How to ask your boss for a raise

The simplest way is just to do it, but make sure you get your timing right… which is not really now.

But before you even start, check out what you SHOULD be paid. If you are at the average level, but feel you (justifiably) should be getting more based on X, Y, and Z, then go for it.

If at your review, you get a glowing review and things are going along hunky dory, then casually say: “That’s wonderful that my review is so great. With that being said, I’d like to bring up the topic of a salary increase.”

It’s pretty hard. I won’t kid you, to just slide that in there, but grit your teeth and now that you are on a high from getting such a good review, then use that positive attitude in the room to ask for a raise.

If their faces fall and they say: “Well, this year is not such a good year”, then say: “I am not asking for a 50% increase. What I’m asking for is a reasonable increase based on how you’ve told me I’m doing, and what I think my value to the company is.”

Naturally, if your review sucked, don’t try asking for a raise.

If you want a raise mid-year and can’t wait, then after you do something particularly hard on a project (like a task you weren’t even supposed to accomplish but then you pulled it off with flying colours), and let’s say your manager calls to congratulate you… segue that into: “So now that I have you on the phone, and you’ve just heard about how great I’ve been doing. I’d like to discuss a salary increase.”

Many managers will pretty much tell you there isn’t enough money, it was a one-shot thing, and they need to see you PROVE yourself to be a great employee.

So take it in stride if you want to keep the job, make sure to keep HARD COPIES of the glowing review, customer or client references, and at the NEXT review say: “I believe I’ve proven that I can excel in any environment. Here was my review from last year, here are all the documents that prove I am a great employee and I’d like to bring up the issue of a raise again.”

Persistence is key, but don’t make them so angry they don’t even give you a raise to spite you. (Alternatively, they could give you a small 3% raise just to shut you up because you yap too much about wanting more money).

Remember, you NEED PROOF.

Consistent, solid, quantifiable PROOF. Numbers of how much money you generated are even better.

You cannot go into salary negotiation or asking for more money if you don’t have proof that you deserve it based on your performance from the past year and your previous reviews. The proof is in the pudding.

The last resort is if you aren’t very happy at all, find another job that pays you better, and you’ll see whether the market will take you.

Then, in my case, the manager might actually come back to you and offer a 6% raise (unheard of at my corporation), but I already made up my mind to leave. *shrug*

And if you’ve already made up your mind to leave, no amount of money unless it’s a doubling in salary, can make you stay because you made the decision to leave with a lot of factors in mind, not just how much you’re getting paid.