how to get a pay rise

How to get a pay rise is one of the most common things workers think about. You have been working at your job for some time now, and you have been performing well! But you haven't had a promotion or pay rise since joining.

What's going on? Apart from needing to pay the bills, money is a sign of value and appreciation for all your hard work, especially if you're outperforming your colleagues. Not having a pay rise can make you feel negative and unseen - this is not a good thing for you or your employer!

If you believe you deserve a pay rise, don't be afraid to talk to your manager, especially if you haven't had a pay rise in more than a year. But what is the right thing to do? What should you say? Typically, a promotion and pay rise go hand in hand so that we will break down each step for you.

How To Get Promoted?

If you have been in the same role for some time, it's straightforward to assume you will get a promotion. This isn't necessarily the case. A promotion all depends on your performance, your drive, and how much more you're willing to work.

Here are some tips on how to get promoted;

• Make your boss/manager's job easier. Take on tasks that your manager doesn't have the time to do. In turn, your manager will trust you more and will see the extra effort you're putting in.




• Own projects. Make sure to follow through on tasks from start to finish. Don’t start a new project and never finish it!




• Work visually. During a presentation or meeting, produce graphs and charts if applicable. A lot of people are visual learners and seeing your answers rather than hearing them give people more confidence in your work.




• Be positive. Easier said than done, but people who can keep their cool under pressure and meet deadlines are more likely to get promoted than the negative stress-head who causes more work.




• Be a team player. Helping people when you have completed your tasks and giving credit where it is due, is a way to show that you're trustworthy, can work in a team and can raise the overall performance of the people around you. It may seem like the person who takes everyone's credit, lies and backstabs, and is a sycophant get the lead up the career ladder. These people do, unfortunately, but they don't last there for long.




• Avoid politics and gossip. Although office politics is something you can't always avoid, however rising above and not partaking in office gossip proves your trustworthiness.




• Be exceptional. Do your job well, and more. Put effort into all the areas of your working life and be the go-to person in the workplace for advice and help. (This doesn’t mean you have to attend all the work-social events though.)

Once you have achieved all these things, it may be time to negotiate a pay rise.

How To Negotiate A Pay Rise?

Before you start thinking about negotiating a pay rise, you need to figure out how much you and your job is worth. Yes, we know, priceless, but let's be realistic. Start doing your homework and see what the average salary is for someone in your position, age and experience. If you're below average, have been in the company for more than a year and exceed all expectations, you could be in a chance of getting that well-deserved pay rise.

You will need to justify your worth. Think about your latest achievements, your knowledge and experiences. After all, a pay rise is a business decision, and you need to sell yourself.

Ask for a meeting with your manager. But do try to figure out the right time to do this. Don't try to negotiate a pay rise during high-pressure moments at work, when there are deadlines due and your manager is so swamped that the last thing they want to do is justify a pay rise for you from their superiors.

Unfortunately, there are times a pay rise won't happen. This is mostly because the company won't have the funds. But don't panic! If you can't get that pay rise, try to negotiate a perk at work instead. Such as more flexible working, reimbursed travel allowances and payments towards education and training.

Remember, negotiating a pay rise is just a conversation between you and your manager. Hopefully, you will get more money in the bank each month. But, if for whatever reason you don't, don't react in anger. You can always try again later down the line, or you can look for another job.