Five Effective Tips to Help You Negotiate a Pay Raise
Asking your boss for a raise can be a rather uncomfortable experience for both you and your boss. Before you make this request, take the time to be prepared, so when you sit down with your boss to discuss your performance and ask them for more compensation, you will be more at ease and not be afraid to request a raise. To help get you prepared, please review the following tips and suggestions.
- Make a record of your past performance. It never hurts to document your performance in your current position. If you have emails from customers complimenting and praising your performance, print these. Make a list of any achievements you feel have helped benefit the business, like being responsible for new office procedures that helped reduce office supply expenses or spearheading a change in work process which have increased productivity.
- Research salaries and compensation for your position and industry. There are several online sites you can visit to get an idea of what average salaries and compensation are for specific positions and industries. You can even talk to other people outside of your company in similar roles to see what their employer offers them. Use this information to have an amount in mind before you meet with your boss to ask for a raise. In addition, remember there are other forms of compensation besides an increase in pay, like more paid time off, employer paid education and training, and opportunities for advancement with higher salaries.
- Schedule a meeting with your boss. Simply walking in and demanding a pay raise or more compensation unannounced is the easiest way to get turned down before you have even been given the opportunity to negotiate. If your company has annual or biannual performance reviews, use this time to ask for a raise. TIP: Avoid slow periods to ask for a raise and never schedule a meeting when you know your boss is already overworked and stressed.
- Practice your meeting with a friend. Role playing is one way to help overcome uncomfortable feelings and help you prepare your presentation and responses to questions your boss might ask.
- Be prepared to be told no. Even with the best preparations, there is a chance your boss will turn down your request for a pay raise or other compensation. There are several factors they have to consider before granting your request, and, sometimes, they may have to get approval from higher up. Further, if you are told no, ask your boss for feedback and what you can do to earn a raise or more compensation. Schedule a follow up meeting three to six months later to give you time to work on their recommendations and demonstrate to them you deserve a raise or more compensation.
By being persistent and following these suggestions, you are sure to be successful in your negotiations and secure the pay raise or additional compensation you deserve. When you are looking for professional work clothes or professional uniforms, do not hesitate to contact Prudential Overall Supply at (800) 767-5536 to learn more about our customizable and flexible uniform apparel services.