How to Ask your Boss for a Pay Raise

See all of that? That was all me

You have paid your dues, you've have put in the hours, you have crunched the numbers and you've made your company richer so its only natural that you are rewarded for your hard work by getting a raise. If only it were that simple! Asking for a raise like negotiating a salary can be tricky as people are generally uncomfortable with talking about money.

If you think you deserve a raise and want to take it up with your boss, here's what you need to do to get the best outcome.

Be prepared. Before asking for a raise be sure that you are indeed due for a raise and your company is financially capable of giving you the said raise. Some factors to look out for to that determine your suitability for a salary increase include, if there has been growth within your division, if your colleagues you are getting raises, if you have specialized skills for specialized problems within the organization and if you have been getting more lucrative offers from competing firms. You also want to make sure that your company flourishing financially and the industry it operates within is thriving.

Know your value. Find out what people with your level of experience in the same industry with the same work scope as you currently earn. Since people are not very honest about their salaries, you can get fare idea by going here and here. It is also advisable for you to have a specific range you will be presenting to your boss. Instead of saying something vague like "I want a 30% increase in salary", say "I would like my salary increased from 30k to 45k".

Schedule a meeting. Once you've gathered all your facts, schedule a meeting with your boss. Try to fix the meeting at a time when she's in a relaxed mood (usually towards the end of the work day) and be sure to let her know the purpose of the meeting.

Be positive. Go into the meeting with a positive attitude. Instead of anticipating the worst, go in expecting the best possible outcome.  Do whatever it takes to get you in your happy place before entering the meeting, for some people its the thoughts of their baby while for others it is looking up random pictures of kittens on the internet.

Show Results. Present a list of successful projects you have worked on, recommendations you have gotten from customers (internal and external) and instances where you helped  the company save money or prevent loses. Present your case in a clear and concise manner, let your boss see the value you bring to the job daily while reinforcing how much more you have to give the team and how much you want to grow within the company. Make her see that you are in it for the long haul.

Do not resort to threats. Whatever you do, or whatever turn the meeting takes, do not resort to threats. Do not tell your boss that you would leave if your demands are not met or let her in on the offers have gotten from other company's. As tempting as it may be to show your boss that another employer places more value on you, it shows her that you have been attending interviews while on the job and even if she caves in with a counteroffer, she would have lost  her trust in you and may have giving in only to buy time while she starts looking for your replacement.

Listen attentively. Be sure to listen attentively to what your boss has got to say. Try not to raise your voice or talk over her even if you do not like the direction the conversation is taking. By listening attentively to her, you are showing her that you value her feedback and that you genuinely want to understand her position on the matter. It also helps you both to stay focused on the issue at hand and in the process you will get an insight into the mind of the company regarding your career with them.

Be patient. If your boss does not immediately commit to giving you the raise, ask her when you can expect to revisit the discussion. Suggest a time frame which can be anywhere from 3-6 months and ask her what you need to do within that time to earn the raise so that you can start putting in the work. If she fails to give you the raise after the review time elapses and you have met all the conditions specified, its time to move on.

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