Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited

Return to career-consulting-limited.com
Managing
People
Managing Your Career
CV Examples
Coaching
Cover Letter Examples
Pre-Employment Tests


Tips for Requesting a Raise


You probably think you deserve a raise. But does your boss think so?

Here's how to go about convincing your boss that you're really worth more than you're being paid.

First, you must realize that doing a great job is NOT a good enough reason to justify a raise. Your employer EXPECTS you to do a great job. Your performance must be "over and above" what other employees in similar positions are doing. And you can't rely on your boss to recognize your true worth without help from you. If you don't ask for one, you may never get a raise.

So here's what you do. First, make a list of your specific accomplishments that EXCEED the job you were hired to do. Make your list as specific as possible. Provide a detailed record of how you've beaten goals, taken on additional responsibilities, and contributed to the organization's success in ways that were significant.

Second, do some research, perhaps at a site like Salary.com. Find out what others in similar positions at other companies are making. If it's more, you definitely want to have this information to back up your request. (If it's less, don't mention it and be satisfied with what you're earning!)

When you have your ammunition ready, wait for the right time to ask your boss if you can talk with him about your performance. Timing is critical! You want to talk to him when he's in a GOOD MOOD. If he's in a bad mood, distracted by work problems, or otherwise not very approachable, WAIT. It doesn't matter how eager you are to request your raise. If your boss is not in a good mood, you'll just be wasting your time.

Once you've determined the timing is right, tell your boss that you would appreciate his considering giving you a raise, based on your "above and beyond" performance. Say you've taken the liberty of writing out your accomplishments for his easy reference, and give him your list. Then mention (if appropriate) what employees in similar positions are earning at other companies, and give him the data to back it up.

Do not mention a specific salary figure that you'd like to earn. This is the beginning of a negotiation process, and your first step is to convince your boss that your request deserves consideration. Once you pass that hurdle, be prepared to suggest a RANGE, such as a 3-5% increase.

If you've presented a good case and you know from your research that you are worth more than you are being paid, chance are good that you'll obtain your raise. But it depends on many factors, least of which may be your boss's desire to keep you on his staff. He may agree that you deserve a raise and desperately want to give it to you, but this may not be a decision he has the authority to make. Plus the company's budget is another important factor. Depending on how well things are going, there simply may not be enough in the coffers to pay you what you're worth.

If for whatever reason you are unsuccessful in obtaining a raise, you'll need to decide what your next step should be. If you love your job, you may be willing to continue working there. If not, be prepared to start looking elsewhere if a higher salary is your top priority.

You may reprint/republish this article if you include my name and a link to this website.

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.


MORE RESOURCES:
Careers  University of Northern Colorado



Supply Chain  Lowe's



Careers  City of Phoenix (.gov)



Working for ICE  ice.gov



Careers  City of Ontario, California (.gov)


Careers | Home  USDA (.gov)

Careers at FEMA  FEMA.gov


Careers and Jobs at CRS  Catholic Relief Services


Careers - MDOT  Maryland.gov

Careers  Baxter

Current Job Opportunities  City of Keene (.gov)

Work at Fairfield  Fairfield University

Jobs  City of Rochester, New York (.gov)


Employment Opportunities | Game Commission  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)


Careers at USCIS  USCIS (.gov)


Careers at TWU  Texas Woman's University



Work at Butler  Butler University

Employment | Department of Corrections  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

Water Services Careers  City of Phoenix (.gov)

Job Search Results  UnitedHealth Group Careers

Work With Us  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov)


Careers at Willamette  Willamette University

Careers  Johnson & Johnson

Career Opportunities  Gilead Sciences



IOM career gateways  International Organization for Migration

Careers  Washington State University

Jobs at Liberty University  Liberty University

Careers  BASF

Careers at the IOC  Olympics.com

Careers at Broward Health  Broward Health



Jobs and careers | Veterans Affairs  VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs


Student internships at J&J  Johnson & Johnson Careers



Work for the City of St. Louis  City of St. Louis, MO (.gov)


Careers  WVDE

Careers  The Ocean Cleanup



UF Health Careers  UF Health Careers

Careers in data science  Johnson & Johnson Careers


Job Seekers  Illinois Human Resources

Careers  CrowdStrike


Careers  KPMG

Careers at Union  Union College

March 2025 Preview: What to Expect in the Jobs Report  Center for Economic and Policy Research

Career Opportunities  Advantage Solutions


Careers at Balfour Beatty  Balfour Beatty





Job Opportunities  Bellevue School District



The Job Market Is Frozen  The Atlantic

Careers  Euromonitor


Provincial Government Job Opportunities  Government of Prince Edward Island

Current opportunities  Turner & Townsend







Work at UI Health Care | University of Iowa Health Care  University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center




WORK AT LVMH  LVMH



Work with us  JPMorganChase

Need More Information?
Site Home | Site Map | Links | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
© Career Consulting Limited.com 2011

tumblr visit counter