In the landscape of modern careers, the desire for a salary increase is a shared aspiration across industries and professions. Yet, despite its universal appeal, the quest for better compensation is often filled with uncertainty, hesitation, and even fear. Many talented and hard-working individuals find themselves trapped in a paradox of being paid less than their worth while feeling an internal resistance to asking for more.
What makes this scenario even more perplexing is the contrast we observe in everyday life. Consider the persistent individuals you may encounter at a traffic intersection daily, boldly asking for financial assistance. They are relentless and uninhibited in their pursuit. And yet, those of us immersed in professional life, earning our livelihood through relentless commitment, often stumble when it comes to demanding fair compensation for our labor.
The truth is, requesting a salary increase isn’t about greed or entitlement; it’s about recognizing our value and asserting our worth. It’s about aligning our compensation with our contribution, skills, and the market standards. It’s about transcending the confines of our comfort zone, embracing our merit, and confidently taking what we’ve rightfully earned.
While it’s natural to feel uneasy about initiating this conversation, the process need not be intimidating. The path to a fair salary increase is navigable, structured, and with the right preparation, even empowering. Here, we present a roadmap with six essential steps to guide you through this essential professional journey, turning apprehension into action, and aspiration into achievement.
Below are a few tips I’ve put together to help you ask for a salary increase.
1. Know your worth
Firstly, when looking for a salary increase it is important to know what your role in the company is worth, know how much your skill is worth in the job market and if the company you are working for can afford to pay such a salary. Here is a great article on: How To Calculate How Valuable You Are To Your Boss
Another great tool to use is a website called: payscale.com
2. Don’t focus on why you need a salary increase, focus on why you deserve it
Playing the sympathy card when you are struggling to make ends meet even though you work so hard is not going to get you the desired results. It is a victim mentality that management might not appreciate. Also, remember you are not begging, you are simply stating the facts and asking to be fairly compensated for the service you are delivering.
To read more here is a great article called: Please, boss, I want some more: how to ask for the pay rise you deserve
3. Check policy
Read up on your companies policy on increases. Things like time in position and amount of time since your last increase might not be in your favour and the last thing you want is to go in and get shut down for not understanding how things work. You do not need to wait to meet those conditions but at least when you are stating your position you will be taken far more seriously for saying “I am aware I’m not eligible for an increase for the next three months and I’m happy to wait for it.”
4. Go in prepared
You get one shot to do it right the first time, you can always come back and ask again if you messed it up the first time but now the perception your manager has of you might make it harder for him/her to take you seriously. Write down your points and rehearse your delivery, anticipate questions you might have to answer, and prepare your response.
Here are 3 Ways to Prepare for a Meeting – wikiHow
5. Bring backup
Anything from customer feedback to reports on how your direct contribution increased the team’s success is very helpful when it comes to stating your value. Please do not expect to be rewarded for simply doing your job, you are already getting paid for that whether you think it’s enough money or not. At the beginning of your employment, you got the opportunity to negotiate your price and you made an agreement with your employer to deliver on your KPIs for that amount. If you want an increase you also have to increase the value you bring.
6. Show you are ready to grow
Don’t assume your ambition will be noticed with no effort from your side. Update your résumé to show the growth from when you started to where you are. Including a paragraph of short-term growth plans on the profile section of your résumé can also be helpful. Don’t assume résumés are only for job seekers, if you want to be taken seriously you have to act accordingly.
Bonus Tip: Ask for feedback
In the event your manager does not agree with you that you indeed have earned an increase, don’t be disheartened, keep a positive attitude. A lot of successful people will tell you how many times they were rejected before achieving their success. Instead of sulking, ask your manager what you need to improve on to eligible for a salary increase. Offer to take up additional responsibility within reason of cause, it is important to not work yourself into an early grave, work-life balance is very important.
However, if your manager is total @$$% then, dust up your professional CV and get ready to attack the job market. Don’t be afraid there are plenty of professional services that can assist you in finding a new job quickly, such as LinkedIn Optimisation
For other tips to help you grow your career please read Building your personal brand
