How to Negotiate a Pay Rise
Very few of us like asking the boss for more money. Nearly everyone gets a little nervous when they finally pluck up the courage to ask.
There‘s no need to be nervous! The following simple rules will help you plan your strategy to a fatter paypacket!
1. Show you‘re worth it!
Prepare for the negotiations by researching and writing down all your achievements and successes in work over the past year. Don‘t be afraid to emphasise the quality of the work you do and what you contribute to the company. By showing how much you‘ve done to deserve a raise, your boss will have a better idea of your value to the company and, hopefully, enter the salary negotiation with a higher raise in mind.
2. Prepare and then prepare again!
Before meeting with your boss, research the going rate for your job in your own company and in the industry generally. Use the web, your contacts in other companies and the jobs pages in newspapers to find the salary ranges for your position. Be prepared to present your findings at the negotiation.
3. Know your bottom line.
If you know that you can get the salary you deserve in another company, decide if you‘re prepared to change jobs if you don‘t get what you want. If you are prepared to move, the balance of power is firmly in your favour. However, you must be prepared to leave if your boss genuinely can‘t meet your demands. Your research should give you an idea of what your minimum requirements are, and you should consider looking for another job if they are not met.
4. Think overall package, not just salary.
Have some alternative suggestions to a salary increase ready, in case your boss can‘t give you a straight pay increase. An increase in days holidays, mileage allowance, VHI or pension contribution can make a huge difference. Similarly, ask for additional training or wider responsibility, which will strengthen your position when you‘re negotiating your raise next year!
5. Ask the question!
You‘ve done your research, you‘ve planned your strategies - don‘t bottle out now you‘ve got this far! Sounds basic, but some people are so afraid of being turned down that they don‘t actually ask for a raise. Remember, if you don‘t ask, you won‘t get anything!
Reproduced with kind permission from
La Creme
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