What Is the Professional Way of Asking for a Salary Increase?
If you have worked in the same job for some time and have not received an increase in your pay, you could feel frustrated and think that your employer does not appreciate your work or place a sufficient value on what you do. In reality, if you do not ask for a raise, you might never receive one.
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Determine the Going Rate
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You are in a better position to negotiate salary if you know the market value of your services. Research what other people in similar positions with similar responsibilities earn. Check with trade associations or salary comparison services to obtain an average. If your salary is significantly above the average for a similar position, you have less chance of receiving a raise based on this comparison alone, and you might need to approach your request differently.
Show Your Accomplishments
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Maintain a list of your professional accomplishments. If your performance has measurably increased sales or profits, or delivered some other measurable goal, it could demonstrate to management that you should be paid more for what you can do. If your position makes it more difficult to quantify the value of the benefits that you provide, show other evidence, such as letters from customers or even your management. Remind your manager of the big project that you led and other areas where you have excelled.
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Benefits and Perks
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If a salary increase is not in the future, or if the increase is not what you expected, negotiate for other concessions. Increased vacation time and flexible scheduling could be important to you. You might be able to negotiate to receive a company car. The possibilities for perks are endless, and any concessions could help your job satisfaction more than the extra money would.
Specific Amount
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When you ask for a salary increase from your boss, ask for a specific amount. Base the number on reality, and you can explain why you are asking for the specific salary increase. Negotiate the amount from this specific request. You can measure your boss' reaction to your request by looking for nonverbal clues. If the feedback is negative, and you are not getting anywhere, delay your request until another time.
The Future
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If your employer does not give you a salary increase at this moment, ask why. Show empathy if the reason is that the company cannot afford it, particularly if you see other evidence of this. Ask your manager what you can do to earn a raise in the future, and then work to meet his specific suggestions.
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