LIFE TOPICS

How to Negotiate a Pay Raise at Work

February 24, 2020 | Posted at 2:56 pm | by Kayla (Follow User)

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Every year, employees wait to schedule their upcoming annual review. It’s a great time to sit down with your boss and discuss your recent successes or how you can continue to grow. It’s also when your boss is open to talking about your current salary.

As you get better at your job and become more of an asset to the people you work for, you deserve to earn more per hour. They’re paying for your hard work and dedication, as well as your talent. You may recognize this and want a raise, but it can be hard to know how to ask for it. And what if your boss gives you a lower number than you’re expecting?

Read on to learn how to negotiate a pay raise at work. It may not be easy to get started, but it will be a good conversation if you come prepared.

1. Start Researching Early

It’d be nice if you could walk into your boss’s office and let them know you want an extra $10,000 per year. Maybe you want an even bigger raise that would be comparable to a promotion. It’s smart to think about what you want from this stage in your career, but you should also start researching early.

Look up identical or similar jobs in your area and see what other people are getting paid for the work you do. You’ll find this on review sites or job postings. Compare those rates with how many years of experience you have to get a better idea of a fair wage.

2. Save Examples of Your Work

Whether you spend your whole day coding or run your own photography business, it’s essential to build a work portfolio so you can review your accomplishments during your review. Make a folder on your computer with saved documents and presentations. Print everything out and keep it in a file. 

As long as it’s easy to reach and understand, you’ll have physical proof of the work you’ve done to earn your raise.

3. Stick Up For Yourself

Once you know the salary to ask for and have your portfolio to back you up, don’t expect your boss to agree to the first number you mention. They rarely do that because they want to balance your salary with their budget, so they’ll try to negotiate with you.

They may say they pay everyone the same number across the board, but don’t give up. Some managers may say things like that to keep their employees quiet so they can’t compare salaries and recognize discriminatory pay.

Stick up for yourself and remember how hard you’ve worked to get to that conversation. Show your boss your portfolio and get help if you feel that their negotiating is bordering on a manipulative or illegal motive.

4. Get a Professional Advocate

Sometimes disputes about payments or contract disagreements require the help of a lawyer. If a contract outlines your job requirements and pay, you should consider getting a professional advocate to walk you through the legality of negotiating. They’ll find ways to get you what you want or close to it, thanks to their legal knowledge and experience in employment contract conversations.

5. Create a Timeline

If your boss doesn’t agree to the raise you believe you deserve, you don’t have to settle. Let them know you’re disappointed, but look forward to revisiting the topic in three to six months. 

It may feel discouraging to leave the room without good news, but everything could turn around. The company may be doing financially better at that time and give your boss more room for a raise. You’ll also have worked hard at other opportunities to add to your portfolio.

Get Everything in Writing

After negotiating, you should get everything in writing. You’ll want a written record of what your boss agreed to, in case there are any questions later. You can also save the document for your next review to show what your boss was impressed with and deemed worthy of a raise.

Use these tips to negotiate like a pro and get the raise you’ve earned. Do your research, advocate for yourself and get help if necessary. Your next raise is right around the corner.