Need to ask for a pay raise? Follow my successful strategy to get your raise approved! ✅

"Will I, won't I?"

Ever find yourself in the hopeful loop about that pay raise? Everyone does! It's time to switch from crossing your fingers to taking action.

Unfold these strategies to turn your raise from "hopefully" to "happening"!

A pay raise isn't the result of a day's conversation with your boss. If you want your pay raise to be higher than the company average, you need to strategize. Here's what I learned through experience over time:

Know your worth

• Look up what others in your position, with similar experience, are earning.

• Use websites like PayScale or Glassdoor to compare your compensation (or ask your colleagues, who are close to you).

Know the review calendar

Get familiar with the review cycle and the process that your company follows: year-end, half-yearly, or quarterly.

I used to believe getting a raise was all about doing great work. Turns out, it's about meeting your boss's expectations, too! Therefore, it's important to stay on track with check-ins like these:

Ask for feedback

• Asking for feedback weeks or even months before the day of review gives you the opportunity to improve your performance.

• Share your goals for growth (money, role, work flexibility, other perks) with your review manager and ask what needs to be done to reach them.

List your achievements

• Document what you've achieved this year. Increased sales by 20%? Led a successful project? Write it down!

• Even if the project does not deliver as expected, write about the process and analyze what you learned from it.

Why? Because you are the hero of your narrative. So rehearse your way to success.

Be clear and concise

• Practice how you'll present your case. "I've contributed X, Y, and Z, and believe a raise of (specific amount) is in line with my current role and industry standards."

• Keep it factual and professional. Support your achievements using data and testimonials from your colleagues/ managers.

• Be prepared to talk about any failures as well! "I understand that the project took more time than expected, but reflecting back, this is what I realize." (Talk about the areas of improvement and what you learned from the project.)

  

Finally, it's time to set the stage. Ask for a meeting to discuss your performance and compensation. This shows you're serious.

Stay calm and confident

• It's normal to be nervous, but remember, you've earned the right to this conversation.

Be ready to discuss

• Be prepared for questions and feedback. Listen actively.

• If they can't meet your number, be ready to negotiate.

This could be tough but don't get disheartened if you don't land the desired outcome. When it happened to me, I asked for advice on how to improve and suggested revisiting the topic in a few months. It worked!

Remember, this isn't a "no", it's a "not right now". Use the feedback to grow.

Whatever the outcome, send a thank-you email summarizing the discussion and any agreed-upon next steps. Lastly, continue to work hard and prove your value. This sets the stage for future discussions.