Pay Rise Tips

Pay rise tips: Asking, negotiating or getting a pay rise,  raise, salary increase or job promotion can be successful and rewarding if done correctly. There is no standard method for securing a pay rise, but there are different approaches on how to ask, negotiate or get a pay rise, raise, salary increase or job promotion. It is best to have a meeting instead of writing a pay rise/ salary increase request letter or sending a pay rise request email.

Also see highest paying jobs & FAQ promotion relocation.  

Through the hidden job market, if a company finds the right candidate for a job, without having to advertise or having to go through the trouble of searching or recruiting,  they will hire that person. As you would be the only candidate, you would be able to negotiate a higher starting salary. 

To follow are some tips on how to ask, negotiate or get a pay rise, raise, salary increase or job promotion:

• Whatever approach you choose to secure your next pay rise, it is best to negotiate. 

• If you are expecting a 10% pay rise, you should ask for an 18% rise & then negotiate with your boss/ employer. If your job role is critical, if you are underpaid or if your role would be hard to fill if you left, then you will be in a more powerful position to negotiate your next pay rise. 

• It is best to avoid writing a pay rise/ raise letter or email, unless you have to. A face to face discussion is best to discuss a pay rise. While some write a pay rise or salary increase request letter, we recommend you ask for a meeting with your immediate manager & discuss this in the meeting. On rare occasions, to justify why you deserve the pay rise to more than your immediate manager, you may be asked to write a pay rise letter or salary increase request letter. Even if your immediate manager is in a different location, it is better to wait until you can discuss in a meeting instead of writing a pay rise request letter. Even discussing on the phone is better than writing a pay rise request letter.

• Many companies review everyone's salary on a yearly basis. Asking for a higher pay rise at your yearly review is fine, provided you deserve it. 

• Evaluate what you are worth in the market place through newspaper ads, associations, colleagues... etc. This can be used as a benchmark for how much of a pay rise you should ask for.

• Make weekly or monthly notes of all your achievements & how the company and/ or its clients have benefited from your achievements. This is one of the best justifications for a pay rise.

• If you deserve a pay rise, ask for it, even if your boss/ employer says the economy is not that good ... etc. and don't give up, even if they are not giving anyone a pay rise.

• If you are confident that you deserve a pay rise, be persistent, but be reasonable & professional. Do not push your manager into making a quick decision about your pay rise.

• If there are a combination of negative factors such as bad economy, high unemployment in your field or industry and/ or your performance is not that good, you should delay the pay rise request or at least don't be persistent until the factors improve.

• You can practically ask for a pay rise at any time of the year, but the best times to ask are; after the company announces good financial results, before next year's budget, after you have secured another job with a competitor or after you have successfully completed a major project.

• Sometimes, if you don't ask for a pay rise, you may not get one, so don't hesitate to ask for a pay rise.

• It is usually quite simple to ask & if you haven't received a pay rise recently, your boss is probably expecting you to ask for one.

• A pay rise can be in the form of salary packaging. It can be a company car, laptop, additional insurance, cell or mobile phone.... etc.

• If you ask for a pay rise & you are not successful, ask your boss what will qualify you for a pay rise in the future & what the timeframe is. Follow up with him/ her within the timeframe given to you. 

• If you are not successful in getting a pay rise, make logical professional moves, not emotional ones. 

• When you are successful in getting a pay rise, it is a good idea to thank your manager verbally, via email or via letter.

Related topics we'll be adding shortly: online salary negotiation coaching, job promotion tips, job promotion letter, how to qualify for your next job promotion, accepting or rejecting a new job offer and salary packaging negotiations. 

ASK US if you have questions or if you need assistance/ advice to negotiate your next pay rise or to negotiate a salary for a new job offer.

A well written resume will help you in your job search to target higher paying jobs.

Also see online distance education, work from home, FAQ Salary Pay & salary negotiation example.

Please share these pay rise tips with your friends who can benefit from them.