Climbing the Career Ladder: How to Ask For a Raise

Ladies, imagine if you will, the following scenario: you’ve been working at X company for X amount of years. Every day you arrive at your place of employment and work your behind off. You score big wins for the company and you know that your boss would be lost without you.

There’s just one problem though. For all your hard work and effort, deep down you feel that your honest value isn’t reflected in your monthly wage packet. You know that it’s about time you started moving up the money scale within your company and your boss has yet (and probably never will) call you in for a chat about bumping up your pay.

So what do you do? Well, you ask for a raise.

It sounds simple, but let’s just remember that we’re living in modern Ireland where it genuinely is an employer’s market at present. Money is hard to come by and it can be even harder to prove that you’re worth your monthly wage.

And let’s not forget that the average pay gap between men and women remains at 24 per cent on an annual basis, according to the European Report which was released by the Belgian Presidency.

Basically what all this means is that you need to be smart. Generally employers hate talking about money, and definitely in Ireland we’ve been brought up in a culture that is slightly ashamed to speak about how much we earn.

If you’re planning on approaching your boss with the hopes of getting a raise, here are a few tips that will hopefully make a difficult conversation that little bit easier.

Is it time you asked your boss about bumping up your wages?

Do Your Homework: Before you even ask your boss for a private meeting, do a bit of research. Find out how much money other people working in your field are earning. Use this as a starting guide. If you can give examples such as “X does the exact same job as me but earns more money” it will help to show that you know what you’re talking about.

It’s also important for you to figure out how much you can earn. How long have you been working in the company? Do you have enough experience to account for your employer spending extra on you?

And, another important question to ask is what’s the financial situation of your company like? Has the company been making a lot of money in recent years or is it struggling?

If your company is under pressure financially it might not be likely that your pleas for an increased wage will be heard, so have yourself prepared for this outcome. Remember: a delay is not a denial. Try again when the company’s finances pick back up.

Have a Solid Argument: When approaching your boss for a raise, it’s important to be able to make your case. You need to sell yourself to your boss, speak about all the things you’ve accomplished since you started the job, speak about your skills and your successes. If it helps, imagine that you’re in an interview. Emphasise your strengths and show that you’re an asset to your boss.

It always helps to bring in materials that can help you. Maybe you can print out a portfolio of your successes within the company. Or if you have any information regarding how much money others in your field are earning, print that out and show them to help you illustrate your point.

Have a Plan B: Before you go into your meeting with your boss you need to decide what you’ll do if you don’t get the raise you want. Will you quit your job or simply ask for a raise again at a later date? Is a raise enough to keep you happy in your current job or are you prepared to start over again somewhere new if this doesn’t work out?

Make the Appointment: When you’ve gotten all your documents and your argument together, it’s time to ask your boss for a meeting. Treat it as a business meeting and don’t discuss what it’s about until the two of you are in the same room.

Remember, preparation is half the battle. If you go into the meeting with a logical argument and some research behind you, it will help to relax you. Hopefully you’ll get the outcome that you want. Good luck!