5 Tips for Asking for a Raise
Negotiating a raise will help you achieve your career goals, and possibly improve your boss’s perception of you! These tips on successfully asking for a raise can also help you figure out your own job performance.
“A lot of women have difficulty asking for raises,” writes Jennifer Barrett in The Smart Cookies’ Guide to Making More Dough. “Maybe we’re worried about ‘rocking the boat’ and causing resentment among colleagues or tension with our boss.”
For more great tips on achieving your financial goals, click on The Smart Cookies’ Guide to Making More Dough, compiled by Jennifer Barrett. And, read on for tips on asking for a raise and achieving your career goals…
5 Tips for Asking for a Raise
1. Figure out why you deserve a raise. If you’ve exceeded the expectations of your job and can cite specific ways you’ve gone above and beyond your job duties, then you’re in a great position to ask for a raise. “Have you had feedback from your manager that you’re doing well?” asks Barrett in The Smart Cookies’ Guide to Making More Dough. “Be sure to mention this when you discuss getting a raise. This will boost your evaluation.” If you’ve demonstrated your commitment to the company, share how when you ask for a raise.
2. Decide how much money you want. To achieve your career goals, here’s a specific tip on asking for a raise: decide beforehand if you’re looking for a certain percentage wage increase or a specific amount of money. Good negotiation skills also dictate that you ask for more than you’d settle for, in case your boss comes back with a lower amount. But, Barrett cautions you to be realistic.
3. Pick the right time to ask for a raise. “Be careful not to schedule a meeting with your boss during a particularly busy period or after some bad financial news,” writes Barrett. “Pick a time when you know he or she will be relaxed and in a good mood.” To ask for a raise successfully, she also recommends giving your boss enough advance notice for both of you to prepare.
4. Be prepared. To achieve your career goals, put yourself in your boss’s shoes. Prepare a list of your achievements and commitment to the business, and gather specific details. Explaining how your accomplishments have benefited the company is a great tip on asking for a raise.
5. Be realistic. “If you’re in a job that has fixed pay scales, be familiar with how you can move to the next level,” writes Barrett in The Smart Cookies’ Guide to Making More Dough. “Remember that some positions are locked into a salary or, at least, a salary range – if you’re part of a union, for example – so find out what you can do to advance to the next level as quickly as possible.” Plus, if your company is suffering financially because of the poor economy, there may not be a lot of money available for raises.
Have you ever asked for a raise – and did you get it? Share your tips below – you’ve got info we can learn from!
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