How to Ask Your Employer for a Pay Raise

2 years ago

Asking your manager for a raise is not always easy. This generally delicate exercise for many people also seems very perilous and even sometimes stressful in the way in which this request must be formulated, ie respecting a certain number of elements specific to the company. Having good arguments, knowing the salary policy of your company, choosing the right time, or even addressing the right person, are all decisive points in an adequate formulation of a request for a salary increase. Nothing beats good preparation to leave nothing to chance and maximize your chances. to evolve upwards. Remember that asking for a raise will also show your value to the company.

Who To Ask For A Raise?

It is essential to ask your manager, whether he is a decision-maker or not. The latter will then relay the request to his own manager. And there may be a three-way negotiation.

On the other hand, making a request to HR is frowned upon. This puts the manager in an awkward position. You ignore his authority. For smaller structures, a request to HR is less shocking. The team being smaller, the manager does not always have time.

When To Ask For A Pay Raise?

Let's start from a fundamental premise: the perfect time to ask for a salary increase does not exist . There are rather moments to avoid and others, instead, in which it is possible to advance the request with the certainty of not giving oneself the typical shot in the foot.

If the company is going through a dark moment, if there have been some staff cuts recently, if the HR manager has just been changed, it is most likely better to wait for a better time. It is therefore essential to ensure that you gather the right information to interpret the period in which you decide to request a salary change as correctly as possible.

However, the timing is not only related to the situation of the company. In fact, it is also necessary to look at oneself, to identify the right moment. The salary increase must be requested after a reasonable period of time from the hiring and from the last increase received, and especially in a period in which one's performance is good or particularly good. A sales manager could hardly get a pay raise at a time when the company's sales show a clear downturn.

That's not all: in addition to the right period, it is also good to think about the right moment. A request of this kind, it must be said, can not be improvised. Much better or ask for an appointment in advance, without forcing your hand to do so. Otherwise, we would find ourselves talking to a superior who is ill-disposed towards the employee, who is obviously not the best situation for such a request.

The Right Arguments To Negotiate Your Increase

Consider a meeting to negotiate a raise, much like a sales pitch, except for this meeting you are the product, and you need to know your talking points for the presentation. And like any presentation, you need to plan, prepare, and practice before the meeting.

Develop an outline of what you would like to cover when you meet with your manager to negotiate your raise. Include key points, including:

· Your successes to show your financial worth;

· Your performance against your goals;

· Your compensation compared to industry standards;

· Your compensation in relation to your performance.

The combination of multiple factors will allow a favorable outcome to your request: your sector of activity, your profession, your role within the company, your concrete achievements, and also your behavior during confinement.

If you're having trouble seeing how you can ask for a raise without sounding awkward, demanding, or defensive, write a script and repeat what you plan to say to start the discussion:

I love working here and would really love to continue to do so for many years to come. Having said that, given my performance / additional responsibilities/market wages, I believe my current compensation no longer matches the value I now bring to the company.

How To Actually Ask For A Pay Raise

When is an employer willing to grant a pay raise? This request can be satisfied when the increase also becomes an advantage for the company. The salary is in fact the counterpart to the value of the work performed: the professional who ensures a certain level of value to a company deserves to be paid proportionally. It should therefore be remembered that a salary increase must not be a plea or an unfounded request: the employee's objective must therefore be to prove to the employer that the salary increase can be translated into an advantage for the employee. company itself. Starting from these bases, the negotiation must be carried out in a calm and polite way, putting aside emotions and limiting oneself to facts. Under no circumstances should we get to threats or out-outs: the employer already knows very well what the risk is of refusing a salary increase without having good justifications on his side.

At the end of the interview, regardless of the outcome - positive, negative, or waiting for an answer - it is good to thank the employer for the time allowed and avoid talking about what has been discussed with colleagues, so as not to give rise to discontent or frustration.

Know That Your Manager Might Say No

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your request for a raise will be refused, and often due to circumstances other than your performance. For example, the financial health of the company, the current national or international economic situation, and industry-specific strengths may affect your company's ability to deliver a raise.

That's why it's important to think about what you will do if your manager tells you "no" when you ask for a raise.

First, make sure you understand the reasons why you didn't get the raise. Are these reasons yours? If so, work with your manager to come up with a specific plan that will help you get the raise or promotion you want.

You might also find that you've already maximized your potential within the company and it's time to move on. If factors other than your performance play a role in the decision to increase or not to increase compensation, you will need to decide whether you can wait until the business situation improves or if the time is right to start. looking for a new job.

To Sums It Up

It's easier to negotiate a raise at work if you plan and prepare for the discussion. Present your case clearly, concisely, and with confidence. Consider all the positive and negative comments to look for opportunities to improve yourself and signs that it may be time to turn to other employers.

And remember that everyone deserves to be paid according to their worth.