Staff
Written by Jessica May | Asking for a raise can be one of the most nerve-wracking things you will do in your career. There are a lot of factors that your boss has to consider before granting your request. By looking at things through your boss’s perspective and asking yourself these five questions, you’ll be much more prepared for negotiation.
1. Has this person been working for the company long enough?
If you haven’t been working for the company for a full year, you might want to reconsider asking for a raise. Most likely, your boss has had to work his or her way up from the bottom as well. It is important to prove that you are willing to “put in the time” and fully understand the inner workings of the company before moving on to bigger and better things. If you ask for a raise too early, your manager might think that you don’t respect the job.
2. Can the company afford it?
As an employee of the company, you should have a general idea of how it is doing financially. Is it going through a transitional period? Have you heard discussions about decreasing the budget? If you ask for a raise when the company cannot afford it, your boss might think that you are selfish or just are not paying attention to what is going on within the organization. Sometimes, no matter how great your work is, it is not possible to fit your raise request within the budget. Do your homework and make sure that the company is in a good position to part with the extra sum of cash before asking for a raise.
3. Does this person deserve the raise?
Before asking for a raise, consider whether you have been simply meeting expectations or going above and beyond your job description. Your boss is much more likely to give a raise to a stellar employee with a consistent work ethic rather than an employee who simply does what they are asked to and nothing more.
4. How would this raise compare to the salaries of this person’s peers?
As a manager, you have to think about the entire group and who is going to be affected by any given decision. Many companies have salary bands, which list a range in which employees of a given category can be paid. If you ask for a raise above the highest end of the spectrum, your boss may not be able to justify it to higher management or your disgruntled peers.
5. Is this person disposable?
When you are rejected for a raise, there is always the possibility that you could leave and look for work elsewhere. Before turning you down, your boss will consider your role in the company and whether you can be replaced. If you leave, how will the company be affected? If the company can’t afford to lose you, they can afford to give you a raise.
Before asking for a raise, make sure to put yourself in your boss’s shoes. Closely examine your performance over the length of time you have worked for the company and be prepared to make a compelling case for why you should get the raise. By considering the questions your boss is sure to think of, you place yourself one step ahead to getting that raise you deserve.