. Just because you want a higher salary doesn’t mean you’ll end up getting one. Sometimes this might be a sign you have a toxic employer. For example, if they refuse to even pay you market value, it’s likely time to move on if possible. In other cases, they might have legitimate performance-based or financial reasons for holding off on a raise.
• Continue working diligently. If you get your raise, make sure your employer believes it was a good decision. Continue working with the same level of enthusiasm as you did before. This will set you up for yet another pay increase in the near future.
• Express gratitude regardless. No matter what your employer says, be courteous and gracious in your response. If you do get a raise, express your gratitude through both word and action. If you don’t, use common sense to assess whether your current employer has valid reasons to hold off on giving you a reason for now. If you conclude they don’t, maintain cordiality with your current employer as you seek higher pay by fielding new job offers from recruiters.

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