Need a raise?

Asking for a raise is hard. It can be intimidating. What if your boss says no? Even worse, what if he gets angry? Don’t worry.

Asking for a raise really isn’t a big deal. Your boss won’t get angry if you go about it the right way and if they do, it might be time to look for a different job anyway.

Check out these tips for how to ask for a raise and actually get it.

Throw your anxiety out the door

If you’ve been at your current job for a while and feel that you’ve been doing a good job, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for a raise. Let’s be real, your employer is likely going to pay you the lowest amount you will accept as reasonable because they want to save money.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to pay you more if you find tactful ways to ask for a raise. It’s up to you to let them know that you require higher pay.

Remember, the worst that can happen is they say no. But they can’t say yes until you ask.

Do the research

Before you go to your boss asking for more money, you should know how much is reasonable to be paid given these factors:

• Your position;
• Your time at the company;
• Your previous experience;
• The typical salary in your location;
• And any additional skills you bring to your work.

Researching typical salaries for people who do what you do in your area will let you know if your request is reasonable and will be received as such by your boss.

Build up your case

If you want to get paid more than you currently are for the work you currently do, it helps to show that you add something extra to your company. A great way to do this is to study and improve your skills.

Look for certifications that you can test for. Gaining those certifications gives you something tangible to show when you present your case for a salary raise to your boss.

It also helps to show that you care about the work you do. Slipping into a comfortable routine happens, but it doesn’t make you stand out to your employer.

When to ask for a raise

Annual reviews are a common time for people to ask for raises. It may not, however, be the best time. For one thing, this is when everyone else will be asking for more money as well, and that means your request will be compared to those of others.

For another thing, supervisors often see the annual review as a time to go over issues, and they may be focused on the negative aspects of your work more than what you’re doing right. You don’t want the cards stacked against you when you request a raise.

Use these tips to approach your boss with confidence. 

To get the best advice, we recommend asking a Career Coach to help with how to negotiate a raise.