Reasons you might be afraid to ask for a salary increase
One of the things I’ve noticed when people talk to me about asking for a raise, is they spend countless time worrying about how to do it and then come up with all kinds of reasons NOT to ask for the raise.- They’ll fire me
- They’ll laugh at me
- They won’t treat me the same way any more
- I haven’t done enough to deserve it
- I can already hear their objections in my head
- I’ll be too nervous
- I’ll be angry or hurt if they say no
- I won’t be comfortable staying if they say no
- My boss doesn’t like me all that much anyway
- I don’t know how to ask for a raise
Things to help you get past the fear of asking for a raise
The most important thing you can do is to prepare yourself, both in data and mental resilience. Some things that may help:- Research comparable salaries in your area for the same job you are doing within similar companies. Also, if you can do so without violating company policy, see if you can find out what others in the same or similar jobs are getting within your company.
=> USEFULNESS: Your boss is under no obligation to match outside or internal salaries. But having an extra sense of your worth on the market and what others are getting can help you frame your arguments, should there be push-back when you ask for that raise.
- Gather your personal historical data, including major accomplishments within this company. Think about projects that you led, ideas you added, things you helped improve that went beyond the normal requirements of your job.
=> USEFULNESS: If you haven’t gone above and beyond what is required, it may be hard to prove you deserve a raise. People often make the mistake of asking for more money without having solid evidence that shows they’re willing to go the extra mile. Just doing your job doesn’t mean you get a raise any time soon. But doing it really well might.
- Be prepared to talk about how you see yourself going forward, including any new types of projects or responsibilities you’d like to take on. It also helps if you have a solid understanding of where your department and company are going.
=> USEFULNESS: This helps show that you are not looking to rest on your laurels. You expect to add more showing the same enthusiasm and drive as time goes on. But just make sure you aren’t describing things that are not in sync with a vision your boss can share.