1. Prepare Your Argument
You really shouldn't approach asking your boss for a raise as an argument, but you may have to make your case. Think of it as selling yourself just as you would do if you were trying to get a prospective employer to hire you. Make a list of all the things you've accomplished for the employer. Start with the most recent accomplishments and work your way backwards. Also make a list of your relevant skills — the things that make you successful at doing your job.
2.Decide What You Will Do if You Get Turned Down or Don't Get the Raise You Want
Before you walk into your boss's office to ask for a raise think about what you will do if she says "no" or agrees to give you a raise that is much smaller than the one you want. Will you quit your job or will you wait a while and then ask for a raise at a later date? Your answer may depend on what your boss says. For example, has she turned you down because of your performance? If so, ask yourself if her criticisms are valid. If they are, think about what changes you can make. If they aren't, you may want to go where you are appreciated. If there is some other reason you were turned down, talk to your boss to find out if she expects the situation to change. If she does, find out when you can talk about this again.
Execute
3.Set Up an Appointment to Talk to Your Boss Show your boss how serious you are about asking for a raise. Treat this as a business meeting. Set up a time to meet with your boss. Don't discuss your raise with him by email, at the water cooler, or by telephone (unless you and your boss don't work at the same location).
I once worked for Hostess Frito Lays,our manager suddenly quit his job. Who would have known that when he said "have a great weekend" to everyone on Friday, he wouldn’t show up ever again. You could imagine the chaos that it caused within the day to day operations within our department.
I don’t quite remember how long we were without a manager but there was an employee that was with the company for about 10 years at the time that was asked to fill some of the managerial duties while still fulfilling his own until a new manager was hired. He did this to the best of his ability but it was beginning to take a toll on him after a while. He would call in sick or show up late and leave early some days as a result.
Seeing this, I decided to challenge myself and do something that no one would expect. I asked for the Manager position. Yep, that’s what I did knowing that I had never worked as a manager before, I didn’t have a degree in management, or any official requirements that one would need in order to fill this position, but there was a problem and I wanted to be the solution; not because of the money which I had no clue what it was at the time but because I believed I could.
In my life outside of work during and prior to working for Hostess- Frito Lays, I have been involved in leadership roles within my church, the youth group, and other organizations that gave me certain skills that one needs to be a manager. I also had minor leadership roles at other companies to be in charge of a team of people for a particular task or to be responsible for a small task or area within a department.
I created a profile of myself, outlining my skills, a list of contributions towards Hostess-frito Lays and what I will do if I were the manager. It was not exactly a resume because as I stated earlier, I didn’t have any work experience with any company before as a manager. I booked an appointment with our Regional VP of Operations who was responsible for overseeing the operations of Hostess-Frito Lays plants in throughout Northern Ontairio. He spent a lot of time at our plant due to the loss of a manager so I knew that he was the man I needed to talk to.
I remember when I was scheduling the appointment, his admistrator looked up at me through her dark rimmed glassed with a surprised and confused look. She must have been wondering why would one of the truck drivers want to speak with our Regional Vp of operations.
To make a long story short, I had my meeting with the Regional VP of operations. I dressed appropriately for the occasion, I had 2 copies of my profile on good quality paper and in a nice blue folder that not only matched the colours that I wore but it was one of the colours of the company. (this was deliberate).
I had established what I would say and how I would say it in the days ahead as I waited for this day to come; so I was confident - nervous but confident. After I presented my case he looked at me and told me that he was extremely impressed;the fact that I could take such a bold step in such a manner for the sake of this corportation that was worth millions. I came with a solution not to tell him about the problems that he already knew of and was currently trying to address.
He shared with me classified information that only top executives within the company knew about and swore me to secrecy. The company was going to go through a major change right across Canada in the months to come that would affect jobs in a good and bad way in order to increase profits. He informed me that it was a risky but necessary strategy to hold off on hiring a new manager to replace my previous one so that they can be certain to hire someone that was equipped with the necessary qualifications to manage the new operational system that was about to occur.
I didn’t walk out of his office that day as the new manager of Hostess-Frito Lays, Mississauga Ontario, but I did leave his office with exclusive info about the company’s near future plans, as well as a guarantee that I wont be one of those losing my job and I will automatically receive a supervisor position for one of the new departments that will be created. Oh yeah, and a raise that was to commence in the days after our meeting.
I positioned myself for a raise and promotion by taking initiative, creating solutions, thinking out of the box and presenting myself in a very professional manner which showed that I cared aoubt the company, not just my pay check.
Present Your Case
Your boss may agree to give you a raise immediately. You may have to do nothing more than ask her for one. Wouldn't that be nice? If that doesn't happen you may have to do more to convince your boss you should get a raise. Present the material you gathered earlier, including the typical salaries in your field and your accomplishments
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