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Step 1
Envision your Raise and Position
What would you be happy with as a next step in your current company? 10k? 20k? What title are you looking to grab? Develop this realistic picture for yourself and everything will gear towards this in the following steps. Don't just dream for a million dollars. Think about what you would be comfortable with. Realize companies rarely raise someone each year past 10k. -
Step 2
Make a list
Make a list of everything you know needs changing at your workplace. It is preferred that you focus this list towards the area you envisioned working for or improving.
It can be that the kitchen needs an overhaul. The copy room needs some major organization. Everyone is tired of how slow a particular department is at paperwork. The receptionist looks stoned on a daily basis. They never have any diet coke in the machine. You don't get to be apart of meetings that you would like to be. The quality control aspect of your team is about as effective as a blind man walking in the desert.
All of these things you wrote on the list are ways for you to get your raise. All of the power you need is in your brain right now as you read this. There is no special "Raise Fairy" that hits a lucky few and decides to take off to Jamaica when your name comes up.
A lot of people who really want raises and don't see money coming their way each year, are probably thinking that the company owes them and simply doing the status quo is enough. It isn't. Getting a raise means "We feel bad we work you so much so here is more money".
That's the truth. Companies are inclined to give raises when they know you do a lot for them. So make sure you actually go above and beyond so that they can't use that as an excuse not to pay you more.
The best way to get a raise is to have a great record behind you that makes it very difficult for the company to resist. If they lost you they would have to re-train two people to do your job. That's the best situation to be in. Companies don't like to give raises simply because you have been there for 5 years. -
Step 3
Develop and Integrate a Plan
For each item you listed out, write down how you would resolve this issue. If you really think a department is too slow, think about what you can do to improve it and do the legwork on some extra research. Time how long it takes for a document to pass through the cycle. Develop variables so that you can have something to compare it to later on when you resolve this problem.
Start integrating your plans in your daily activities without being asked to do so. If you are a manager of a team then be proactive and fix the areas on your list that you think need attention. If some items on your list are not within the scope of your authority, then bring your plan of action to your boss. Ask them if you can get it done. 99% of the time the boss is going to say YES..GO DO IT.
The thing is, you have to love making the company better. If you can do that, you are golden. Picking your own projects to showcase this is the best way to motivate yourself. Remember to help people around you as well. A team player who can stay an extra 30 minutes to help on a project that isnt even your responsiblity is by far a HUGE positive attribute that all employers want to keep around. -
Step 4
Understand the way your Company handles MONEY
Most companies give a standard raise every year. They normally budget for the payroll several months before they give out these raises. So, they already know what they have to give you and there usually is not much room for negotiation.
In order to get a raise you have to either apply for a new position, create your own position and/or make yourself invaluable.
In some cases if you completed all 3 steps above, management will bring up your name for opportunities in meetings without you even having to try. Opportunities means you now have a chance to ask for a raise with those projects. I often will have a project come up and think.."who is really striving to be involved on my team who I'd like to give this project to?" You want to be that person.
If you do not allow yourself to have these opportunities, management will not see your worth over and above what you already make.
If a position opens up in the company that pays more, by all means apply to it and show some forethought on how you would be the best candidate. Steps 1 and 2 should already have proven your worth in this area.
If you do your homework right, you may even find that the company does not have a position that would greatly impact the efficiency of a department. If this is the case, presenting a great plan to the company is not a bad idea and often times has resulted in entirely new titles and pay scales for the individual.
If you feel that you want to go cold turkey into your boss's office and ask for more money, they will not answer favorably unless you follow all of these steps. It normally takes a lot of time and effort for them to get the change approved on the budget. Also, if you catch and plan for this raise early on, you can already be on their minds when they start budgeting for raises. You can plan a nice "status" meeting with your boss and say, I wanted to really gear my position towards growth. So, for the next 6 months can I develop these areas and we can meet before budgets are approved? It not only allows your boss to be aware of your desire, he or she will be inclined to notice your efforts on a weekly basis and put in a good word for you on their own.
If you do everything listed on here and your company refuses to see the light, then it is suggested that you look for a new job. Moving around to different companies with more growth potential is sometimes the way to go if all else fails.
