A stellar example of knowing how to ask for large things at just the right time, the Bible’s Queen Esther approached her moody, impulsive husband the king successfully, ultimately saving her fellow Jewish people from annihilation.
Your boss may not be a cantankerous king, but you can still learn from the lovely queen’s technique to ask for — and receive — that raise you’ve worked so hard for and know you deserve.
Here’s how…
Preparation
When figuring out how to formally ask for a raise, it’s important to know that you should never be spontaneous or based entirely on your current state of personal finances. Enough thought should be given so that your target date for requesting a raise gives you plenty of time to build your case and complete noteworthy accomplishments. As the target date approaches, spend your time researching the market to discover what salary belongs to others in your industry performing your line of work.
Also keep an ongoing list of practical reasons why you should receive a raise. For example, you should note an increased workload, ways you’ve saved your company money, and projects exceptionally well handled — especially those with large ROI.
This is also the time to leverage you. Other job offers are clearly good leverage, but Caroline Sezina-Levine writing for Forbes Magazine points out that a savings fund is also good leverage, boosting your confidence with the assurance that you have another option should the raise not work out and you feel you should leave. Other possible ways to increase your leverage include diversifying your skill set and building a strong network to help you in a job search should you need a new job.
Timing
Are there certain times your company never gives raises? Find out! If so, any time besides that time period will work for your request as long as it’s not immediately after hire or just after a previous raise. To really make the timing work for you, plan to ask after you’ve been working for some time with an increased workload. Also be sure to give your manager a heads-up. Send an email or appointment request beforehand, mentioning the subject matter. It’s much easier for him to say “no” when he feels put on the spot. Time for reflection puts the odds in your favor.
Wording
The proverb “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” gives credence to the effectiveness of the spoken word and rest assured, the words you choose in asking for a raise can be effective, too.
When going in for the big meeting, remember that the only message you want to convey is that your salary should reflect your increased value to your company and a raise can help that happen. Avoid mentioning the higher salaries of your colleagues — this is bad form and can appear manipulative. Also, be sure to keep your personal problems out of the picture to keep the negotiation as professional as problem. On the positive side, Dave Ramsey recommends raise-askers to express gratitude first, letting your employer know how much you appreciate what you already have. This sets the tone for your actual request, which should be brief, factual, and positive.
When popping the actual question, simply state you’ve been doing more work, highlight your value in a number of ways to the company, briefly mention your salary research (keeping in mind that those numbers are what other employers pay their employees, it doesn’t require yours to match the deal), and ask for a raise politely and with confidence and a smile.
Response
No matter what the answer is — yes, no, or “I’ll think about it” be prepared for a positive response. Express gratitude once again and if the answer is no, smile and ask what you can to help earn a raise in the future. This demonstrates your value even more to the company by showing that you are goal-driven and an engaged employee that’s worth keeping.