|
InfoPro Home > Professional Development > Monthly Column
You Can’t Always Get What You Want… Or Can You?
How to Ask For the Raise You Deserve!
By
Raul Lopez,
Librarian Relations Consultant
Having to asking for
a raise or promotion can be one of the most gut wrenching
discussions you will have in your professional career.
Why is this
so? Because for many of us, we show up to work, do a good competent
job, and repeat the process day in and day out. We assume that at
the end of the day, our work product will speak for itself and that
our managers are satisfied with our performance. This will then
translate into an excellent year-end review followed by a change in
title and an increase in salary.
If this sounds like your internal
thinking, you are not alone. And if you’ve found yourself frustrated
by not getting what you feel you “rightfully deserve”, you are most definitely
not alone!
But fear not. In this article I will outline tips you can
use to make this process a win/win situation for both you and your
manager. And while this may not guarantee you a raise or promotion, it
will make future discussions on this topic less stressful and more
productive.
Tip 1:
Do you really deserve a raise?
Before you even consider knocking on
your manager’s door to have this discussion, ask yourself:
-
Have you acquired new skills in the past years?
-
Can you link these new skills to measurable work improvements?
-
Has your work load increased?
-
When was your last raise/promotion?
Armed with this information you will be in a better position to talk
about your accomplishments and how those accomplishments have led
to better work product and a smoother-running library. The key to a
successful self-evaluation is to do it continuously for an extended
period of time, while gathering documentation along the way.
Documentation should not be limited to your work product, but should
also include market benchmarks for your position.
Tip 2:
Prepare for the worst.
Ask yourself, why don’t I deserve this
raise/promotion? This may seam strange, but you need to put yourself
in your managers’ position. Are there other employees who have been
with the organization longer that have not gotten a raise? Have you
missed deadlines? Has your firm recently merged or selected a new
CFO? By arming yourself with this information, you can then prepare
valid counterpoints should the issues be brought up during your
raise/promotion discussion.
Tip 3:
Make the winning argument.
When should you have this discussion with your manager? Common sense
indicates that a good time for this type of discussion is when your
manager is in a good mood. In addition, it would be very beneficial
if you wait until you’ve successfully completed a big project or assignment
before broaching the subject. Armed with this new success, along with
the notes you’ve kept throughout the year (remember this is a long
term process), you will be in a better position to make your case.
Tip 4:
Be realistic.
If all goes well, be prepared to answer the following
simple question from your manager -- "So, what do you want?" You’ve come too far to falter
now, so be realistic. Since you’ve already done your homework and
know what the market for your position is, what other people in your
department are making and what’s going on at the firm, make your
request realistic. If possible, suggest a range instead of a
specific number. Remember, this is a negotiation process.
If a raise is totally out of the question, ask for additional
vacation time, a title change, or a change in your work hours.
Tip 5:
Follow up.
Let’s face facts. The chances of your getting what you ask
for year after year are slim. So, should you receive negative
feedback from your manger or the company line response of “there is
no money in the budget”, thank your manager for their time and ask
when would be a good time to revisit this conversation. If you've received negative feedback, ask for specific changes
you need to make to correct your shortcomings. And remember
document, document, and document. The more information you are able
to gather for your next conversation, the stronger your position will
be.
Back to Top >> |
