How to Negotiate a Higher Pay
Most employers will offer regular pay raises based on performance. These small raises, typically around 5 percent, are offered to most employees as long as they have been doing their duties as required. If you need and deserve a real raise outside of this cost-of-living increase, you will need to ask for it. This can be a nerve-wracking task, but with the right preparation, you can make your case for higher pay in a professional manner.
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Instructions
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How to Negotiate a Higher Pay
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Set up an appointment with your boss and be professional as you negotiate. Remember that you are trying to reach a compromise that works well for both of you. Be professional, not pushy.
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Schedule the appointment after you have completed a big project or taken on a new responsibility voluntarily. The accomplishment will be fresh on your supervisor's mind as you ask for more money.
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Show your employer how your salary compares to others performing the same tasks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website has salary information for most occupations.
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Outline the ways you have benefited the company by compiling a list of accomplishments to take to your boss. Show your employer why you deserve to be paid more by presenting a neatly typed list of your accomplishments.
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Include in your list any new responsibilities you have taken on since your salary was first negotiated. Also include any training or certifications you have recently received that benefit your company.
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Show your boss a higher salary offer from another company, if you have one. If you are truly an asset to the company, they may increase your pay to keep you from going to the competition.
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Ask what it will take to get a higher pay if the initial answer is no. Take on a new position or work hard for a set period of time to show your boss that you are serious about becoming an asset to the company and earning your higher salary.
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Tips & Warnings
Be realistic in your request. You are not going to get a huge increase in pay if you are new to your job unless you have done something extraordinary for the company. Use ultimatums carefully, because if you tell your boss that you need a raise or you will quit, quitting might end up being your only option.
Never compare yourself to others in the company. Let your merits speak for themselves. Never tell your employer why you need a raise, even if money is getting tight at home. You must show that you deserve a raise because of the way you have benefited your company.
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- Photo Credit Adrian van Leen
