No matter how much you love your job, no-one wants to feel as though they’re not being paid what they’re worth. Starting a conversation with your manager about pay can feel awkward but if you prepare well enough beforehand, you can make a successful request in a confident, positive way.
These are the 5 things you need to do before asking for a pay rise.
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Gather your evidence
First of all, your boss already understands that the amount you get paid should directly correlate to the quality of your work, so the most important thing you need to do is be able to demonstrate the value of what you’re doing.
It’s not enough to just hope that they’ll like you enough to give you more money, you need quantifiable evidence that what you’re doing benefits the organisation. So make a list of all your achievements and make it clear how each one of them has added value to the company or its customers.
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Research typical market salaries
It can be hard to know that your idea of the value of your job lines up with that of your employer, so it’s useful to look at outside sources and see how much similar roles are paying elsewhere.
Sources like glassdoor and linkedin can provide useful data on average salary levels across the market. Find out what the current rates are and highlight whether this is in line with the amount you’re requesting.
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Set a review meeting
It’s best not to just grab your boss at the end of a day and spring a pay rise request on them. You want to be able to present your request professionally and fairly. So book some time for a private meeting and let them know in advance that this is what you’d like to discuss.
Be prepared to let the meeting turn into a larger performance review. You’re making a case for a higher salary for the work you’re already doing - your boss may want to use that as a reason to review your targets. As long as you’re both aware of what’s due to be discussed before the meeting begins you can clearly and professionally make your case.
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Be prepared to negotiate
No matter how much value you may put on your work, your boss may disagree and you could find yourself having to negotiate. So how much are you willing to compromise?
Remember why you’re asking for a pay rise to begin with, and set yourself a comfortable boundary. What will you accept and what will you continue to argue for? Decide beforehand so you don’t get swept up in the negotiation process.
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Have a contingency plan
If negotiations didn’t go as well as you hoped, if your data was not enough to sway your boss’s opinion on the value of your work, if you felt you were being asked to compromise too much, then what is your contingency plan?
Remember, even if your request is unsuccessful, you may still be able to negotiate some other benefits - such as working from home or extra annual leave. And you could agree to arrange another review date at a later time when you may be more successful.
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