| What Makes You Think That You Deserve A Raise? | | | | getting fired for asking for a raise are so slim that |
| As a new year gets underway, it might be a good | | | | you need to not worry about it. Increase your feeling |
| time to have a talk about one of your most | | | | of self confidence by picturing yourself as being |
| important types of negotiations: asking for a raise. | | | | successful and don't worry about any pushback that |
| Wait a minute: did I see you just grimace? Did you | | | | you might get. |
| turn away? Why the reaction - it's your paycheck | | | | - See Into The Future: and identify what objections |
| after all, shouldn't you be taking charge of how much | | | | your boss might bring up. Make sure that when you |
| you make? | | | | make your request for more money you touch on |
| If you are counting on getting a big raise this year, | | | | these points and offer solutions to then before they |
| you might want to think again. The folks over at | | | | are bought up. Good Tactics Can Make All The |
| Hewitt Associates are saying that raises this year are | | | | Difference |
| going to be running at about 3% or so - nothing to | | | | Even before you go into your boss' office to request |
| write home about. | | | | a raise, there are a number of things that you can do |
| What you are going to want to do this year is to | | | | in order to improve your odds of success. Here are a |
| find a way to get in the running to get your hands | | | | few of them: |
| on some of your company's incentive pay. The folks | | | | - It's All About Performance: You need to spend |
| at Hewitt are saying that the budgets for incentive | | | | some time creating a list of why you should get |
| pay are running at about 7% or so - clearly there's | | | | more money. Weak reasons like the length of time |
| more money to be had in this bucket. | | | | since you got your last raise won't do the trick - it's |
| A Little Strategy Goes A Long Way | | | | got to be based on bottom line results. |
| If you are going to have a chance to be successful in | | | | - Documents Count: having physical proof that you |
| getting more money out of your employer this year, | | | | have had superior job performance can be critical to |
| you're going to have to come up with a plan in order | | | | making your case. This of course means that you |
| to make it happen. Robert Moskowitz has spent | | | | need to have been keeping a file that shows what |
| some time studying what needs to be done and he's | | | | you've accomplished throughout the past year. |
| come up with some suggestions for us. Here's what | | | | - Practice, Practice, Practice: In order to prepare |
| he thinks that we need to do: | | | | yourself for the big event, spend the week before |
| - Create A Price Tag For Yourself: Just how much | | | | you make your request practicing with yourself. This |
| are you worth in today's market? This is a critical | | | | will help you to get your words straight and will allow |
| piece of information that you need to know. It may | | | | you to prepare to deal with common feedback that |
| require a bit of research on your part: talking with | | | | you should expect. What All Of This Means For You |
| head hunters, reading online and print ads for similar | | | | Coming out of the global recession, we are all |
| positions, and generally asking around within your | | | | probably not being paid what we are worth. It's time |
| network. With a little luck you'll find out that you are | | | | to ask for either a raise or at least a bonus. |
| being underpaid! | | | | As scary as the prospect of asking for a raise may |
| - Boost Your Value: Every company has a different | | | | be, there are things that you can do in order to |
| set of skills and responsibilities that they view as | | | | boost your odds. Keep in mind that it's your value to |
| being the most valuable. You need to take a step | | | | the company and your past performance that will |
| back and understand what is the most important to | | | | boost your odds of getting more money in your |
| your company: is it financial skills? Marketing skills? | | | | paycheck. |
| Selling skills? Once you know what is the most | | | | It is possible to ask for a raise and get it. It just |
| valued, you need to take steps to increase your | | | | takes a bit of preparation and some good negotiating |
| value in these areas. | | | | skills...! |
| - Get Your Head In The Game: The odds of you | | | | |