How to Ask for a Raise and Get It in 5 Steps [with Examples and Tips]

How to Ask for a Raise and Get It in 5 Steps [with Examples and Tips] Youre minutes from knowing how to ask for a raise and get it. Start by thinking about thisIts scary.Asking for a raise can make your stomach churn. What if they say no? What if it turns into a fight? Why rock the boat, right?But heres the thing. Youre not wrong to ask. Youre not greedy. Asking wont hurt. Just be respectful, and dont demand the moon.Asking for a raise means showing your track record in a way they agree with. Youre not begging for a gift or a favor. This is part of having a job.You just need a few tips to know how to get a raise without ruffling feathers.This guide will show you:How to ask for a raise in 5 steps.How to negotiate a raise to get paid what youre worth.When to ask for a raise to increase your chances.What to do if they say no (so they still say yes).Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your re sume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume now1Get Ready to Negotiate a RaiseSweaty palms time.You walk in. You sit down. You say, Id like a raise.Your boss rubs her eyes. She talks budgets and policies. In the hallway five minutes later you want to kick something.You didnt get a raise, and you feel awful.Sound familiar?Its not that you dont deserve more money. You just werent prepared.Ready for the best way to ask for a raise?The Best Way to Ask for a RaiseThe best way to ask for money is to deserve it.Does that sound clich? Okay, butPrepare asking for a raise by being worth more than your title.Ask yourself this:When do I go above and beyond?What value do I create?What are my biggest accomplishments?Do I bring in extra revenue? Save time? Improve quality?Am I more than m y job title?Those are your biggest levers to get what youre worth.Need leverage? Before you ask for a raise, when your boss praises you, put it in an email folder called, kudos.Pro Tip: Dont think you deserve a raise yet? Are you underperforming? Find ways to get better at your job. Then circle back and ask later.What else do you need besides money? After you ask for a raise, see our guide: What Are Your Career Goals: Set Reach Them2Know When to Ask for a RaiseSorry, our budget is already in place.Yikes.Dont let them say that.You need to know when to ask for a raise. And yes, theres a right time and wrong time.When Should You Ask for a Raise?Whats the perfect time? Consider these points:1. Ask when the company is making its budgets.Companies have budget cycles when they plan, approve, and execute spending. Learn your companys cycles if you can, then ask during the planning stage.2. Dont ask when your boss is grumpy.Interpersonal skills are a massive career tool. Use yours by feelin g out whether the boss is having a rough day or on top of the world. Ask for a raise when shes flying high.3. Ask for a raise right after you save the day.Did you just land a big client? Solve a teeth-chattering company problem? Right after a big career win is the best time for asking for a raise.4. Wait a year before asking.How long since your last raise? If the company hired you a year ago and you havent had a raise, nows the time. Less than a year since your last raise is too soon.5. The best time is two months before your performance review.Dont wait for your performance review. Most companies decide the size of your raise a month or two sooner. Sohave the discussion before your review.One more tip about when to ask for a raise? Do it right after lunch. People are more relaxed and agreeable after a meal.Pro Tip: Whats the worst time to ask for a raise? When quitting would crash the company. Thats blackmail. You may get the raise, but youll also get replaced.Are you underpaid? Ar e you asking for a raise because your job is a drag? See our guide: I Hate My Job. I Hate My Boss. Here's What to Do *Now*3Evaluate Your Worth Before You AskYoure already paid more than most for this job.Ugh.Nobody wants to hear that.Sobefore you ask for a raise, build your case.Find out:What the company will payWhat you bring to the tableHeres an example:How Much of a Raise Should I Ask For?You can ask for 10%20% more money than youre making right now without seeming greedy. So if youre making $40,000 a year, you should be able to ask for $44,000 to $48,000 without getting laughed out of the conference room.ButDo some digging first.How much does the industry pay?Forewarned is forearmed. Find out how much others in your industry are making. If they make more, thats your ammo.Do they earn less? Thats not a dealbreaker. Salary data from Glassdoor and Indeed gives median figures. It doesnt always apply to your situation.How much does your company pay?Dont go in cold. Learn your company s average salary increase for promotions and raises. HR may be happy to share that. If not, ask other employees.Does the salary structure seem piddling? The average salary increase is 3.1%. Youre probably not average, but it helps to know the playing field.What have you achieved?Heres where the rubber meets the road. Never mind salary averages for your industry or company. Know what youre worth.Build a list of your job achievements. For example, when I negotiated a raise at one company, I knew my predecessors numbers from the start.Then I beat him by 150%. Yet youre paying me the same, I told my boss. How could he refuse my request for a raise?Heres a list of achievements you can use:Work projects that saved moneyTargets met or exceededEmployees youve trainedRevenue growth based on your effortsAwards or honorsClients youve brought inWays youve increased efficiency or delivery timesAny of those makes a good case for a salary increase.Pro Tip: Not sure how much to ask for a raiseperce ntage or otherwise? Ask coworkers or recruiters in your industry. Search LinkedIn for recruiter and your job title.Need to renegotiate your small salary? See our guide: How to Negotiate a Salary Like a Boss4Ask for a Raise in a Performance ReviewYoure right. Were not paying you enough.Why should your boss say the words above?Because you earned it.Soshow it. But do it in a performance review.If your boss gives regular reviews, thats when shell tell you your raise. (Hint: Its already set in stone by then.)So ask to talk about your performance one or two months beforein an informal review. Then they cant say, Management set your salary for the year last month.Heres what to say in that meeting:What to Say When Asking for a Raise at WorkLet them set the tone. Start by asking what they think of the quality of your work.Dont settle for good or bad. We need detail. Ask for specific things youve done to help the company.Then get them to expand. Ask, why did that help? What would have happene d if I didnt do it like that? Use active listening skills to make it work.When its your turn, evaluate yourself while they listen. List your achievements and the value you created.Pro Tip: Whats the easiest way to ask for a raise? Look outside the company. Many firms fix raise amounts at 2% or 5%. Yet you might get a 50% jump as a new hire.What skills should you reference when asking for a raise? See our guide: Top 10 Employability SkillsDefinition and Examples [+How to Improve]5Negotiate During Your Performance ReviewWould you settle for 10% less?This is key:Its not a negotiation. Youre telling them what it would take to make you happy.You took the time to list your achievements. You did your research. You know what youre worth. If they agree, so do you.If they try to dicker, stay professional. Tell them youve worked hard to be worth X.Say you hope youre giving them what they want, and your request reflects that.Keep it brief and specific. If they cite industry rates or company pol icies, remind them that your achievements make you more than all that.In case your boss needs to clear your request with upper management, bring a bullet list of your achievements to help.Pro Tip: Dont talk about why you need the raise. Then youre asking for a gift. Stay focused on your accomplishments and how youve helped the business.Did they say no when you asked for a raise? Is it time to seek greener pastures? See our guide: How to Make a Resume for a Job [from Application to Interview in 24h]6If They Say No to a Raise, RenegotiateYoure worth more, but we cant afford it.Thats common.But its not the end of the world when you ask for a raise.To fix it:Ask if youre overvaluing yourself. If they say yes, ask what it would take to get the raise you want.What if they agree youre worth more but cant afford it? In that case, tell them its possible youre wrong. Say youll do more research.Why?Because that implies youll go job-huntingin a non-threatening way.Then ask for consolation perks like flex time, a work from home situation, or an extra vacation.Finally, check back in three months to see if things have changed.Pro Tip: Want to know more about how to negotiate a raise? Read the excellent deal-making book, Getting to Yes.7Bonus: How to Ask for a Raise in an Email or LetterCan you write a letter asking for a raise?WellYou can ask for a meeting in writing. Then in the meeting, bring up the raise.Plus, asking for a raise in an email gives you, the boss, and senior management something to refer to.Check out this how to ask for a raise email example:Dear Mr. Ramirez,The past year working at XYZ Company has been a thrilling ride. Ive grown as an employee, taking on more roles and responsibility. Ive added to my skills and worked hard to exceed expectations. Ive consistently surpassed my targets and work goals. Thats why Im writing to ask for a review of my salary.Id like to remind you that in the past year I:Spotted a company-wide accounting error that saved $1.2 M.L ed a drive to implement cloud automation of receivables, saving an estimated 800 labor hours per year.Slashed 20% from the time needed for month-end reconciliations, saving an estimated $75,000 annually.Im passionate about the work I do here at XYZ, and Im excited to continue my growth and contribution. Im eager to see if your evaluation of my efforts fits my own. Can we set aside some time to discuss compensation?Thats gold.It lays out your value and asks for the raise meeting.If your boss needs to justify your raise to her boss, the letter gives proof.Pro Tip: If you succeed, send a thank you note for a raise. Stanch buyers remorse by reminding your manager of your value. Then assure her of your renewed excitement.When you ask for a raise in an email, use action words like slashed, led, and spotted. See our guide: 240 Resume Words: Action Verbs, Power Words, Adjectives, BuzzwordsKey TakeawayRecap: How to ask for a raise:Work hard to be worth more than you make.Know when to ask for a raise. (2 months before your performance review, when theyre drawing up budgets, or right after you saved the day.)Focus on your achievements.Write a letter or email asking for a raise so youll have something to reference.Whats the worst part about asking for a raise to you? What happened the last time you asked for a raise? Give us a shout in the comments! Wed love to chat.