It’s a common conception amongst us Brits that money matters should be hush-hush. The truth is talking about salary isn’t so bad, and it’s important to do so for your career growth, your attitude to work and your overall happiness.
If you feel you deserve a pay rise, maybe it’s time to pluck up the courage and ask for it. Before you dive in at the deep end, let’s get you prepped first:
Date for the diary
To start the ball rolling, schedule in some time with your line manager which is convenient for the both of you and remember to give yourself plenty of time to prepare:
- Check your schedule – Remember to always prioritise your workload first before committing to a meeting. Binning important jobs won’t win you any brownie points.
- Be prepared – It’s a good idea to have some dates and times in mind in case your manager asks what works best for you.
Make a strong case
You have made a strong argument in your head as to why you deserve a pay rise but it’s important to put pen to paper and clarify your thoughts and do some additional research to back up your case:
- Have a concrete figure in mind – Always have a figure in mind when asked about salary and avoid asking for a general 'pay rise’. If you’re unsure of how to evaluate your earning potential, compare salaries for similar roles on job advertisements.
- Asses your contribution to the business – Before taking the plunge, ask yourself some simple questions. What areas of your role have you excelled in? How are you going above and beyond? What new skills have you learnt and how are you using them?
Choose your words wisely
To master the art of negotiation, it’s important to be aware of the language you’re going to use. Think of it as a clear business discussion rather than a conversation about your personal circumstances:
- Avoid subjective language – It’s not about what you want, it’s about what you deserve. Try and avoid using phrases like 'I want', 'I need' or ‘in my opinion’.
- Be objective – Always use positive language with phrases such as 'I've achieved', I’ve excelled’ or 'I deserve' to drive your points.
Final word
It’s important to have an open mind during the process. If a raise in pay isn’t realistic at that time, try not to feel disheartened as you can try and negotiate other incentives in the meantime:
- Identify what’s on offer – Ask if your employer can offer incentives such as gym memberships, additional courses, extra holiday days or flexible working hours.
- Set goals- If you haven’t been able negotiate the pay rise you wanted, suggest discussing the matter in another 6 months and ask for clear objectives to achieve by that time.
Don’t burn your bridges
Threatening to leave is a bad move if you enjoy your job and you’re looking to progress. It gives the impression you’ve mentally got one foot out of the door already. If you do decide to leave, you shouldn’t go out in a blaze of glory, it’s important to be gracious and on good terms with your boss. Think about your reference!
For more advice about life at work, check out our latest blogs. If you’ve decided you need a change of pace, contact your local branch. No matter what industry you’d like to find work in, odds are that Pertemps will be able to help.
