How to Get a Raise (And What Not To Do!)

Are you ready for a bump in your pay but are afraid to ask? Terrified your boss might say no? Learning how to get a raise isn’t as awful as it sounds… I promise!

But even thinking about asking for a raise can produce high levels of anxiety in some people. There are probably those who would rather sit through multiple root canals then talk to their boss about a pay increase.

As scared as you might be, learning how to get a raise can spark some positive movement for your overall financial well-being. It’s more money to put towards paying off debt, saving for big purchases, or investing for retirement.

The reality is that learning how to get a raise is one of the best ways to build a more secure financial future.

But asking for a raise takes more than just walking into your boss’s office and demanding they pay your more… seriously, don’t do that. It takes confidence, prep work, and knowing your value.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to get a raise, and what to avoid when asking for one.

1. Know your value

2. Start prepping

If your research shows that you deserve a raise, you still need to convince your boss that you’re worth the investment. And you’re going to want to arm yourself with as much data as possible.

Having the market comparisons you researched in the last step ready is just the start of your prep work, you also want to:

• Track your performance. Depending on your job, you should be able to show your boss your success rate on past projects, before and after statistics, etc.
• Bring a list of your achievements. You want to be ready to talk about your accomplishments, new certifications, how you’ve grown the company, and any strengths and talents that will be relevant to your boss.
• Be ready to talk about your ideas or plans for your future. A pay increase is an investment and telling your boss that you’re thinking about future growth will show them that you’re interested in making a return on that investment.
• Have others vouch for you. If you have someone that can vouch for your accomplishments, asking them for an endorsement can boost your case for a raise.

This step can also give you a much-needed confidence boost. It’s going to tell you, “heck yeah, you deserve this!”

3. Know the right amount

4. Get the timing right

Learning how to get a raise is just as much about timing as it is about the number. So while it’s great if your research got you fired up enough to ask for a raise, be patient and get the timing right before meeting with your boss.

Your company might have certain times of the year that are best for handing out raises. This could be at the end of the fiscal year, especially if it was a strong one, or around your annual performance review.

There are also certain days of the week and times that are better than others:

• Mondays are a no-go. No one feels generous on a Monday.
• The morning morality effect. There is some evidence to suggest that people have a higher level of moral awareness in the morning but after coffee, of course.
• Everyone is happier on a Friday. With the weekend almost here, your boss might have a more optimistic outlook but don’t wait until it’s the end of the day when they’re ready to leave.

Knowing your boss’s personality and workload can also have an effect on your success. If you pay close enough attention, you can probably tell what types of things set them off, when they’re happier, etc. For example, I hate meetings. No one should ever ask me for something after I sit through a meeting.

Whatever you do, give your boss a little bit of a heads up when you schedule your meeting. You can prepare your boss by telling them that you want to talk about your career growth.

5. Be straightforward in your approach

This might take a little practice, but when it’s time for your meeting, you want to get straight to the point.

When you sit down with your boss or manager, start with something like, “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today, and I know your time is valuable, so I’ll get right to the point. I want to bring you up to speed on my accomplishments this past year and talk about compensation.”

This gets right to the heart of what you want to say, and the majority of bosses will appreciate that you’re not beating around the bush and wasting their time.

You can then launch into the data you’ve collected about your performance and endorsements. You can also talk about your future goals with your company. Still, be direct in your language, bringing up the most relevant and vital points.

Then say something like, “Given all of this, I’ve done my research, and given my responsibilities, I would like to receive a $X increase in pay.”

It’s entirely probable that your boss is going to want to discuss certain aspects of what you bring up, so be prepared. You can do this by practicing with your partner or a friend.

What NOT to do if you want a raise

Learning how to get a raise also means knowing what not to do. Here are three things to avoid when you’re asking for a raise.

Don’t threaten your boss

Threatening to leave the company if you don’t get a raise is a major no-no. An ultimatum is one of the fastest ways to become unemployed because it shows a lack of commitment and trust. You also shouldn’t throw around job offers, interviews, or conversations you had with recruiters.

Don’t bring other employees into the picture

While some companies ask that you don’t talk about your pay with other employees, your right to have those conversations is protected under the National Labor Relations Act. However, it’s still pretty taboo.

If one of your coworkers tells you what they make, they’re doing it because they trust that you’re not going to bring that number to your boss and ask for a raise. You’re putting both of you at risk if you do.

Don’t share a sob story

The best reason to get a raise is for personal merits, not because you’re experiencing financial hardship. Still, it can be tempting to bring this up if you haven’t rehearsed the conversation you’re having with your boss or are feeling like the conversation isn’t heading in the right direction.

Keep your personal life to yourself. Stick to what you’ve already brought to the company, your accomplishments, and how you’re going to continue working hard.

What if I ask for a raise and get a “no”?

Even though rejection feels like a big bummer, hearing “no” isn’t always the end of the conversation. There might be some valid reasons why your boss can’t give you a raise right now. So keep the conversation going to get a better understanding of why your raise was denied and how to move forward.

“What’s contributing to your decision?”

This is an open-ended question that shows your willingness to empathize with your boss. Maybe business isn’t as good as you thought. Maybe your company is about to be restructured. There are lots of reasons why you might hear a “no,” and they’re not always about you.

“What would it take for me to get a raise in the future?”

This question tells your boss that you’re still interested and willing to work for a raise if the issue had something to do with your performance. Use their answers as a way to set some professional goals.

Look for a new job

The final word on how to get a raise

Increasing your income is the key to paying off debt, saving, and investing. So if you want to start earning more money, then asking for a raise is one of the fastest and easiest ways to do so, especially if you love your current job.

And being denied a raise isn’t the end either — it’s an excellent point to reevaluate what you’re doing and want from your career. There’s no shame in walking away for something new, but there is a problem if you don’t start standing up for yourself in the first place.