Mostly, raises happen when we ask for them, but still there are bosses who are not greedy and are ready to share their money with us. If you are not lucky enough to have a generous boss, then it may be time to go for a higher salary. The consequences of your request might be pitiful, so before you ask for your dream raise, consider the following questions:
1. What is the office’s pulse?
If your boss has never shown any signs of a greedy attitude but still they do not raise your salary, chances are the company has some problems or is undergoing some serious changes. Figure it out before you ask for a higher salary. Otherwise, you will not only hear a firm ‘no,’ you will also make your employer feel uncomfortable and even ashamed. They will remember that.
2. What kind of person is your boss?
Not all bosses are the same. If your employer is always ready to discuss the office as well as personal problems with their employees, chances are they will not get mad when you ask for a raise. Even if they say ‘no,’ they will try to explain the reason. However, if you are sure that your boss will start yelling as soon as you say a word ‘raise’ or ‘promotion,’ you have to be prepared to give facts that prove you really deserve that raise.
3. Are you working hard?
You are arriving at 9 and leaving at 5 and get crazy when you have to stay a minute longer. You are scrolling through Facebook, doing some shopping, chatting with friends and gossiping when you should actually be working. You say ‘no’ to new tasks and responsibilities and do the minimum. Be honest with yourself. If all those things sound familiar to you, forget about the raise.
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4. Are you doing amazing work?
When you do amazing work, you do not have to go beyond your 9 to 5 schedule. You can work for 2 hours but accomplish fantastic projects that help the company grow. Show your boss that you are doing amazing, and most importantly, effective work. This way, it will be easier to ask for a higher raise.
5. How much do other people with your job earn?
The comparison is bad, but in certain cases, it is a must. Do some research to figure out the salaries of the people who have the same job you have. Are they higher than yours? Find out more information about the companies they are working for, and discuss your investigation with your boss. Perhaps, they are too busy to do the researches like this.
6. What did you already add to your company?
Write down your biggest achievements in the company. Successful projects, bright ideas, you name it. Of course, you are not going to boast and tell your boss that the company would not be so successful without you. But knowing your value is important as well. It will help you figure out how much money you need or want and realize that you deserve that raise.
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7. How much money are you going to ask for in a salary negotiation?
You cannot just come and say, ‘I want to have a higher salary.’ You have to know how much to ask for and explain why you want that amount. If you make $10,000 and would like to earn $15,000, ask for $18,000 – $20,000. Not only will you have more chances of getting your dream raise, but you will also have all the chances of getting more than you want.
Now that you are ready to ask for a higher salary, the last thing to consider is what you will do if your boss says ‘no’? Will you understand your boss? Leave your job? Ignore your responsibilities? Remember, every company has its ups and downs. Your boss may want you to get a higher salary, but they cannot do it right now.