How to Ask Your Boss For a Raise

In a recent study by Robert Half, nearly half of Americans feel they are underpaid. If they read today’s blog, they will learn the right way to ask for a raise. While I can’t guarantee these steps will work 100 percent of the time, they represent your best shot at getting one because there are also ways to guarantee that you WON’T get a raise!

Three things to do a few weeks BEFORE asking for a raise:

1. Talk to your manager about your career path and ask his or her advice on what you should do to grow with the company (always stay focused on the future, no matter what your age)
2. Look and dress for the job you want as well as the job you have
3. Be realistic. First, look over your performance over the last year or two. If you just did your job, no matter how well you did it, you probably aren’t getting a raise. Raises go to the people who consistently go above and beyond. Also, research what people who do your job in your city make on average.  Know what you’re worth. Chances are it will be a salary range that you’ll fit into and be comfortable with.

Three things to do just before asking for a raise:

1. Collect your evidence and never skimp on the data. Management always, always, always follows the money, so you have to give them empirical evidence that your work is aligned with company business goals and made (or saved) $X-amount of dollars. This will take most of your time, but you’ll never get a raise without it.
2. Schedule the meeting with your boss. Make sure he or she knows what you want to discuss. If it’s during your annual performance review, save the raise talk until later in the meeting.
3. Practice your pitch in a mirror. Any conversation you have when you’re asking for something will go better if you’ve practiced. Also, anticipate getting resistant questions and comments from your boss and the kind of answers you’ll give him or her.  Practicing will make the real conversation easier.

Four things to do during your meeting:

1. Focus on why you deserve it and not why you need it. Before you can convince your boss that you deserve a raise, you need to believe that you’ve earned it. But ALWAYS keep the discussion on your performance, not your need.
2. Be flexible. Many times, your boss’s hands are tied when it comes to giving you a raise in pay, but they can offer you non-monetary things instead. Maybe flexible hours, a new job title, additional vacation time or a telecommuting situation can often work out better for you than a pay raise.
3. Stay positive and upbeat for the future. We cannot stress this enough … there’s a very good chance the answer will be “no” for the raise in salary. It’s perfectly fine to express disappointment. However, keep it professional at all times. Flying off the handle doesn’t do anybody any good.
4. No matter what happens, maintain your level of work.

Remember to play the “long game” when it comes to raises

The “ask and ye shall receive” scenario doesn’t always apply when it comes to raises or promotions. There are a million reasons your boss may not be able to help you out when you ask. It might be an issue of you improving your performance or increasing your experience level, but whatever it might be, they should be able to offer you a plan for how to get to your desired destination.

Do the kind of work that makes your boss your ally and create a timeline of tasks, goals, career training and whatever else it takes to make you qualified for the raise or for future promotion.