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Do you constantly dream about your boss offering you a raise just for
doing a good job? Time to wake up and smell the coffee. Here's how to
turn that dream into reality.
Have you ever had this dream? You are working away at your desk one
evening and your boss stops by. She asks if you have a moment to
discuss an important matter. You stop what you are doing and enter her
office. Then she begins to tell you what a wonderful job you have been
doing over the past several months, so she is going to give you a
raise. Before she discloses how much more money you will be making,
the alarm goes off. You wake up disappointed, yet again. As you walk
to the shower, you ask yourself, "How can I turn this dream into
reality?"
Do Your
Homework
Before deciding that you are worth more money, make sure the
marketplace agrees. With Internet access, it's a lot easier to do your
homework these days. In fact, if you own a laptop, you don't even have
to get out of bed.
Web sites, such as
www.salary.com, can give you
up-to-date information on what the marketplace is paying for someone
with your skills, in your specific geographic area. You can also
search job sites like
www.monster.com and
www.careerbuilder, which often
contain job postings that include salary ranges.
Talk with some headhunters to get their opinion on what type of salary
you can command in the marketplace. Pull out any articles that support
your idea that you should earn more, even if you think you know what
you are worth. You might be surprised to learn that you are worth more
than you thought, particularly if you have been with the same company
for a while. In case you haven't heard, a talent war has been going on
while you have been busy working.
Timing
Is Everything
Here are some things to know before approaching your boss:
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The best time to go in and ask for a raise is after successfully
completing a major project. When your contributions are fresh in
your boss's mind, your value to the organization will appear
greater.
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Bring along any documentation regarding your solid work performance
and contributions to your organization.
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Highlight any significant savings or profit increases that can be
attributed to your efforts.
-
Don't wait until the company announces third quarter earnings are
down. If this type of announcement occurs just prior to your asking
for a raise, consider delaying your request until things appear to
be heading on the upswing again.
Go In With
Confidence
If you have done your homework and the timing is right, then there is
no reason to lack confidence when approaching your boss for a raise.
Don't hint or allude to what you want. Be direct and support your
request with facts.
Consider role-playing your request so that you come across
confidently.
Money Isn't
the Only Answer
If it is clear that your boss is unable to give you a monetary raise
at this point in time and you enjoy your work situation, then consider
asking for some extra benefits, such as a four-day workweek or
reimbursement for a seminar you have been eyeing.
Remember, it's not just about money. If you enjoy your work and have
some nice perks, then you are in a much better position than some
colleagues who make more money than you do, but still hate their jobs.
You don't want to turn into them. They probably wake up in the
middle of the night from nightmares about going to work.
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