“I know that if I work harder, my boss will notice and give me a raise.”
That’s what you tell yourself as you leave the office at 7 pm five days a week.
But, will your boss notice?
He might, but this will be a slow and painful process.
Most companies won’t go out of their way to notice great employees. It’s up to you to toot your own horn the right way.
I hate to break it to you. But, if you’ve worked at your position for over a year without a raise, you’re doing something wrong. Don’t worry, I’ve failed in the past and still continue to do so. Plus, asking for a raise isn’t easy.
It wasn’t that long ago when I was fresh out of college and clueless to how I’d negotiate my salary. Fortunately, I’d adopted habits that helped me get a raise. And, if these tactics have worked for me, I’m confident they’ll work for you too.
Ready to start making big bucks? If so, here’s your guide on how to ask for the raise you deserve.
Prepare Before Asking for a Raise
You’re feeling pumped. You’ve worked hard for over a year and know that you deserve a raise.
But, before you march into your boss’s office (or cubicle) do your homework. By this, I’m referring to doing some research on what your average salary is for your role.
Don’t overdo this–all you need is a ballpark estimate to what the average salary is in your industry. Go to sites like Glassdoor, Salary, and Payscale to get this information. Then type in your role or company name in their search bar.
Within a few minutes, you’ll have a rough idea for what you should be getting paid.
Take a note for how big the gap is from the average salary and what you’re currently earning. If your salary is on the lower end, don’t worry, use this as your motivation to get paid better.
Be honest with yourself for what skills you’re offering to your employer. If you’re falling behind in any area, read a book or take a course to improve. Another option is to ask your boss for extra work to gain more experience.
Make it your priority to improve, so that you stay sharp with your skills.
Know the Value You Bring
If you’ve never negotiated your salary, I’m betting that it’ll be at the lower end of the industry average.
I know how frustrating this is because I’ve been there. I’d envy others who were getting paid more than I was–especially since I was working hard. But, having this type of mindset won’t do you any good.
If you’re unhappy with your current salary, it’s because you don’t know your worth. So, before you ask your boss for your raise, be clear on what value you bring to your employer.
To know where you stand, write down the relevant skills you bring to your team. For example, as a web designer, a valuable skill can be creating great logos. Write a list of 5 to 10 similar skills that can help you stand out.
Also, research what top skills are in demand for your current job and make improvements here. When you’re valuable, people will take notice. More importantly, knowing you’re valuable will help you negotiate your salary better.
Earn a Meeting with Your Boss
Do you get the “chills” randomly walking to your boss and asking for a raise?
You should because that’s a bad way to ask for something. Would you reach out to someone you’d met at a conference 6 months ago and out of the blue ask for a favor? I hope not.
They’d most likely turn you down. That’s because you haven’t earned the right to ask for a favor. Like this scenario, don’t randomly walk up to your boss asking for a raise.
Instead, work your way up. Ask your boss how he/she thinks you’re performing a few times each month. Then ask what’s needed for you to get a raise.
