Sometimes, you may be working as diligently and quickly as possible with the intent of showing your boss the value that you add to the company. When your efforts go unnoticed, it may be time to ask for a raise.
There are several things you do not want to say when asking for a raise as they can actually harm your career – at least with your current company.
You always want to start with a strategy so that you can know the best way to negotiate a raise without hard feelings between you and management. The worst things you can say while asking for a raise are:
I Will Resign If I Don’t Get the Raise
Many employees will have a vested interest in getting a raise. After all, who doesn’t like a raise? However, threatening to resign from your position if you don’t get the raise that you think you deserve is a surefire way to either:
- Get fired
- Get the raise and be resented
- Harm further career potentials in the company
There’s also the chance that management will accept your resignation right on the spot, leaving you without a job. Threatening your employer with resignation is never a smart idea. Even if you plan on leaving the job if the raise is not offered, you should do this without alerting management or making threats.
It’s a much wiser decision to start looking for another job while still working with your current employer instead of entering unemployment. And the employer may surprise you with a raise or promotion in the interim.
Mentioning Another Worker’s Salary
Management does not like when employees discuss their salaries openly with other coworkers. The major issue is that salaries are meant to be private, and you’ll upset management or human resources when you mention another coworker’s salary.
There are a lot of factors that go into a worker’s salary, and the other coworker may have:
- Certifications
- A high level of education
- More experience
- A higher-paying specialty
Your goal should be to prove your worth – not prove that your worth just as much as another employee. Instead of mentioning another employee’s current salary, state your job and what responsibilities you handle for the business on a daily basis. You may even state the going rate in the industry, but never mention another internal employee’s salary when negotiating a raise.
Don’t Mention Personal Information
Far too many employees will enter their manager’s office, and start complaining about debt and other responsibilities that they have. While you may be friendly with your manager or boss, these are issues that are not related to work.
You can’t walk into the office and say that you just bought a new house and you deserve a raise to pay your bills.
In truth, your debts are not the responsibility of your employer. The appropriate approach would be to show your worth, as we mentioned earlier. Go into the manager’s office to discuss a fair salary, and have data to back up your claims. Work off of industry data and discuss how others in your field are earning more, while you have more experience and more responsibilities.
The best way to get a raise is to back it up with data. How can you help the company succeed and what do you do to help the company currently?
