Asking Your Boss For A Raise – How to Ask for a Raise … and Get It

When asking your boss for a raise, there are a number of things to keep in mind.  You need to prepare in advance and choose your timing well; focus on the value you add, and anticipate counter-arguments.  Before asking your boss for a raise, you should give each of these areas more thought, with the help of the points below:

Prepare for Your Conversation Before Asking Your Boss for a Raise

You do not want to improvise in the meeting where you will be asking your boss for a raise.  Here are a few preparatory steps:

• Look at industry benchmarks when good data is available.  In many cases it is difficult to establish a market value for certain skills, but in other cases, there may be data available.  Before asking your boss for a raise, check to see if such information is available.
• List your accomplishments. You need to be able to articulate what you have done for the organization and its success.  This is perhaps the most important ingredient to success when asking your boss for a raise.
• Have a number in mind. When asking your boss for a raise, you will know s/he is at least considering it when you are asked for a number.  You should not be caught flat-footed when this question comes up.  In some cases, you will have a specific number in mind.  In other cases, you will want to offer a range when asking your boss for a raise.

Focus on the Value You Add When Asking Your Boss for a Raise

Just because you want a raise, doesn’t mean you should get one.  You need to direct attention to the tangible value you add to the organization and its goals when asking your boss for a raise.  If you cannot clearly articulate the value you add, you should reconsider asking your boss for a raise.

• Illustrate the mismatch between your current salary and your value.  You should draw attention to your accomplishments and growth.  If you have recently taken on more responsibility, then ensure you highlight this when asking your boss for a raise.
• Don’t bad-mouth others. You should never compare yourself to others in a negative frame.  It is fine to point out that you have more responsibility, but to promote your own interests by being negative and critical of others will reflect poorly on you when asking your boss for a raise.  It is quite likely your boss already knows about others’ performance anyway.
• Connect to the big picture. Draw a line between your efforts, and overall organizational goals and results when asking your boss for a raise.  It is hard to argue with a request for a raise if it is blatantly obvious that the results you produce contribute significantly to organizational success.
• Don’t invoke guilt. You should speak rationally about what you feel you deserve when asking your boss for a raise.  Do not talk about your higher mortgage payments, or cost of living increases.  Your boss has these pressures too.  You need to convince your boss that any more money spent on you is a wise investment in future success, NOT just an added expense.

Choose Your Timing Wisely When Asking Your Boss for a Raise

You need to carefully consider your timing when asking your boss for a raise.  If you know your boss has had a particularly frustrating day or week, you may want to put off the conversation.  Examples of good times for asking your boss for a raise are:

• Soon after a good performance review.
• Soon after some other form of recognition.
• When you know extra dollars are available.
• When you’re asked to take on more responsibility.
• When the decision maker is relaxed.

Anticipate Counter Arguments

Don’t underestimate the element of negotiation when asking your boss for a raise.  You should anticipate potential counter-arguments when asking your boss for a raise.  Here are some standard reasons for denial, and how you might counter them:

• Seniority. Seniority is not an appropriate measure of value.  There are many examples of people who add more value their first day on the job than someone who has been there for decades.
• Time since last raise.  Perhaps it has only been six months since your last raise, but time is not relevant to value.  If you have taken on more responsibility, or are adding more value, then point out that these elements are not dependent, and neither should qualifying for a raise be.
• Time as an employee.  Perhaps you have only been on the job for three months, but have contributed significantly in that time.  It is not appropriate to measure value by the time on the job.
• Can’t afford a raise.You need to decide whether this is true or not when asking your boss for a raise.  Is there possibly something else that you could ask for instead?
  • More time off?  Could you negotiate extra vacation time?
  • Flex hours?  Perhaps you could work more time from home?
  • A raise at some future point.  If the organization can’t afford a raise now, at what point in the future would a raise be conceivable?

Close the Conversation, and the Details When Asking Your Boss for a Raise:

• Confirm effective dates.  When does the raise take effect?  You need to nail this detail down.
• Confirm follow up dates.  If there are follow up actions, you need to specify the date.  For example, your boss may say he needs to think about it.  This is reasonable, but you should ask what date you need to follow up with him/her.
• If you get nowhere, you need to start looking for alternatives.  Never threaten to leave if you don’t get what you want.  However, if it is clear you will not get the raise you want, it is time to begin a search for something new.

Three Things to Remember When Asking Your Boss for a Raise:

1. Be forthright and positive – don’t invoke guilt or resort to blackmail.
2. Don’t be chatty.  This should be a short meeting.  Catch up with your boss on the weather and other trivia at a different time.
3. Take personality out of the equation.  Focus on facts, and come armed with as much information as you can.  Also don’t take it personally if you don’t get what you want, but rather act rationally to figure out what ever is next for you.

Watch the ‘3-Minute Crash Course’ about Asking Your Boss For A Raise (CLICK THE ARROW TO START THE VIDEO):

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