How to ask for a pay rise


Most people, if asked, would probably say that they are not paid adequately for the job they do. But if you really feel your efforts deserve greater reward, how could you go about convincing your boss to give you a pay rise?

Career expert and psychologist Rob Yeung reminds people that in negotiating a pay rise, there needs to be a degree of compromise and you may have to concede on certain points. In The Ultimate Career Success Workbook, he suggests that, when trying to strike a new deal, you keep reminding your boss of how he or she would be well-served by what you are asking for.

Dr Yeung recommends that people offer "conditional concessions", whereby a person agrees to do something provided that the other party upholds their own end of the bargain.

"A negotiation should not be a battle between two sides," he explains.

It may help to start your request by asking for a higher pay rise than you genuinely hope to get, as this will give you room to come down during the discussion. Read more on how to negotiate.

Politeness is always key and you should be sure to thank your boss for his or her time when the meeting takes place. Read more on impressing your boss.

But make sure that you really are outperforming your job role before you request more money. You should be able to cite examples of things you have done and the results from your actions that have benefited the business.

The BBC points out: "Remember that many bosses are unlikely to give you any extra reward simply for doing your job well - that's what you are paid to do."

Judy Yorke of the Daily Mirror also makes this observation, suggesting that employees seeking a pay rise come prepared with examples of when they did more than they were required to do, such as increasing their workload or staying late.

Timing when to ask

She also observes that choosing a time when your boss is in a good temper is likely to help your chances.

If your company has an annual pay rise you need to think about when the best time of year would be to ask. This depends on whether the pay rise is based entirely on inflation or includes a performance related pay rise.

It may be that despite being a star worker, you still cannot persuade your employers to increase your salary to reflect your worth. Don't give up! Make sure you find out how and when you will be elligible for a pay rise. If you still draw a blank, perhaps it is time to start looking for another job.

You might also consider other ways to increase your income outside your main job. Read our ideas on earning additional money.

Use a salary calculator

Do you know how much your monthly net income will increase if your annual salary rises by say £1000 ? A useful tool to help you figure out how much pay increase you need or want is a salary calculator. This tool shows you the net monthly pay you will receive for any given salary.


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Updated on 18th November, 2009

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Comments

  • Its all in the manual they make you read before they download your being into those tiny bodies in those dark wombs.

     

    Recommend198 Report abuse2 years ago by learn german

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