The majority of people shudder at how to ask their boss for a raise. Asking can be your only option if your firm doesn’t offer regular annual wage raises and you’re not eligible for a promotion. You should be aware that asking for a raise is completely acceptable, and that the majority of company managers and business owners want to look out for their employees. So, in this article, we’ll show you how to effectively ask your boss for a raise.
Even though the procedure seems unsettling and intimidating, it need not be, especially if you know your boss. You will feel more comfortable starting the conversation if you do your research and are prepared with the necessary information.
When to Request A Raise From Your Boss
You will need to take the initiative and decide when to request a raise from your boss if your company doesn’t offer annual raises. To increase your chances of success, carefully plan out your request. The following are some of the ideal moments to request a raise:
- Following a stellar performance evaluation
- When a significant project is finished,
- When you accept additional duties, etc.
- When the company has had a successful quarter financially and it has been a year or more since you received a raise
- If you obtain a job offer from a different organization
- When your supervisor is feeling upbeat
consider the following:
- When was the last time your pay was increased?
- How has your work performance justified a pay raise?
- How has your professional accomplishment influenced the rise in the company’s revenue?
- Why do you think you currently require a pay raise?
Why Do You Want a Raise?
The crucial question to respond to is this one. When asking your boss for a raise, make a list of all the reasons why you desire one. Don’t ask for a raise because your rent increased or because you’re annoyed that your coworker doesn’t put in as much effort yet is paid the same as you.
Your request should be supported by arguments that are based on your performance and the value you provide to the team and the corporation.
When Should I Ask My Boss for a Raise?
The first thing is to understand when to ask for a raise. When searching for the ideal timing, keep in mind the following factors:
#1. Before Computing All the Numbers
Your boss could wish to boost your pay, but if you ask after the budget is set, they might not be able to. Prior to the start of the next fiscal year, budgeting is completed. Government fiscal years often run from October 1 to September 30 of the following year, while retail fiscal years typically run from February 1 to January 31. (school district). Ask if you’re uncertain.
#2. When You Have Your Yearly Review
An annual review offers a smooth transition to the subject of pay. Your objectives, significant accomplishments, and future with the organization will already be up for discussion. Remember that the timing of your annual review might not line up nicely with the budgeting period.
#3. Once You’ve Completed an Incredible Task
You want to have leverage when you request a raise. Remember that you are a confident career professional with much to offer and that this is a negotiation. There is one important point to keep in mind here, and we’ll discuss it further in the section after this. You’ve demonstrated indisputable proof that you’re a valuable asset if you’ve finished a major project or task (and nailed it).
What to Anticipate After You Ask Your Boss for a Raise
Give your manager some time to think about your request for a raise after you make it. Thank them in person, and then later that day, in a brief follow-up email, explain the important points of your conversation and thank them once more.
In the majority of businesses, managers must seek input from others before approving a raise. Follow up to check if they have made a choice if you don’t hear back within a week.
Don’t give up if you didn’t obtain the rise you sought. Ask your manager if there are any alternative benefits that the company can offer, such as more vacation days. To increase your chances of earning a raise in the near future, find out what other skills you may learn or certifications you can earn.
How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise Examples
Here are a few examples of how to ask your boss for a raise:
#1. Find Your Benchmark
Do some market research before requesting a raise. What should you be making exactly? Payscale, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn are all excellent resources for salary information searches.
Your pay does vary depending on where you live and factors like whether you work for a corporation, a small business, or a nonprofit. Make sure your request is appropriate for your skill set and experience, taking into account the number of years of experience you have.
#2. Use the slow-burn technique
Don’t ask for a wage raise in an unexpected manner during your one-on-one with your manager. Instead, inform them in advance that you’d like to talk about it, and then make sure to schedule it. This can be done in an email or at the conclusion of a meeting.
#3. Practice Your Lines
Have a plan and prepare your remarks in advance of the meeting.
A simple framework will make you sound and feel more certain.Each of the aforementioned tips has a number of instances; but, what if none of them apply to
#4. Be Able to Act
Just as crucial as all the planning you did beforehand is how you come across in this encounter. Vanessa demonstrates how to control your body language to support what you have to say in this video.
How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise Email
- Request for Meeting – Subject: Your Name
- Good day, Mr/Mrs ……
I appreciate the chance to serve as XYZ nonprofit’s development coordinator for you. My duties at XYZ have greatly increased over the past three years, and not only do I constantly fulfill all of these duties, but I also do it with exceptional quality. Thus, I’d want to politely ask for a meeting to discuss my pay.
As you are aware, since I was hired in 2021, my salary has not changed. Since then, I’ve gladly increased my workload with a few tasks that have helped me give the company more of what I have to offer. As an illustration, I volunteered to create a quarterly newsletter, and I’m now in charge of writing, formatting, and printing the magazine.
I think that my improved contributions to the organization and my new credentials warrant a wage increase.
I would adore the chance to speak with you about a pay increase. I’m interested in hearing from you.
Sincerely,
First name. Lastname@email.com Lastname Development Coordinator XYZ Nonprofit 123 North Street Jingles, OH 45202 562-572-5333
How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise Text
We want you to be prepared with the strongest possible argument for a raise when you enter your (planned) meeting with your manager. Here’s how to get ready.
#1. Compile all of the compliments you’ve received since your most recent performance evaluation.
Setting up a folder on your computer or on your text account to keep all the notes from clients, your employer, and your coworkers complimenting you on a job well done is helpful.
This is what we like to refer to as your “smile file”; it’s a tidy space containing examples of the excellent work you produce.
This is why we believe it is crucial to consistently perform routine self-evaluations. In addition to any official annual review or performance review you may have with your supervisor, you also do these regular reviews of your work.
#2. Always Bring Status and Data
You’re keeping a thorough record of all your recent and previous accomplishments with your self-evaluations. As numbers and facts speak louder than any other type of information, they serve as the “glue” for your Ask.
#3. Plan Your Contributions to the Team for the Upcoming Year (and Beyond)
While your manager wants to know that you’re committed to the long term, you’re asking for this increase because you’ve shown that you’ll go above and beyond in your current position.
If you do receive this increase, how do you intend to continue developing within the organization? Consider where you want your career to go for a while.
#4. Consider the Reasons Your Boss could want to give you more Money and the Season
If they gave you the raise, would that mean they’d have a reliable manager? Would your pay increase help them avoid the dreaded turnover period and lengthy application process by preventing the possibility of you leaving? Would being more client-focused come with your promotion?
What to Say to Ask for a Raise?
#1. Think Carefully about When to Act
You will approach your manager to make this raise request, and remember that your manager is a person with typical human emotions. Therefore, you shouldn’t approach him/her to discuss your salary when he or she is particularly busy, having a bad day, or anxious about upcoming budget cuts. On the other hand, now might be a particularly good time to make the request if you’ve recently saved the day with a crucial client, received excellent reviews for a high-profile project, or your boss has recently seemed particularly pleased with you.
#2. Be Aware of the Value of Your Work and Begin by Doing Online Research
Ideally, you shouldn’t answer salary questions before understanding the salary range for the work you do and the region in which you do it (since there can be big variations by region). When requesting a raise, it can be persuasive to argue that you are underpaid for the market. Or, if you discover that you are already earning the highest salary in the industry, you should take that into account when determining what kind of raise would be reasonable.
#3. Understand the Budget and Raise Cycles at Your Company
Pay attention to when that typically occurs if your employer typically grants raises once per year. That can fall close to the anniversary of your start date in some organizations. Others may determine everyone’s pay at the same time, perhaps once a year in December, in accordance with your employer’s fiscal year and budgeting procedures. Plan to start the conversation with your supervisor at least a month or two before the formal procedure starts once you are aware of when that occurs. It might be too late for her to make changes if you wait until raise decisions have been made.
#4. Say Thanks to Your Boss
Whatever the outcome of the discussion about your wage request, thank your management for their time. Send them a follow-up text later that day or the next day that summarizes your justifications for asking for a raise and offers a synopsis of your conversation.
This text will make it simpler for your manager to speak with someone else on your behalf if they need to inquire about your raise. This text can be used as a transcript of the conversation if they reject your request for a raise. In the event that you decide to reapply for a raise in the future, you may use the information in this email as support.
What Not to Say When Asking for a Raise
The following phrases should never be used when requesting a raise.
#1. I Require Additional Funds Due to my Mounting Debt
Simply said, sharing this information with your employer would be inappropriate. And if you work for a financial institution, you must refrain from saying this. At the end of the day, your boss doesn’t really care if you’re struggling to make ends meet. He or she is interested in whether you are capable of performing the task for which you were hired.
#2. I Desire an Increase of X%
Raising amounts are usually determined by the company’s financial resources as well as merit. Additionally, it is advised to find out the going rate for the kind of work you do before you start making demands.
#3. I’m Quitting if You Don’t Give me a Raise
If you say something like this, you’ll probably be asked to leave. There are probably many candidates lining up to replace you at a lower salary. Do not ever feel the need to threaten your manager. It won’t go well, I’m sure. “Threatening to quit your job if you don’t get a raise is one thing you should never say when asking for a raise.” “In the worst case, your employer might accept that as a resignation notice,” “Money Crashers personal finance contributor David Bakke forewarned.
#4. I Need to Get Paid More
The precise timing of your raise is not really up to you to decide. It doesn’t normally work that way, even though you would desire your compensation to grow by a specific date. Thus, refrain from giving your boss an ultimatum.
You have to work for your employer’s incentives since you don’t deserve them (most of the time, anyway). Without providing a solid justification, asserting your merit for a raise makes you appear conceited and entitled. Instead of saying what you deserve, highlight your most recent successes.
What is a Good Reason to Ask for a Raise?
#1. You Take Action
Employers typically appreciate workers who take the effort to undertake things on their own initiative. You can demonstrate initiative by constantly looking for new projects to work on, asking people for help, or requesting new initiatives. Creating and presenting a solution to top management for a problem you identified within the organization is another approach to demonstrate initiative.
#2. You’re Trustworthy
Employers frequently seek out workers they can rely on to complete their tasks competently without needing to be micromanaged, and they usually seek out people who can consistently deliver on their promises. If you consistently submit high-quality work on time or even early, you might be eligible for a raise. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that it’s frequently preferable to submit an outstanding project on the day it’s due rather than a project that’s only passable.
#3. You go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
One of the best justifications for a raise is frequently your work performance. Taking on extra duties, going above and beyond quotas, and assisting coworkers are all examples of going above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, as an editor in the marketing division, your main duties are to copy edit, and proofread documents. Yet, if the department’s writers are falling behind on their responsibilities, you typically help them.
#4. You Acquire New Abilities
If you look for opportunities to develop new talents or hone ones you currently have, you might be entitled to a raise. This could entail participating in your company’s professional development programs, obtaining a certification relevant to your line of work, or finishing classes or seminars at a nearby university. Speak with your supervisor or a human resources manager if you want to develop your skills but are unsure of where to begin. They can frequently recommend workshops or skills to develop for your career path.
#5. You Support the Business’s Success
If you consistently produce work that contributes to the success of the company, you might be deserving of a raise. Depending on your position within the company, your value to it might change. For instance, if you work in sales, you might create a presentation that persuades a key client to sign a lucrative contract, resulting in financial gains for the business. Another illustration would be if you were a graphic designer who consistently went above and beyond your weekly assignments and only had a few clients ask for edits, increasing client satisfaction and workplace effectiveness.
#6. You have a Cheerful Outlook
Employers frequently seek out candidates that are upbeat, good team players, and likable. Your optimism could come off as excitement for your work, and you might draw in coworkers who want to collaborate with and identify with you. Also, keeping a pleasant attitude rather than a negative or passive-aggressive attitude could enhance teamwork and collaboration.
Conclusion
Setting up a “career-only” conversation with your supervisor beforehand is one technique to find out about their objectives. Here, you will discover their long-term objectives and how your manager sees you fitting into his or her plans. The fact that you don’t even need to bring up money in this talk will relieve some of your anxiety, but it will also give you more time to prepare your request for a pay increase.
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