Industry Experts Share 6 Tips for Negotiating a Raise

This article is part two in our “Ask for a Raise” series. Read part one, "How - and When - to Ask for a Raise" for further insight. 

If you’re still waiting for your boss to saunter over to your workspace and offer you a pay raise, stop waiting. Experts advise the best way to get a raise is to actually ask for one, and not wait for it to come to you. After all, if you wait, it may never happen.

But before you go asking, make sure you’re armed with ammunition and facts to back up your request. Does your work performance show your worth? Do your managers speak highly of you? Is it even the right time to ask?

We pulled together advice and best practices from HR managers and experts so you know just what to gather before taking this important step.

1. Do your homework 

"To be considered for a pay rise you are going to have to do some research. Look online to find out what the average salary is for a person who has the same role and responsibilities as yourself. Job websites are a good place to start – take a look at the salaries on offer for the types of role you have. If the salaries are generally larger than your current pay, you can use this as evidence when stating your case as to why you deserve a raise." -Steve Pritchard, HR at giffgaff

2. Timing is key 

"Timing is everything in the 'negotiating a pay rise' business. You can have a well-crafted pitch on the value you bring to the company, a clear outline of your achievements, and all that other good stuff - but if you jump up at the wrong time, it can have negative results for you.

You don't get a lot of shots at this, so before you put your hand up, take a temperature check of the company, and your managers, both in a professional sense and in their private lives. If your gut says it's a bad time, it probably is." -Hubert Southall, an Associate Creative Director at SapientRazorfish Miami

3. Know your worth

"Have you expanded a market, launched a new product, boosted sales, or increased social media reach? Document your contributions to the organization’s bottom line in writing. Have this ready for your supervisor and keep it updated monthly." -Sharon Schweitzer, former employment attorney and business protocol & etiquette expert

4. Be confident 

"The best approach is to have specific accomplishments in mind to share with your boss. Tell them why you deserve a raise, and also that you are eager to learn more as an employee. Lastly, speak confidently, but not out of line; if they know you deserve it, they won’t have a problem talking to you about it." -Zachary Painter, career adviser and hiring manager at resumegenius.com

5. Ask for it 

"Understand that you are not alone when it comes to fear of rejection, fear of being fired, or a feeling of just not measuring up - many people shy away from negotiating a higher salary.

Know that when www.salary.com surveyed employers, posing the question, “What percent of employers fire people for asking for a raise?” — the response was zero (0%.) The lesson here is - step forward and ask for the pay raise! If you don't ask, you don't get the raise." -Sharon Schweitzer

6. Have a Plan B

"If your company cannot provide a pay raise, suggest mutually beneficial alternatives including unpaid time off, extra vacation, 4-day work weeks, or flexible working hours.

Switch jobs: Leaving typically gives you a salary bump of 10 to 20 percent, compared to an average raise of 3 percent, according to business management consultants Towers Watson. To maximize your talent, it's best to switch jobs every three to four years if possible.

Obtain a competing offer: Be willing to switch jobs if your current employer can’t or won’t provide a pay raise or match a competing job offer. Be sure it’s the job you want because you can use this tactic only once per employer." -Sharon Schweitzer