WASHINGTON – Asking for a raise can be awkward when you are out of practice. When is the best time to approach an employer? What should you say? More importantly, what should you not say?
WTOP’s Vice President of News and Programming Jim Farley has some experience with this. He has been in management since 1976 and has fielded thousands of raise requests. He says asking for a higher salary isn’t impossible if you play your cards right.
“What you really need to do is put yourself in the shoes of the boss,” he says. “What does he or she need to get done? What are his or her problems, and what can you do to solve them?”
Employees who whine and complain could be turned down, he adds. Instead of marching into the office and demanding a raise, build a case for why you are important to the company and what skills you can add. Remember that your employer’s priority is the success of the organization, not your savings account.
“It really is a negotiation,” Farley says. “The boss has bottom line responsibilities, the boss needs to make a budget and so the boss is not looking to spend extra money on you or anybody else.”
“You have to give the boss a reason why he or she should invest in you.”
If you are turned down, don’t give up right away. Discuss other forms of compensation like a change in title or added responsibility. Most employers want their employees to walk away feeling better about their jobs, Farley says.
Keep in mind that timing is everything. Don’t ask for a raise if you have just been disciplined, if the company is having financial problems or if the year’s budget has already been decided. Instead, catch your boss in a good mood.
“When the organization has just done something well and the boss is proud and bragging about the troops, that’s the time to hit him up,” he says.
And don’t be afraid to think creatively. Approaching your boss outside of work or in an informal setting – over a drink or at the golf course – could loosen things up before you make a formal pitch, Farley says.
U.S. News has some other tips for securing a bump in your salary:
- Do your research and look at other salaries in your field. If yours is comparable, maybe asking for a raise would be appropriate. But if you’re making less than your colleagues, then maybe it’s time to speak up.
- Manage your emotions if you don’t get the response you wanted. Remember you can always ask again later, so making a negative impression the first time around isn’t in your best interest.
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