How to Request a Pay Raise

Go In and Ask for the Raise

• Now that your research is done, you should feel capable of handling any outcome with competence and grace. Here are some general tips:

  * Dress nice, take a shower, brush your teeth and don't look like a slob.

  * Be prepared when the conversation doesn't follow your script. If you have prepared well, you will have the answer to any objection on the tip of your tongue. If you can steer the conversation, start by explaining why you feel you deserve a raise.

  * Bring a copy of your accomplishments to hand to your boss. Emphasize without over-elaborating--boring the boss is not in your best interest, either.

  * Let your boss first bring up what the company has to offer; that way, if it exceeds your expectations, you have not shot yourself in the foot by going first. But you can bring up the compensation issue by noting how much others in the field are paid. Again, do not compare yourself to co-workers, just the field in general.

  * When it comes to negotiating, ask for more than you really want, but don't ask for ridiculous amounts: Security will remove you from the premises. Ask for a couple percent more of an increase than you are really expecting, and see what happens.

  This is when your role-playing comes in handy and you can counter every reason for why the company shouldn't or can't oblige you. If luck is with you, your boss will be so impressed by your linguistic ability that he will crack like an egg and fork over the cash. Even if the answer is still no, think of this as the beginning of a conversation, and schedule a time to revisit the topic once you have met some more milestones.

  Above all, remain confident without being cocky. And don't forget: If your current company won't see the light, you are always free to take your talents elsewhere.

  (One final note: Resources.monster.com/tools has a Career Resource Center where you can take a quiz to see if you deserve a raise. Be prepared to answer questions such as, "If you left the company, how easy or hard would it be to replace you?")