If you’ve been in your job for a year or more and you’re still earning the same as when you started, it might be time to ask for a pay rise. While many companies offer incremental cost-of-living increases each year, they might not give more significant pay rises unless people ask.
And we believe you should ask! Read on to learn how to approach your manager, ask for a pay rise, and increase your chances of getting a “yes”.
Schedule a time to talk
“Can I have a pay rise?” isn’t a conversation to have casually in the office or something to drop in as your manager is on their way out for lunch. It deserves a focused, sit-down conversation (or video call.) So book in a time with your manager when you can have a frank and private discussion about the subject.
If you have regular check-ins with your boss, you could include this conversation in one of those. Otherwise, just ask to book some time in their diary so you know you’ll have their full attention.
Another point on timing: don’t ask for a pay rise when the company has just announced layoffs due to budget cuts, or when you’ve recently been reprimanded on an aspect of your performance.
Do your research
What are people doing similar jobs to yours paid? What is the national average? Does your area have a particularly high cost of living that affects salaries? Go into your meeting armed with all this information to justify why your company should give you a pay rise. Your boss will immediately be impressed with your efforts, and will be more inclined to be receptive if you have data to back up your request.
Be realistic
Your employer isn’t going to double your salary overnight, however nice that might be. Make sure the figure you’re asking for is realistic and in line with the value you bring to your role (more about that in a minute.)
While we like the advice to always start the negotiations by asking for a higher figure than the one you’re aiming for, don’t push this too far. Asking for an obviously unrealistic amount will make you look unprofessional. If you’d like to make an extra £2,000 a year, start by asking for £3,000 and be prepared to negotiate down from there.
Focus on the value you bring to the company
Along with researching market rates, factor in your recent accomplishments and stellar performance review to justify why you deserve more money!
Have you achieved outstanding ratings on all your performance reviews to date? Did you nail a project, bring in a lot of new business, or wow a client? If so, bring all that information to your salary discussion with your boss. Concrete figures are great if you have them, as they help prove your value to the company. Factors like additional training you’ve undertaken or relevant qualifications you’ve gained since you joined the company to bolster your request.
Remember: you’ve got to justify your pay rise. The more evidence you can offer that will do that, the better!
Don’t be apologetic
You don’t have to feel shy or embarrassed about asking for a pay rise. As an employee, you deserve to get paid what your hard work is worth. Negotiating for more money is a normal part of working life.
Approach it as a professional conversation. Be polite and courteous, but don’t be ashamed of asking. We all go to work to earn a living.
Be specific, but flexible
It’s a good idea to go into a pay rise discussion with an idea of how much you’d like to get. But you should also prepare to be flexible. Perhaps you’d really like to be making another £2,000 per year, but your company might only be able to stretch to an additional £1,500. That’s still a win, even if it’s not the exact win you might have wanted. Flexibility and a collaborative attitude will always help your case.
Consider other possibilities beyond money
Sometimes, you might hear that even though your company really values you and you do great work, there simply isn’t money in the budget to increase your salary. This is frustrating, of course. If you feel you’re very underpaid, this might be the time to start looking for another job.
But if you like your job and want to stay, are there other perks you can negotiate that will make up for the lack of a pay rise? For example, the ability to work from home or flex work hours are very attractive to many people. Or perhaps more annual leave days each year would achieve the same goal as a pay rise? Think about what would make you feel valued and happy at work, and ask for it. You might not get a yes, but it’s always worth broaching the subject.
Never demand or issue ultimatums
It seems obvious, but bears repeating. Never tell your boss “if I don’t get this pay rise then I will quit.” Firstly, it comes across as excessively adversarial and is likely to annoy your boss and make them less likely to be on your side. You also risk them calling your bluff, which then leaves you in the awkward position of having to either quit without another job lined up (rarely a good idea), or backtrack on your statement.
Always, always remain professional.
Do you have a pay rise success story?
If you’ve successfully asked for a pay rise or renegotiated your salary, let us know! We’d love to hear your success stories.
