No matter how badly we may want (or feel we deserve) a raise, most of us are hesitant when it comes to asking for one. But face it, we're in a tight job market. Follow the lead of recent college grads, untouched by the fear of recession, and empowered by the information available on the Internet. Review your contribution to your company, determine your worth and get yourself a raise.
Build your case
1. Review your job description. Have you taken on new responsibilities since your last raise (or since you were hired)? Has your productivity increased over time? Are you doing work that people in positions above you usually do? Keep a record of the projects you work on, and any special achievements. You might even write yourself a weekly memo to help you keep track of what you accomplish. When you look back on these notes, you'll be able to quantify your achievements and have plenty of examples to refer to. Your boss doesn't care about your rent increase or your loan payments - show how your efforts have benefited the company, and prove that you deserve a raise.
2. Determine your market worth. There are tons of salary surveys published on the Internet. Compare your compensation with that of others in your industry and position. Try the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov) or Job Star's profession-specific salary surveys (http://jobsmart.org/tools/salary/sal-prof.htm). Or pose an anonymous question on a message board, like those at Vault.com.
3. Consider your worth to the company. Would you be hard to replace? Review what you, your team, or your department contributes to your company. Is it something that could be easily outsourced? If your company were to downsize, would your team survive the cuts?
4. How do you feel about your job and your company? If you have issues with the benefits, the hours, your boss, and your prospects for the future, you might review whether you really want a raise or a new job altogether. But if your only complaint is the salary, think about other things you would accept if your boss won't offer you more money.
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