By Meenakshi Shankar
The recession’s hitting hard, but that shouldn’t stop you from asking for the raise that you deserve. Use your talking tactics to make your salary meter soar.
Before we get to the tips, one element is critical to your success: timing. Timing refers to the company's policies and procedures in terms of the amount of time between reviews and raises -- and when it's "acceptable" to ask for a raise.
Timing refers to the company's current financial situation as well as the general economic climate. And, finally, timing refers to where you are in terms of your work and major projects.
Obviously, it makes sense to ask for a raise:
• within the normal parameters of company policy;
• when the company is in sound financial standing, and
• when you have just had a major success.
List your accomplishments since your last raise. Don’t just walk into your boss’s office and demand a raise. You’d better put together a convincing case of why you deserve to make more. Examine your goals, progress and accomplishments. This is your opportunity to sell yourself. If you go in unprepared, be ready to get a quick brush off.
Find out your worth. Having facts on equivalent salaries in similar organizations is useful in justifying your request.
Be realistic in your expectation. Even if you are a superstar, and even if you were hired at the very lowest starting salary, most employers will not give you a raise that pushes you to the top of the salary range in one shot.
Be flexible and open to other options. Never go into a raise meeting with an ultimatum -- unless you're prepared to deal with the consequences -- and be prepared to compromise about the size of the raise.
Focus on the future. While you want to focus on your many accomplishments and contributions to date, you also want to show how you plan to continue contributing to helping your boss, your department, and your organization.
No boot kissing. Whining and groveling are pathetic in most business scenarios. Stating you need the raise because you’re getting divorced, having a baby or you need to get out of debt are not legitimate reasons. Remember that any raise is based on your work performance. Not on what happens at home.
Source: India Syndicate
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