Salary Increase Request Strategies

Asking for a raise from your boss or a manager authorized to grant salary increases is a stressful process for most people. In our article on ways to ask for a raise, you will find some tips that will help you navigate this challenging process with ease.

-If you have decided to ask for a raise, you should communicate this directly to your boss. For this, you need to do some preparation in advance and determine the appropriate strategy.

-First, research the salary situation of employees in your position within your industry. This way, you can be sure of the realism of your raise request. If your salary is already above or equal to the average, asking for a raise is not a reasonable action. Remember that your boss has likely conducted such research when determining salaries. Therefore, if your salary is not below the industry average, do not try to present it as if it is.

-The most important thing you should avoid during the raise discussion is agitation. Starting the conversation with 'I need money' is a sure way to lose from the outset. After all, no matter how much you earn, you will always need money. Having a need does not mean you deserve a raise. You are not asking for a loan or charity; you are simply asking for the salary you deserve. Instead of saying this, you should prove with solid evidence that you fully deserve the raise. Additionally, if there were promises or commitments made before you started working at the company, you should remind them in an appropriate manner.

-You can use the importance of your position in the company, the value you add, customer satisfaction, the services you have developed, and any overtime you have worked without compensation as evidence in your favor. When discussing your achievements in the company, be as brief and clear as possible. When praising yourself, avoid exaggerating to the point of saying that the company would fail without you.

-Continuously improving yourself and gaining additional skills will strengthen your position when asking for a raise.

-Timing is crucial when asking for a raise. It is not reasonable to ask for a raise during a period when the company is laying off employees. It is also beneficial to pay attention to your boss's current mood. For example, entering your boss's office to request a raise right after a tense meeting is like hitting a wall. If you have an unfinished project, it would be wise to postpone your raise request until the project is completed.

-If your raise request is met with a negative response, do not give up immediately. Ask your boss what you need to do to deserve a raise. This will demonstrate your determination regarding the raise. However, avoid threats like 'I will resign if I don't get a raise' or 'I have a better offer from Company X. If there is no raise, I will go there,' even if you do not actually have such an offer. Doing so may lead you down a path of no return. There is no logic in risking your current job while trying to get a raise. After all, someone else can certainly fill your position at that company. Instead of taking that risk, you can bring up topics like additional benefits or performance-based improvements.

-One of the things to avoid when asking for a raise from your boss is to elevate yourself by comparing yourself to other employees in the company. This is not only ethically wrong, but it can also backfire since you do not know what your boss thinks about the person you are comparing yourself to.