I deserve a pay rise: Negotiating your salary

In this blog we discuss one of the most common topics that come up at our workplace, “my boss should give me a raise!”

The reasons may vary from your putting a lot of effort or you have been in the company for so much time. Reasons may be endless, but which of these reasons will get you that pay raise?

In a few points, we will discuss the do’s and don’ts when going to ask for that pay rise from your manager and what you should look into before asking for that raise

Do’s and don’ts of why you deserve a payrise

DO: Focus on why you deserve a payrise

Make a list of everything you’ve accomplished since your previous salary meeting with your boss — have you taken on new management responsibilities? Is your set of skills one-of-a-kind? When you’ve recently finished a successful campaign or project, it’s a good time to ask. Keep in mind that your supervisor may not always see or be aware of what you’re working on. Regularly updating them on smaller initiatives and accomplishments can help you when it comes time to ask for a raise.

DON’T: Focus on why you need a pay rise

Emotional blackmail is never acceptable. While debt, rent, and other expenditures can quickly add up, it’s not a good topic to bring up when talking about a raise. Give your boss good explanations based on your abilities.

DO: Your research

You run the danger of appearing greedy if you request a sum that is too high. If you ask for a modest salary, you may detest working there since you know you could earn more elsewhere.

Investigate what you should be paid in the position you’re applying for, as well as the industry average. Our pay guidelines are a terrific way to find out how much other individuals make.

DON’T: Compare yourself to a coworker

If you happen to know your colleague’s pay, don’t use it as a bargaining chip. Even if you believe you are entitled to a higher salary than someone else, it will be perceived as unprofessional and gossipy. Remember to concentrate on your accomplishments rather than what others are paid.

DO: Practice what you will say

Prepare your speech by writing it down and practising it. It may seem simple, but when it comes to ‘the talk,’ you may become nervous and forget to provide important details. Practice with a member of your family or a friend. It’s preferable to memorize a few essential ideas and then talk to them. If you memorize an entire page, you may forget something and become confused.

DON’T: Give an ultimatum

Don’t give your supervisor an ultimatum unless you’re willing to lose your job. When it comes to money, you must step carefully so as not to come across as demanding or entitled. Be assertive in your request, but mindful of your tone. Concentrate on communicating in a calm, cool, and professional manner.

DO: Pick a time where your boss’s schedule is not busy or stressed

It’s not a good idea to bring up the subject of a raise when your employer is busy or agitated. Check their calendar to make sure you have their full attention and can express yourself at your own pace.

DON’T: ask via email

Sitting face to face with your employer may be intimidating, but it’s the best method to evaluate their reaction and confirm your commitment to the company’s future. While email can be used for scheduling and follow-up, it is preferable to conduct the chat in person.

Research an appropriate pay rise

• Make sure you’re familiar with your company’s pay policies. You are unlikely to earn a raise at any other time if the typical practice is to award salary raises once a year after an annual review. You’ll have a better chance of getting a pay raise if your firm gives more regular increases. Pay attention to what your manager has to say about pay increases.
• Look at the market pay rates for your position. It’s never been easier to obtain information online, yet you should exercise caution when using online predictions and salary calculators. They rarely reflect your local market conditions, including the number of open positions in your area. If you are already paid above your market pay rate, negotiating a pay raise can be difficult. Other factors you may want to consider are the country’s economy and also the company size.
• Take a look at your employee handbook. The procedure for granting salary hikes may be described in the handbook. Following it to the letter is your best shot when requesting a salary raise if a policy or procedure exists. If your employee handbook indicates that your company will only give you a salary raise once a year, you may want to spend time and effort preparing to ask for a rise that isn’t accessible. (There are a variety of reasons for such a policy, including equal treatment of employees and managers’ inability to fairly process pay raise requests and differentiate among employees.)
• To establish your salary competitiveness, network with other employees in similar jobs in a similar industry. Professional organisations also conduct pay surveys and give opportunities for networking with people who work in related fields.

Prepare a presentation

After you’ve completed the steps above, you should have a fair understanding of how competitive your income is in your field. The next step is to assess your work contributions to establish how you will submit your pay raise request to your manager.

Alternatively, you may have established that your salary is competitive. Because you’ll need strong facts to back up your request for a pay raise, ask yourself why you deserve one.

If you can’t justify why you should get a higher salary, it would be best to talk to your manager about how you can qualify for this in future.

• Make a list of the company’s objectives that you have met. Determine how their success has benefited the firm. Cost savings, increased productivity, superior employee development, key projects completed, above-the-call customer service, and other ways you have contributed more than your work requires These accomplishments, if documented, may warrant a wage raise.
• Make a list of any new responsibilities you’ve taken on at work. If you ask for a raise, you can usually get one if you have additional responsibilities, more staff, team management, or unique initiatives.
• In your thoughts, set a pay raise target that looks to reward the contributions and extra duties you’ve documented. Use all of your previous research to ensure that you’re asking for a fair and just pay raise for your position and performance.
• Books, tools, networking, and friends who have successfully negotiated a wage raise can all help you learn about negotiating.
• Set up a meeting with your immediate supervisor or manager to discuss your pay. You don’t want to catch your boss off guard or blindside her. Furthermore, if the manager is unprepared to discuss a raise with you, the meeting will be a waste of time. Your employer will also research with the help of the Human Resources department and industry sources.

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