How To Ask For A Pay Rise

How to ask for a pay rise

29 Oct 2024

Asking for a pay rise can be scary, but when it’s done in the right way you can highlight how valuable you are to the company and increase your earnings. We explore the best ways you can ask for a raise.

Why should you ask for a pay raise?

There are several reasons to ask for a pay rise, including:

Your role responsibilities have expanded.
You have completed extra training and workshops.
You feel that your salary should reflect the average pay trends within the industry.
You have gained more experience.

How to ask for a raise

Asking for a pay rise takes some planning. Completing the following steps will allow you to ask for a raise effectively so that you can increase your chances of success.

Find the right time

Getting the timing right for when you ask for a pay rise is crucial. When planning when you’re going to ask for a pay rise there are a few things you should consider:

The financial health of the company - When companies are in a financially healthy position, they're more likely to be willing to invest more into their employees. If you’re aware that the company, or its markets, are not in a positive position, it’s best to wait until they’re more financially stable.
Your manager's workload - If your manager has a steady workload, they’re more likely to have the time to sit down and discuss your proposal of a higher salary.
Any achievements you have made during your time at the company - It’s good to have an idea of your achievements throughout your time in the company, however, you should focus on your most recent achievements and gather evidence to showcase these to demonstrate how valuable you are to the business and why you deserve a raise.

Research average salaries

Understanding the average salary for your job title will allow you to understand whether you’re being paid fairly or if you should be paid more. However, even if you receive the average salary, if you believe you still deserve a pay rise, you can put your proposal forward. Pull together evidence of completed training, meeting deadlines and creating quality work as well as any other achievements you may have gained.

Plan a meeting with your manager

Scheduling a meeting with your manager around your performance gives you the perfect gateway to have a conversation about a salary increase.

You should also schedule the meeting for a minimum of half an hour so that you can properly run through your proposal.

Practice what you’re going to say

Preparing what you want to say ahead of time will help you feel confident when asking for a pay rise. You should have a rough idea of:

Your introduction - Discuss the purpose of the meeting.
The body of the meeting - This should cover the salary you’re looking for, how you came to this conclusion and why you believe you deserve a pay increase.
Your conclusion - This should cover your strengths and the salary you’re looking for. Make sure you allow time for your manager to discuss their thoughts on the proposal.

Time to negotiate a pay rise

You’ve gathered your evidence for why you deserve a pay rise, and you’ve practised what you’re going to say, now it’s time to ask the question!

Your preparation should give you the confidence needed to ask for a pay rise effectively. Throughout the meeting, you should maintain eye contact and allow time for your manager to ask questions.

You should also be prepared for your manager to negotiate your proposed figure. You can refer to your notes and explain why you believe you deserve the full pay rise. When negotiating a pay rise you can also ask why they can’t give you the full amount.

If they can’t give you a salary increase at that moment, you can ask questions that will help you secure it in the future, such as:

What skills or achievements would increase my chances of a pay rise?
How do you think I am performing and how can I improve?
When would be a good time to discuss a pay rise again?

Thank your manager for their time

After the meeting, send your manager an email to thank them for their time and summarise the discussion with key points raised. Even if you don’t secure a pay rise, it’s important to listen to the feedback given .. This will create a positive impression that could help you achieve your salary increase in the future.

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