How to Ask for a Raise in Salary

How to Ask For a Raise - Top Ways

1. Be Sure it’s the Right Time to Ask for a Pay Raise

Organizations revisit the salaries of their employees every year after the performance review cycle. Based on your performance, you are given a raise/promotion. However, some organizations will not automatically give you a pay raise. In that case, if you feel you deserve one and wondering how to ask for a raise, you need to lobby your manager and discuss why your achievements indicate that you deserve a raise. If it has been more than a year since you’ve been granted a pay raise or a very long time since your compensation was set, it is very reasonable to ask for a pay raise.

2. Know Your Work and its Worth

What’s the current market rate for your job title and location? There can be huge differences in salaries based on geographies or the region you are working in. If there is clear evidence you are underpaid compared to others who do similar work in your region, you’ll have an easier time justifying a pay raise. In case you are already at the top of the salary cone, you will need some additional research and rationale to make your case. Sometimes the websites that analyze salaries may not be completely accurate, because the same work or job title may differ from one organization to another. 

Start your salary research on sites like PayScale or Glassdoor, so you can know your market value beforehand. If, after your thorough research, you still think you are underpaid, it is time you ask for a raise.

3. Use Your Emotional Intelligence

Performance reviews are stressful, regardless of which side of the table one is sitting on. In addition to their daily work, managers also have a lot of work to do in order to prepare and check your performance and other feedback. So when you approach your manager with your request, remember that your boss is also an employee with emotions as natural as yours. So you must ensure that you choose the right time to open this discussion. If you set an early meeting, mention your agenda so that your manager is not caught by surprise. It’s also helpful to practice what you want to convey to your manager, not only to gain more confidence but also to make sure you are not sounding negative. 

If you have won a new client, accomplished a key project, gone “above and beyond” your usual duties and your manager has been satisfied with your work recently, this is the time to put your cards on the table!

4. Build Your Case 

Most assume that they need to build a comprehensive presentation about why they need a raise. But your request doesn’t really need an elaborate slide presentation. It can be short and sweet. Touch upon legitimate reasons and emphasize why you are important to the company. Ensure that you make your pitch about the company and not just about you. For instance, explain to your manager how your responsibilities have increased or your contributions have improved from the past, and how it has been useful for the organization as well. Keep your case study limited to key points, highlighting your significant accomplishments.

Get What You Deserve

Just know that almost everyone is nervous about asking for a pay raise. That’s only natural. But it’s also natural to want—and get—what you fairly deserve. By doing your research on your worth, itemizing the accomplishments and value you bring to your company and respecting the timing and sensitivity of your manager, you’re sure to raise your prospects of earning that pay raise and even more of your manager’s respect. Learn A-Z of appraisal season 2024 and appraisal Q&As now!

Do not worry if you ask for a raise and do not get one, do not worry. Improve your skills, or try learning new technologies. Also, know that getting denied a raise is a perfect opportunity to ask what it would take to get one in the next performance appraisal cycle. You can always improve and prove your worth to your organization in the next round.