Asking for a Raise

Here’s some advice on asking for a raise from the book “How to Survive Your First Job (or Any Job)” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $14.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“I asked for my last raise by not taking no for an answer. I said I deserved it, earned it, and wanted it. I made myself a nine-point outline that I took to my boss, detailing how I had benefited the company and why I deserved a raise. He said no at least 10 times before I talked him into it. I had wanted a 10 percent raise but ended up with a 25 percent raise in the end. Be prepared to defend your cause, don’t take no for an answer, and don’t be the first to throw out a number.”

“I did research on other agencies, found out what they were paying for similar jobs, and used this as ammunition when I asked for a raise. I was able to say, ‘This agency would value me X much, so I’d like to request that or I’ll have to move on.’ It worked; I got the raise!”

“Keep an up-to-date portfolio of all of the work you do. This way, you are in a good position to prove to your supervisor exactly why you are a valuable employee, and why you deserve that promotion or long-overdue raise. Also, in the case of layoffs, you will have this portfolio and list of accomplishments ready to add to your résumé and to showcase your talents and achievements for potential new employers.”

“Simply ask. Don’t beat around the bush. Be direct, be succinct, and ask for what you want and what you think you deserve.”

“Make sure you have a clear list of your responsibilities. Then, make sure you exceed that list. Every six months, walk into your boss’s office with the list. Explain how you’ve done everything on the list. Explain the additional things you do. You may not get a raise every time, but you’ll walk out with something every time. The first time I did this, I got an on-the-spot raise. Six months later, I did the same thing. This time I didn’t get a raise, but I got a company laptop and cell phone.”

“You’ve got to know what you’re worth. Look online, talk to friends. Then, right after a busy period, if you’ve done a good job, go to your boss and spell it out. Say, ‘I’m making X, and I know Y is where I should be. What can we do?’”

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.