It’s no secret that many people are struggling to make ends meet. In this economy, it can be hard to find a job that pays well enough to cope with the increasing cost of living. That said, the thought of approaching your boss for a pay rise may still seem unthinkable for many, particularly if you’re worried that by doing so you might damage your career prospects with the company. But it is possible to get a pay rise without sacrificing your career.
Step one
Do the research
Know what the average person is paid for your job, at your level, in your industry. There are various website you can look at for this from government bodies like the ONS in the UK to commercial job sites. A quick Google search should get you started.
Try asking your collegues or others in your industry what they earn. A direct question like this might seem a little intrusive so perhaps ask if they could indicated a salary bracket ie 20k – 25k or 25k – 30k etc.
There may be many reasons why you might be paid less or more than your collegues such as length of experience or skills and knowlege they may bring. This exercise is not so you can build an argument for a pay rise by comparing yourself to your collegues, but knowledge of where you sit on the payscale will be useful. The better you understand on what end of the average payscale you sit, the better prepared you will be to make your pitch to your employer.
Step two
Choose your timing carefully
You don’t want to ask for a pay rise during a time when the company is suffering financially, or when your boss is about to go on holiday. Instead, try to time your request for when things are going well for the company. If you have a scheduled appraisal this might be a good time or if you have achieved something for which you have been recognised this would also be a good time to broach the subject of a pay rise.
Step three
Ask for a raise
This is the most obvious step. Plan what you want to say and know your worth. You will have done some research on salaries, considered the size of organisation and your own skill set. Be armed with evidence to back up your case. This could include statistics about how your work has positively impacted the company, or quotes from your boss or other team members about your strengths and contributions. Make sure you communicate your contribution to the company in terms of what matters to your employer.
If you’re apprehensive about asking for a large pay rise, start small. Ask for a modest increase, and assess how your employer responds. Don’t be afraid to negotiate if your employers response isn’t positive to your original request. There is usually some wriggle room.
While you don’t want to overplay your hand you should remember that employers typically invest time, money and energy in training and would not want to lose a valuable employee over an issue of pay if it could be avoided. Your negotiating hand will depend on the level of skills and experience you bring to the role and the amount and quality of competition that exists for your job.
Step four
Be prepared for rejection
If you get a rejection, re-assess. Not everyone will get a pay rise when they ask so plan for this. Take account of your employers response. If it’s skills you lack you can look to improve these through training. If its lack of experience you can discuss how you can get the right kind of experience at your appraisal or during your next conversation with your boss or HR representative.
Step five
Network
Finally, if all else has failed you might want to consider opportunities with other employers or with other departments with the same employer. Network at staff training, team building or any other company events. Connect with other companies in your career field via social media. You might even consider related careers within your industry. Take a look at my post on creative job hunting for proactive professionals.
And finally….
There is no one definitive way to ask for a pay rise, but the most important thing is to be prepared and confident. Have a solid argument as to why you deserve a pay increase. Do your research on what others in your field are paid, have specific examples of how you have added value to your company and practice your pitch.