3 Tips for Asking for a Raise

You just scheduled your foot surgery at The Bunion Cure and started to think about how this will take a chunk from your savings. You’ve worked at your current job for a while now, and you believe you’ve added a lot of value, so you think it might be time to ask for a raise.

Here are 3 tips for asking for a raise!

Evaluate Why You Deserve One

If you’re wanting to ask for a raise, you need to consider why you believe you deserve one. This process should take longer than an hour after work thinking about what value you add to the company.

Instead, keep a running list for a couple of weeks that includes bullet points as to why you should be paid more. You don’t want to approach your boss with blanket statements like, “I’ve been here for X amount of time, so I should get a raise.” It’s not always about the length of time you’ve been somewhere. Instead, it should be primarily about your value.

Of course, if you have been somewhere for a considerable amount of time, this means you bring loyalty to the table. Yet, you want more than just that when you’re asking for a raise. Consider if you’ve taken on more tasks, where you’ve gone out of your way to help the company, and how much you’ve experienced growth during your time as an employee.

Get a Number in Mind

You don’t want to approach your boss asking for a raise without a specific number in mind. This will also require you to do some thinking beforehand. Seriously contemplate a reasonable number that you believe you have earned.

The more prepared you are, the easier it will be on your boss. In turn, the easier it will be for you. You’re the one asking, so bring as many facts and points to the table as you can. This will give your boss more positive things to consider when deciding if you get the raise or not.

Consider a Backup Plan

What if your boss says no to you asking for a raise? If they say that on the spot, be sure to ask for the reason why. You are certainly entitled to know why they decided not to pay you more so quickly. Don’t shy away from that conversation!

If they say no after they’ve spent some time considering it – you’ll want to be prepared for that. If the reason they aren’t giving you a raise is because it’s not in their budget, then that’s fair. Of course, you still don’t need to stay, but you have to accept it’s not within their financial means. Are you willing to stay until it is? That’s for you to decide.

However, if the money is in their budget, but they don’t believe you deserve a raise – you need to seriously consider walking away. Don’t make any rash decisions, but you want to work for a company that sees your value. If you bring up strong points of what you add to the company, and they choose not to reward that – this is a sign they don’t appreciate you. You deserve to put your time and effort into a company that appreciates you.