Do you want to ask for a pay raise and get your salary increase? Asking your boss for a raise at work is highly depending on how your current salary compares to the average pay, the salary range of your job, and the value you bring to the company.
Even when your boss or manager recognized that you are a great employee and having all the required soft and hard skills, you’ll need to find the right time to request for a raise, and the best time to ask is during your performance review.
Negotiating a pay rise can be nerve-wracking, learning how to ask your manager for a salary raise is never easy, thus here are some best tips and scripts you can use to help you get the salary you deserve.
Best Tips to Ask For A Pay Raise at Work
1. Time it Right
Timing is always one of the key aspects when performing negotiation, especially when you’re asking for a salary increment.
Do not ask for a pay increase during bad times such as:
- When it is a bad time for the company where many others are being laid off
- When there has been a cutback in revenues to the company.
- When your boss is in a bad mood where everyone is rushing to get things done.
Generally, these scenarios will not be a good time to get your boss to discuss a pay raise.
Ask for a pay increase during the right time such as:
- When you’ve completed of an important and critical project with great feedbacks.
- When there is an announcement where the overall company revenue have increased.
- When you are complimented for your expectational good work by your client is exceptionally that have lead to an increase of sales or revenue.
These are some of the best times when you can approach your boss from a positive rather than a negative stance. Your chances of getting a pay raise can be much higher.
Timing is the Key
Take Note:
If you just join a company for less than a year. You should probably not focus on getting a pay raise, but instead, focus on providing value to the company. You don’t want to be seen as you are just here for the money.
We know some work for passion but many work for a living which includes your boss, but more importantly, you have to deliver what you are hired for.
Deliver before you ask
Show your employers you are worth the extra penny with your achievements, then negotiate for the pay raise.
2. Know Your Value
Before asking for a raise, you must first know your value for the company, and where you stand in terms of your pay rate compared with your peers.
Your pay generally depends on 3 factors:
- Your experience in the industry
- Your position in the company
- Your ability to perform such as the list of skills you know.
Do proper research to find out the industry numbers for people who are working in similar jobs as you. Payscale.com, and Glassdoor.com, are some of the websites you can use to check your pay rate in comparison with the thousands of others in the world.
If you find out you’re underpaid, you can use that to negotiate an increase. Companies generally will do a pay adjustment once a year, some may even try to match your payment to the industrial average. But all these are linked to your performance in the job and company.
If you want to improve your performance, the best way is to upskill yourself through online learning platforms.
Here are some other things you can do during your research:
- Take a Salary survey
- Understand the cost-of-living comparisons
- Understand rates of compensation within your organization
Take Note:
If you know that your colleagues are earning more than you. Don’t mention it to your employer. As you do not want to put others in a negative situation or violate the company’s written or unwritten rule about knowing your colleague’s salary.
Be as objective as possible and only use the industrial average that is available publicly to negotiate your pay raise. Simply present what the field generally pays, and why you deserved to be above average in terms of pay.
3. Schedule a Meeting
Managers are always busy and always seem to be running around somewhere or at some meeting, you never know what they have.
But you may not want to have your salary negotiation cut short because your manager needs to rush to the next meeting in 5 minutes’ time.
You want your manager to have their full attention on you in the meeting so that you can convince them that you deserved a pay raise.
Check with your manager’s schedule, if your manager has a 2-hour time slot free. Ask him/her if it is alright for you to schedule a meeting with him/her. Give your manager a quick head up that you want to chat about your career growth, he/she will probably make sure ample time is given for the discussion.
Example:
“Hi John, I am wondering if you are available next Wednesday for a short discussion? Probably the discussion will take around an hour of your time, as it is in regards to my career growth with the company.”
4. Practice with a Friend
Discussion on pay raises can be difficult, this can lead to an awkward conversation. To overcome such awkwardness, the best way is to practice.
Get a friend or two who is a tough negotiator. Practice with them and give them a green light to keep asking you tough questions.
Discuss what is the best way to answer each of the questions, and take note of the answers you did well, and those that you don’t.
Tips:
If you have a friend who is a people manager, or from the human resource department who has experience interviewing candidates, ask that friend for help as well.
A friend who is a people manager knows the attribute they are looking for when identifying candidates to promote, or candidates to hire. These attributes that they are looking for are specific. Usually, similar attributes to those when they need to determine if you deserve to get your pay raise.
5. Be Positive
Behavioral experts suggest that in a negotiation if you kick off a conversation on a positive note, it usually keeps the person you are talking to at ease. And this is one of the main factors that determine the success of the negotiation.
This is true for our everyday life as well. If the person whom you are talking to sounds aggressive or negative, you tend to shut off from what he/she is going to say and will usually disagree with everything he/she said.
On the other hand, if the person is optimistic and vibrant, he/she tends to attract others and people will be much more willing to agree with what the person says.
Example
You can start the conversation with something like this,
“I really enjoy working here and love the challenge. In the recent years, the scope of my work has expanded quite a bit. And just recently I have completed a few major projects that have help to bring us increase revenues for the years to come. I believe my roles and responsibilities, and my contributions have risen. I will like to discuss with you about my career progression and the possibilities of reviewing my compensation.”
6. Know Your Achievement
Did you just complete a major project or closed a deal with a major client? These are some of the achievements you can use to state your case.
Do a quick review yourself and find the best achievement you have achieved recently. These achievements have to be ones that provide tones of value to the company.
Give your best case for why you should get a pay raise to your manager.
Pause and listen to what they have to say. If they find your case common or do not have much impact on the company, but are positive about your request.
Strengthen your case with what you have done exceptionally. This can help your manager to push for your pay raise.
Tips
Negotiating for a pay raise usually depends on how much have you contributed to the company.
If you provides lots of value to the company, your manager will probably wants you to feel appreciated.
Your chances of success when negotiating for a pay raise will be much higher.
Make your case based on your research and your achievements. The worst they can say is “no”.
Remember: Don’t use threats or mislead your manager that you have an outside offer. This doesn’t reflect well on you.
7. Get an Endorsement
Remember the referral that your employer ask when you first apply for the job? Getting endorsed can be one of the most powerful ways to show your manager that you deserved a raise.
Getting an endorsement is basically getting others to tell your boss that you are an important asset to the company and to the team. Your effort has helped them in some way or another.
As mentioned in ResearchGate,
“Getting a third party endorsement (TPE) is one of the most powerful forces in the universe for anyone to market a product.”
And in this case, you are the product that is being marketed.
Ask the person who is in a position to endorse your effort or work by saying how have you helped them in their task. They can help to endorse you in many ways.
Some Ways to Endorse:
- Phone Call to your manager
- E-mail of thanks by keeping your manager and the other management team in the loop
- Through the system that the company has set in place to aid in the recognition of employees
The more that your manager hears about your work and how it has contributed to the company’s goals. The stronger you will be in a position to be seen as someone who deserved some form of recognition. And in this case, in the form of pay raise.
Another quick way to get an endorsement is through LinkedIn, the social media giant for professionals. Just drop your coworkers a message and ask for an endorsement on your LinkedIn profile. In a matter of minutes, you will probably get 5 to 10 endorsements if you know who to ask.
What To Say When You Ask For a Pay Rise (Example Script)
Example: Focusing on Contribution and Market Research
“Hello [Manager’s Name],
I hope you’re well. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of this team and contributing to our successes. Over the past year, I’ve been involved in key projects like [mention specific projects] and received positive feedback.
After researching industry salaries for my position, I’ve found that my current compensation is below the market average. I’ll like to discuss my salary and will like to request a pay raise and review of my current salary.
I’m excited to continue contributing to our team’s growth and success. Your guidance on this matter would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards, [Your Name]
Example: Highlighting Achievements and Responsibility
“Dear [Manager’s Name],
I’m proud of our team’s achievements, particularly [mention specific achievements]. Colleagues and clients have recognized my contributions, which motivates me to excel further.
Considering my achievements and since it have been a year since my last salary review, I’d like to talk about adjusting my salary to meet the national salary average and adjust my salary to reflect this higher responsibility I am currently taking.
I’m eager to continue contributing and would value your guidance on this.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warm regards, [Your Name]”
Example: Emphasizing Skills and Dedication
“Hello [Manager’s Name],
I’ve enjoyed my time at [Company Name], contributing to our successes. I’ve worked on projects like [mention specific projects] and continuously exceed in expectation.
However the salary data shows I am below the average salary for the annual salary range for my position. And since my last raise was over a year ago, I think it is reasonable to ask to revisit my current pay.
I’m committed to our team’s success and would like to discuss a pay raise during our performance review.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards, [Your Name]”
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