Career Advice

Boost Your Salary: Tips for Nailing a Raise Request

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Asking for a raise is one of those things that is easy to do if you get it right. If you don’t, you could find that you’ve ruined your chances of changing up your salary for a good few months, and you may also leave your boss with some serious doubts about ever giving you one. However, if you know how to go about it, and you can prove that you’re deserving of the cash, then you’ll be well on your way to increasing your annual income.

If you want to secure yourself a great raise, then keep these things in mind!

Your boss has no obligation to give you a raise

Sure, we’d all like to get a bit more cash for what we’re doing. However, your boss is in no way obliged to give you a higher salary, unless they are paying you below the national minimum wage. Because of this, it’s pretty counterproductive to storm into their office and demand that you’re given what you deserve.

In short, it’s pretty important to remember that you’re asking for more cash, and proving that you’re worth spending it. Don’t approach this with the attitude that your boss has to meet certain obligations set by you, as this will only serve to ruin your chances of actually getting the increase in pay that you want.

Asking for a raise is one of those things that is easy to do if you get it right. If you don’t, you could find that you’ve ruined your chances of changing up your salary for a good few months, and you may also leave your boss with some serious doubts about ever giving you one.

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Knowing your boss’ mindset is key

Making sure that you get a raise is wholly dependent upon how well you understand your boss’ mind. Perhaps your boss is incredibly sales-minded and will be more willing to give you an increase in pay if you show that your sales have increased. Or maybe, they just prefer their employees to approach them in a certain way.

Whatever it is, working out how your boss ticks is important. It means that you’ll always know the right time and place and that you will always pose the question to them in a way that guarantees your success. Sure, it may seem a little excessive, but if you want to get that raise, then work this out.

You need to get the timing right

Getting a raise is as much about timing as it is about execution. If you know that the company that you’re working for is facing financial hardship, for example, then it’s a good idea to wait a little and ask for the increase that you want when the hard times have passed. Sure, it’s annoying, but it will be a lot more fruitful if you wait it out.

Another thing to keep in mind is the beginning and the end of the financial year. If you prolong your request for a raise and don’t take the first steps until the budget has been finalized within the business, then you can be pretty sure that your ask is going to be rejected. Time it right, and you’ll be glad that you did.

Showing your skills is important

If you’re going to get a raise, you need to ensure that you’re proving your value to your employer. Think about all of the reasons that you should get a rise in your income before you head to the meeting, and note these things down. Are you always punctual and efficient, and have you shown a degree of loyalty to the company?

If you’re not sure about this, then getting in some extra qualifications could be of use. Sign up for the class, make sure that you secure that great grade by using Exam Topics, and show your boss that you’re taking steps to progress within the company. If they can see that you’re being proactive, you’ve got more of a chance.

Always ask for feedback

Sometimes, your boss will deny your request for a raise. Perhaps it isn’t in the budget, or you haven’t done enough to prove to them that you’re a real asset to the company. Of course, they have every right to do this, and you should never just expect to increase your income simply because you’ve posed the question.

However, asking for feedback is absolutely vital for your success in the future. There are two important things to ask: ‘Why didn’t I get the raise?’ and ‘What can I do next time to ensure that I do get it?’ The latter question will really help you to increase your chances in the future, so don’t be afraid to ask it.

“Even if you love your work, the fact of the matter might be that you wish you earned more money. Checking up on wage equality at Hired.com is certainly a good idea, but it’s also best to do everything possible to make employers want to pay you what you’re asking for, or at least be willing to offer you a raise. Here are few things you can do to effectively increase your overall earning potential.”

Be as patient as you can

From the moment that you ask for a raise, you’re wondering what your boss is thinking. In fact, you may be waiting every day for an answer, and this is totally normal when you’ve been through this process. However, you have to accept that there is nothing that you can do about how long your boss is taking to decide.

Pestering them, and wanting to know when you’re getting that raise all of the time, will simply make your chances even worse. Wait around a week or so, and then send a follow-up email, or request to have a short meeting. If you’re always knocking at the door and asking for an answer, your boss will most likely find this intolerable.

Know your worth to the company

Some people ruin their prospects of getting a raise because they ask for too much, and others miss out because they ask for too little. If you go all out and ask your boss for a lot of money, the likelihood is that they will dismiss your request, and probably never consider any of your future requests, either.

Look into what others with your job title earn, and make sure that you find this outside of the company (asking your colleagues about their wages is a bad idea, and won’t help your cause). Then, come up with a reasonable figure, and ask for that. Know how much you could get elsewhere, and how much you should be getting.

So…

If you want to get a raise, then keep these things in mind. If you approach it properly, you should be able to secure a higher income in no time, so don’t hesitate to organize that meeting!

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12/09/2024 09:08 pm GMT

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