In this guide, we will give you a list of reasons for a raise and explain how to properly ask for a raise (and not get fired).
List of reasons for a raise
Here is a winning list of reasons for a raise:
- You have been given more responsibility: Since your recruitment, have you been given other important responsibilities without ever reconsidering your salary? In that case, it’s time to take the plunge and renegotiate your salary.
If your manager tells you that you need to prove yourself in your new role first, ask them to give you some perspective. You can then suggest that she reschedule an assessment interview in 6 months for a possible increase.
- Your sales figures are excellent: The sales figures you have achieved are arguably the most objective elements in demonstrating the value you represent to the company. If you have helped increase the company’s turnover, or if you have brought in customers that will secure it a profit for a few years, you undoubtedly have an excellent argument to justify the increase.
- Your market value is greater than your current salary: It is not that simple to determine your exact worth in the job market. However, if the difference to what you would earn elsewhere is clear and clear, your employer will certainly be aware of it.
First ask your friends, acquaintances and colleagues about the salary your job deserves. The sites and magazines will also give you an idea of the average salary that someone in a similar position earns.
- The customers are very satisfied with your services. For your employer, generating new business is not the most important thing. We must continue to satisfy existing customers. Keep emails in which your customers thank you for your work. These will all be arguments that enhance your case.
- The company saves money thanks to your work: Since you are not in a sales position, you cannot convince sales figures. On the other hand, you have allowed your employer to save money, for example by negotiating tighter prices with a particular supplier.
It doesn’t even have to be a direct economy. You may have put in place procedures that have allowed your department to work more efficiently and devote more time to important tasks.
- You have shown that you can work quickly and well: Not everyone is so productive. Does your ability to concentrate on a daily basis allow you to take on a much heavier workload than your colleagues? That’s already a good reason to ask yourself if you don’t deserve a raise.
This list is of course not exhaustive. There are many valid reasons for asking for a raise. Either way, the key to success lies in your preparation. Analyze your work, your qualities and above all: train yourself. List your arguments, rank them, and repeat them.
How to properly ask for a raise
There is only one type of person who can get a raise: the one that the company does not want to get rid of because it is effective. Only by fulfilling this requirement are you in a position to negotiate. If you are a mediocre employee, forget about asking for a raise: you may end up on the street.
It’s easy to think that you are worth more than you earn, but it may not be true. Think about what you really do at work, what responsibilities you take on, what your real experience is, your level of education and your hours. Are you really charging too little? If the answer is yes, don’t hesitate to ask for a raise.
Check what you have done for the company. If your company is going through a bad economic streak, there are layoffs and salary cuts, perhaps it is not the best time to ask for a raise. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t do it.
On many occasions companies use the crisis as an excuse; they will not accept that you ask them for an exorbitant amount of money but, returning to the first point, if you are profitable they will be interested in keeping you. To achieve an increase, the main thing is to show that you generate a profit for the company that is greater than what they are going to pay you.
Study the policy of your company. If your company has a Human Resources department, before doing anything, talk to someone who knows the policy of the company in this type of matter. There are several questions you should ask: does the company use any type of review to determine salaries? Is there a fixed salary range for each category? Who makes the decision about salary increases? Who should you propose to first?
Do a market analysis. There is an essential piece of information to negotiate a salary increase. If someone from the competition is earning more for the same work that you do, there is room to ask for a raise. Ask someone you know at similar companies, or look for job openings that offer a higher salary for a position similar to yours.
This should not be the main argument to ask for a raise – the main thing, we repeat, is that you are profitable – but it is good to know, in case they ask you or if, in the face of a refusal, you consider changing your job.
Put all the above information in writing. Once you have gathered all the information, and you have decided that you deserve a raise, prepare a list of the conclusions you have reached. You don’t need to introduce it to your boss. If what you have noted is true, he should be aware of it and it will be enough for you to remind him verbally. If you prefer to send it by mail, check it well before hitting “send” lest you regret something.
Decide what raise you are going to ask for. Before asking for a raise you have to know how much more you want to earn. It is very likely that they will ask you, and you have to have everything studied. If you ask for a very small raise, they may grant it, but you won’t be able to ask for another raise for quite some time and, if they already planned to raise your salary, you may end up earning less.
If you ask for too big a raise you will look ridiculous and start from a worse position the next time you trade. Make the raise in terms that don’t seem excessive. A good idea is to speak in monthly salaries, instead of yearly.
Prepare for negotiation. As in any other commercial exchange, the employer will try to maximize its benefit by paying you as little as possible: if it pays you more, it is because you are worth it. This is the trick you have to negotiate, and you must be willing to use it.
Choose the right time to ask for a raise. You can’t ask for a raise when you come across your manager in the hall. The best time to set the meeting is when the memory of something important that you have done for the company is recent: when your valuation is at its highest point. Also avoid Mondays and Fridays, when your boss may be unreceptive to your proposal.
Make a good presentation. Meeting with your boss to ask for a raise is not very different from a job interview. You have to be honest and think positive. Under no circumstances be cool: arrogance does not lead to anything and less to a raise. First, make it clear to your boss that you like your job and want to stay with the company, then explain what you are doing for the company and why you think you deserve a raise.
You have to be confident. Just saying “I want a raise” is not enough. A good option is to propose a percentage of increase, which is always more abstract, but you can also ask for a specific amount. Don’t be hesitant. Your boss has to see that you have thought about it and you are serious.
If you get no for an answer, try again or leave. If the answer is negative, you should not take things personally. If you get angry and give the note, all your effort will have been in vain. If you show a reasonable attitude, asking for a raise will only be one more step in your career.
Final thoughts
Even if you have been given a “no” for an answer when asking for a raise, it is a good thing that your boss knows that you want a raise, because he will have it in mind later and he will be more willing to grant it in the future. Ask your boss why they haven’t given you a raise and what you can do better to get it.
You have nothing to lose, and if you follow through with what he tells you, it will be harder for him to refuse next time. You cannot ask for a raise the following month, but you can do it in half a year, enough time to show what you contribute to the company.
If you have any comments or questions on the content, please let us know.
FAQ on A list of reasons for a raise
What is a typical raise increase?
A typical raise increase was 3% both in 2019 and 2020. Pro tip: If you are a mediocre employee, forget about asking for a raise: you may end up on the street.
How do you prove you deserve a raise?
Here’s how you can prove you deserve a raise:
- Your clients are satisfied with your work;
- You have been bringing profits to the company;
- Your market value is higher;
- Overall, you are among the best employees in your company.
How do you negotiate a pay rise?
To negotiate a pay rise you have to come prepared for the meeting, so do your research. As in any other commercial exchange, the employer will try to maximize its benefit by paying you as little as possible: if it pays you more, it is because you are worth it. This is the trick you have to negotiate, and you must be willing to use it.
Can you be fired for asking for a raise?
You can be fired for asking for a rise, as there is no law prohibiting it. However, most employers will not do this as they would want to encourage you to do more and go the extra mile.
References
Timesheets.com
Forbes.com
Monster.com
Indeed.com
