The best way to get a pay rise

Negotiating a pay rise might be the topic of this article but keep in mind that there is much more to this than the tips below. For example, exactly what you ask for may need to be linked to research about prevailing salary levels or relate to your immediate and long term career aims, both for your benefit and to give the case you make credibility. Besides, your preparation should include an analysis of your skills and your work values.

Once you are equipped with this important self-knowledge and gained insights into your industry and work environment you can start with the actual pay rise negotiation. We’ve gathered the dos and don’ts. Take a look! 

How not to get a pay rise

Do not say: I’ve been working very hard, I have been here a long time, X got more money so I should too, do not quote a friend in another organisation and never plead poverty due to personal circumstances that have nothing to do with work. So don’t say: I’m moving house, having a baby, planning a special holiday or anything like that.

Be realistic: your boss does not care, and why should they? They pay you to do a job, not to maintain a lifestyle.  Also do not threaten, demand or become emotional.

Such approaches rarely work and may well label you inappropriately for the future.

How to get an increase

Over and above maintaining an ongoing payment level (due to inflation) there may be good reasons for a rise, so do say if you have:

• Increased your responsibilities or the breadth of your operational area in some way

• Saved the organisation money

• To work longer or more unsociable hours than in the past

• To travel or stay away from home more

• Achieved new qualifications or skills (the skills must be useful and the case you make must relate them to what you do and specifically how they will help)

• Become more self sufficient

• Increased your contribution (with ideas, for instance), especially if you can document results coming from that

• Exceeded expectations or targets in terms of tangible results.

Fit your request with any prescribed review processes where possible, but then, or whenever you need to push, do so confidently and assertively (the worst answer you will receive is perhaps No, in which case plan – agree? – when you can best ask again). As long as you do not ask every five minutes no one will resent you asking, especially if you make a good case. Indeed, an agreement to look at the situation in three months could be a satisfactory first result.

Additionally, you probably need to be prepared to respond to something that appears to be other than the final offer or response – negotiation may be another technique you need to deploy here; indeed remember that is not just your salary that creates your rewards, negotiation should bear in mind the full remuneration package. So bear that in mind, it can include: incentive payments, commission, pension arrangements, company car, expenses, profit sharing, shares, even exit bonuses and more.

Provide proof: statistics ranging from national figures to more local ones may be useful, as may a note about past discussions, especially any promises made.

TIP:

In any exchange always be objective, be factual – and stay calm. Only a rational approach will be likely to work and sounding desperate certainly does nothing for your chances. Always document what happens carefully (for your own record or for your boss) and keep your notes in a safe place. As a final thought here a creative approach might work. In an idle moment a boss of mine once told me that, long ago, he had himself obtained a pay rise by saying he would have to work harder that year as it was a leap year. I waited more than two years until the next one to remind him – delivered a moment of amusement and got a small, extra, increase as a result!

You can find more tips on how to negotiate your salary in the eBook “How to get a pay rise” written by Patrick Forsyth.