Do you have an inner feeling that you are being underpaid despite performing well in your office? You are not alone to face such a dilemma. Most people hesitate to ask for an appraisal, thinking that it would portray them as self-centered or too individualistic.
Such a reservation plays in the minds of people of all age groups, from junior level executives to Managers of MNCs.
This feeling and hesitation are natural but they do not act in your favor. Many times, firms and organizations benefit from such feelings and manage to continue paying less even while their employees deserve more for their efforts. You must understand these tactics of the organization. You should also know exactly when to ask for a raise at work.
When to Ask for a Raise at Work?
You have saved or boosted the firm’s finances:
Have you implemented a marketing strategy that has boosted the sales of your organization? You may have recommended a new technology, which helps the firm save a substantial part of its revenues annually.
If you have achieved any of these goals, then this is the best time asking for a raise. The only thing that you will need to ensure is to convince your reporting manager about the benefits you have done for the company.
This needs to be done with a great amount of tact. Otherwise, your seniors can make you feel that you are being selfish or asking for raise too early. You should be prepared in advance for negotiating, marketing your plus points and also revealing your other career prospects.
This way, the firm or organization will weigh the risk of losing you against the pluses of retaining you. They may be convinced of offering a raise if you present the matters in the correct light.
You have another job offer in your hand:
It’s always wise to ask for an appraisal from a favorable position. If you have recently got another job offer from another company, you will have a better chance to get a salary hike when negotiating a raise.
There is no reason to be afraid to tell your boss that you have received an offer from a different company. Tell him that you would stay back, but you would require a salary hike to do so. If he feels that you are a valuable asset for his company, you will receive a salary raise.
However, be truthful. Speak about quitting only if you have a new job offer at hand. Don’t bluff by saying that you have another job offer if you don’t have one. This could fail if your boss refuses your appraisal request. If you do not have a second job opportunity to fall back upon, things may go wrong in your office.
You overachieve your goal:
It might be that you asked to bring in four new projects this quarter, and you brought six. Or, you asked by your reporting manager to make a new advertising campaign in two months which you completed within one month. If you have not just met, but surpassed your goal, it is the perfect opportunity to ask for raise, provided you perform consistently.
Try achieving your goals within the set timelines. In your race to complete the task within the set deadlines, do not forget to maintain the quality of your work. You must remember that your reputation does not depend simply on how much work you complete, it also depends on how well you execute the tasks.
Your main aim should be to show your boss how valuable you are to the company. The best time to ask for an appraisal is when you have exceeded his expectations. You need to make sure that you handle all the critical tasks wisely.
While speed may be significant, even more, important is your efficiency and reliability. Do not compromise on these qualities in a race to do better than others.
You have been instructed to train an employee
If your boss instructs you to train a new employee, it signifies that he values the quality of work that you do. He thinks that you are good enough to mentor the new joiner.
So, you can remind your boss that you have an added responsibility of training a fresher. Make sure you do complete justice to the job you have taken in hand.
Training new employees surely put your knowledge to test. A person who has thorough knowledge regarding a subject will have no difficulty sharing it with juniors. On the contrary, individuals who lack confidence in their knowledge can never pass on what they know, to juniors.
If you have successfully trained a candidate, you surely qualify for getting a raise in your salary. You can speak confidently regarding your desire for a raise.
Your department is doing well:
Though your entire firm may not be earning huge revenues, your department may be excelling and generating a substantial sum as revenue.
If that is the case, then you have a valid reason requesting a raise, even if the company isn’t making huge profits. Provide him with valid details about the achievements of your team.
Tell him the significance of a raise in motivating determined candidates like you. You can also try and explain how you plan for future projects and ways the company will benefit from the same. These are sure to help you get a raise in salary if you are a deserving candidate. Make sure you speak effectively.
The annual performance review is around the corner:
The performance of each employee reviewed periodically in all firms. If you have done well consistently, then you can list your accomplishments and present them to your reporting manager when your performance review assessment takes place.
During the annual reviews, you do not need to specify your desire for a raise. The performance reviews are conducted with the same goal in mind. You must make it a point to present your positives effectively in front of your bosses and reporting managers. Make sure you do not overdo it as this may appear like you are boasting.
Speak less but present the facts effectively. That is the only way to have a greater chance of getting a raise at work without causing a negative impression.
Your performance is appreciated across departments:
A good performer in a firm is an individual who can work well even under pressure and in stressful situations. These are individuals who are willing to take a certain amount of risk too if that helps them get to their goals. Such individuals also strictly adhere to company ethics and keep the company goals as their priority.
If you do well, then your quality of work will appreciate not only by people within your team but by other departments as well. This will help you to present your achievements to your boss, citing how you as an employee helped in the growth of the company.
Once you reach a higher position in the company hierarchy, it becomes a bit difficult to be upfront and blunt regarding a pay raise. You should possess the knack to present the matters subtly without causing misunderstandings or negative impressions.
You promoted to a higher designation:
This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask for a raise. You have promoted a higher profile based on your merit and performance. If no tangible financial benefits mention by the HR department, then you will need to inform your boss about the reasons why you deserve a raise.
You need to be extremely careful while tackling such tricky situations. If you choose the wrong words, it may create a wrong impression. The seniors may even trap you in a web of words.
So be cautious. Phrase it in a way that shows how much a person at your designation truly deserves. You must also reveal that if you do not get the pay you deserve, you are being underpaid.
The Right Way to Ask for a Raise:
While asking your boss for a raise is inevitable at times, there are certain things that you must keep in mind. Here we have listed out these as pointers:
Keep It Subtle:
Never be rude or blunt when you request for a raise. It should be professional but not too blunt or curt. Remember that whether you get raise in pay or not, you need to work with the same organization.
Ask because you deserve it:
Do not make your bosses feel that you are in dire need of money or you are greedy for the same. Show them how correctly you deserve the pay increase or raise.
Assess Before You Ask for a Raise:
Self-assessment is the most important. You need to ask yourself first whether you deserve the raise. If you think you deserve it, there is no harm in asking.
