#3 So how do you approach your employer for a pay rise?

To get the best out of this article, please make sure you’ve read the 2 previous articles entitled:
No salary increase for a while? Here’s why…
How to NOT Ask For a Pay Rise…

So here are the 3 steps you should follow for maximum results…

Step 1:
First of all, ask for an appraisal meeting and see where you could improve the company’s return on their investment in you. Yes you read it right, make this about helping your employer gain more value for your services. Treat your employer as if he was your client that first needs to see what’s in it for HIM before he grants you a raise…

Step 2:
Since you’ve been focusing on doing more than you got paid for in the past few months, you will very likely be receiving the praises that you deserve. Make sure you complete your employer’s appraisal by also highlighting some of the achievements that he did not see or hear about. This step is very important because it allows your employer to realize how much value you are actually bringing to him!

Step 3:
Now it’s time to strike a deal… but the worst question you could ask is a closed question (where the answer can be “yes” or “no”). So never ask for a salary increase with a question that starts with “Can I…” Once you get a “no”, it will be very hard for you to get it… Consider semi-closed questions such as:

  • What would it take / what kind of results would you need to see from me in order to get a pay rise?

  • If I manage to do / achieve whatever we agreed, can we agree to review my salary?

Employers love this approach because it’s win-win.
Besides, it’s refreshing to have someone that really wants to produce more value for the company as opposed to increase its cost…

Think of yourself as a service you are selling to your employer (your client). You can’t just decide that you want to cost more to your employer… Price increase can only be justified IF there is a better return on investment. If you want to get a pay rise from your employer, you must be in his shoes. Think like your employer, do not think like the average Joe out there that just feels he is owed more money.

Bring value to your company, because this is how the company benefits and ultimately how your employer can promote you and create more jobs!

If you have tried this approach, please share your experience in the box below and tell us how it went!

Good luck for that pay rise!
Hamza Zaouali



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