Want a Raise? Here’s How You Ask

Do your research.

Before you walk into your boss’ office to ask for more money, you need a clear understanding of where your current earnings stand relative to those who do (or have done) the same job as you in the same area. The best way to do this is to use online databases like Glassdoor or Indeed to see what people in your part of the country earn for similar positions. You may even be able to see what people are earning at your company.

The same goes for negotiating your salary at a new job. You certainly don’t want to lowball yourself, but you also want to be realistic about what you’re asking for. 

You should also make sure you’re even allowed to negotiate. If you’re represented by a union, for example, it will negotiate pay on everyone’s behalf. Going directly to your boss or negotiating a different starting salary may not be an option. 

 

Be your own hype man.

Sadly, you’re probably not the main character in your boss’s life. And while they (hopefully) appreciate your work, they may not keep a running list of all of your achievements. If you want to ask for more money, you need to explain to them why you deserve it. 

Just physically being at a company for a year or two is not a good argument for why they should pay you more. So come prepared. Look back at all the major milestones you’ve accomplished. Remind them of all the new responsibilities you’ve accepted and how you’ve managed them all. Show them all the reasons why they should want to keep you around.

It’s actually a good idea to keep your own running list of your achievements for exactly this reason. It can also help you when you’re negotiating at a new company. Any hiring manager will want to know what you accomplished at your old position before offering you a new one. 

 

What do you want? 

Be warned: Your boss may come at you with a Ryan-Gosling-in-the-Notebook-level “what do you want?!” And you need to have an answer. So pick a number. Maybe pick a percentage. But you need to pick something. (One study shows that asking for a very specific number, e.g. $51,830 instead of $52,000, can help your odds.) 

There is a chance that your boss will lead the conversation and spit out a number you weren’t expecting. If it’s higher, cheers! But if it’s lower, you need to be prepared to counter the increase you expected. 

Set the meeting.

Make sure the meeting is planned, rather than a random drop by. Ask your boss if they are free sometime during the week to have a 15-minute conversation about your performance. This gives them time to think about your work and reduces the chances that you’ll get midway through your pitch just to be interrupted. 

Prepare for the awkward.

Asking for a raise is like a mix between having to go to the dentist and watching Bridgerton with your parents. It will be worth it in the end, but you just want to get it over with. 

So practice what you want to say. Go over the conversation in your head and make sure you’ve got all the details clear. Plan for what you might say if your boss offers you a significantly lower increase than you expected. It’s going to be awkward no matter what so be honest about your expectations. 

And remember, there’s no shame in giving yourself a mirror pep-talk before going into that meeting. You can do this!

 

Play it cool.

Your boss or hiring manager could respond in many ways: “Yes, here’s all the money.” “No, not right now.” “Here’s a tiny bit of money.” “I need to think about it.”

No matter what the answer is, try to keep it positive and as upbeat as possible. You don’t want to be too pushy or too upset if things don’t go your way. And you don’t want to jump for joy and start crying if you do get a raise. After all, you earned it. 

If you are really, really upset by the offer, be polite and thank them for their time. It may be a sign that you need to look for other positions and you don’t want to burn a bridge if you are on your way out.