How to Ask for a Pay Raise in 9 Easy Steps.
If you are waiting for your Client to approach you to give you a well-deserved raise, don’t…because 80% of today’s employers won’t plan to do so. Instead, take matters into your own hands and follow these 9 simple steps, which may help you get what you are asking for.
Be prepared
When you ask your client for a pay raise, you have to make sure you know exactly what components are part of your job title/description and if you had any new responsibilities in the past year. List specific examples and present them in a way that your client understands how these new responsibilities contributed to his/her success. Compare your position with other employees in your firm and compare their duties with yours and figure out your market value. If there is a significant pay gap, you can ask your client for a salary negotiation based on these findings.
Every Client is different
Be prepared that every client will react differently when being asked for a pay increase. It is beneficial to know if your client is more factual driven and dominant or more loyal and common good orientated. If factual and dominant, be ready for a longer discussion and provide, numbers and other facts that will prove your additional responsibilities and success which may justify a salary increase. If your client is a more loyal and family-driven individual, you might consider also talking about your private life and how better compensation would positively impact you as the employee and your family.
Timing is All
Always make sure your client is in a positive and good mood before asking for a salary raise or salary negotiation. Why-? Well if someone is in a good mood, spending money on something, or in our case, that something is you, will be a lot easier than the other way around. A great opportunity and appropriate time to ask for performance reviews and a pay raise are after a successful event the client shares with you such as winning a contract, positive feedback from headquarters, and other successful/positive events. Avoid bad timing such as during a hiring freeze and use your common sense to figure out, when is the best or the worst time to ask for a raise.
Facts, Facts, Facts, and Self-marketing
During your salary conversation with your boss, client, or human resources, the best proof you can provide why you are deserving of a raise and therefore ask for a raise are FACTS. Start a performance diary that lists in detail your own performance, and a few examples of how you achieved certain milestones and goals, as well as your future goals. Explain how successfully completing a certain request caused (a specific figure and/or exact amount of a won sale, etc) your client and his company to shine in the limelight. Use every proof and achievement you can think of to justify this raise request.
Longevity & Career goals
Besides your degrees and experience, additional certifications and education are always a great argument for why a salary raise is adequate. Company Managers would not want to give an employer who has no ambition or future endeavors more money if they could invest that money into co-workers who will provide value to the company with the knowledge and know-how for the long run.. Your body language can reveal a lot of these hidden endeavors because in most cases employees who show excitement and a real interest in the company, its manager, and its boss, will convince the hiring managers more than distracted and unfocused individuals.
Have a Specific Goal set
Be prepared and have the current salary data as well as your salary request figured out before you meet with your client/boss etc. Don’t get discouraged if your client won’t agree right away with your pay increase proposal. The number that you will provide them, is only the framework and will set the maximum in place. Whatever number your client counters with, will only provide the lowest level he would go. Just like when you buy a car or anything else which is negotiable, salary research shows that most of the time, employees and employers will meet in the middle.
Know which Arguments may arise and prepare counter arguments
When creating a plan on how to ask for a raise, you must prepare yourself for several non-agreeable arguments why a pay raise is not possible, or a higher pay is not adequate. While personal reasons are often not convincing enough to justify a pay raise, you will most likely hear several arguments from your client/boss about why this isn’t possible. You can always counter-argue these statements by having practiced several scenarios beforehand. For example, if Your client thinks you don’t have enough experience, etc.”, you can counter-argue ” I can always learn, and as you know, I am a very quick learner “…Prepare several of these What If scenarios, so you can quickly counter with confidence.
Find Alternatives
If a regular salary or hourly increase is not possible, and you tried your best with finding counterarguments, you can try to negotiate alternatives. For example, ask for quarterly bonuses, a work cell phone, gas money, Health insurance, vacation packages, or other incentives.
Write a letter asking for a raise
Sometimes upper management is extremely busy so there is no time to meet in person and ask for a raise. In that case, I found a very good letter template from roberthalf.com which takes all of the above into consideration.
Dear (Name),
As my X-year anniversary gets close, I would like to request a review of my (job title) salary. During my time at (name of company), I have taken on additional responsibilities and have achieved success in several areas. I’ve made a brief list of just some of my accomplishments and responsibilities, which include the following:
- Taking the lead on …
- Meeting goals in …
- Improving efficiencies that led to a savings of $X for the company …
- Achieving success in …
- Adding to my (skill level or education as it relates to the job) …
Aside from my X skills in this role, I have also demonstrated excellent X abilities and proficiency with X. The team can count on me for X.
Given the added value I have brought the company, I think it is fair to request a bump in pay. Based on the research in the Robert Half Salary Guide, I’ve found that the midpoint salary (or median national salary) for this position is $X for my experience level. Considering regional variances, an X percent raise would put my compensation closer to those salary benchmarks.
Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss my request and the company’s needs. Please let me know if you are available for a short meeting.
Sincerely,
Name
(roberthalf.com)
This post was all about ” How to Ask for a Pay Raise in 9 Easy Steps” which will prepare you to confidently navigate through any salary negotiations.
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