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Raises and
Promotions
A successful
negotiation for a pay raise is never based on why you need
additional money. While your employer may care about you, providing
additional money to fund your chosen lifestyle is not their
responsibility.
- Be straightforward in addressing your request for a pay raise to your
supervisor. Tell the supervisor you are asking for a pay raise at this time
because of the accomplishments and contributions you have made, and the
additional responsibilities you have taken on. Be prepared with your
documentation.
- Make a list of the goals you have accomplished for the
company. Determine how their accomplishment has helped the
company. Document costs savings, productivity improvement,
superior staff development, important projects achieved,
above-the-call customer service, and ways in which you have
contributed more than your job required. Documented, these
accomplishments may justify a pay increase.
- Make a list of any additional responsibilities you have added
to your job. An increase in responsibility, more employees
supervised, or special projects are often grounds for an increase,
if you ask.
- Set a pay increase goal, in your mind, that appears to reward
the contributions and additional responsibilities you have
documented.
- Learn about negotiation from books, resources, networking, and
friends who have successfully negotiated a pay raise.
- Set up a meeting with your immediate supervisor to discuss
your compensation. You will not want to ambush your supervisor. If
the supervisor is unprepared to discuss an increase with you,
nothing will happen at the meeting. Your boss will also want to do
his research with the Human Resources staff and his own industry
sources.
Do a “clout check.”
How’s your clout with your employer right this minute? If you’ve just had a bad
run in your performance, this probably isn’t the best time to make the pitch for
a raise. But if you’re on a winning streak, or you’ve just been offered another
job elsewhere, there’s no time like the present.
Ask yourself where you want to be.
One key detail to bear in mind if you decide to use an outside job offer as a
negotiating tactic: You must be willing to leave. Your employer may take the
bait and try to entice you to stay – or not.
Know when it’s too early to ask.
You almost definitely should be with a company for at least a year
before bringing up the subject of a raise. Wait until you’ve built up
enough expertise, knowledge and customer relationships to be perceived as
indispensable.
Take the initiative to learn new skills and assume added responsibilities
without being asked. Such steps could distinguish you and put you in line for
higher pay.
Help out with your performance
appraisal. Bosses hate doing those, so make the process as easy as
possible – especially if raises are doled out only during annual review season.
Write up a memo or an e-mail message outlining your key accomplishments over the
past year. Tailor what you write to fit the review form used at your company.
More Information
see these websites for salary
data...
salary.com
payscale.com
see this helpful government
resource...
Occupational Outlook Handbook
see this website:
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
For hundreds of
different types of jobs—such as
teacher,
lawyer, and
nurse—the Occupational Outlook
Handbook tells you:
In addition, the Handbook
gives you
job search tips, links to
information about the job market in each State, and
more.
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