Asking for a raise at work can seem like a daunting task. What if your boss says no?

But going to your boss to ask for an increase in your salary is actually very common in the workplace.

When you do it the right way, asking for a raise at work can actually help strengthen your relationship with your employer, as it allows you to show your value to the company. It also allows you to showcase to your company why you are such an amazing employee. It also can shed valuable light on how you are viewed by your employer and just how much they really value you, which can help you decide on your career path.

Here are four tips to consider when asking for a raise at work.

1: Timing is everything

As with many things, it’s all in the timing. When asking for a raise, it’s important to take a moment and make sure you are carefully choosing the right time. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How is the company doing? Scope around and see what shape the company is currently in. Are they also hiring other employees? Did they just land a big account? Have they cut back on spending? This would also be a good time to take the temperature of how other businesses in your industry are doing. 
  • Does your manager have time on their calendar? It would be good to take note of all the projects and tasks currently at hand. Is there an assignment that you can alleviate from your manager’s plate? This may also help in bringing you recognition when you do ask for the raise.
  • Have you completed all assignments? It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring up the question if you’ve been missing deadlines or have a lot of outstanding projects in your inbox. Take this time to not only finish projects, but also reflect on all the recent accomplishments or goals you recently achieved. 

2: Do your research

Once you have considered the timing, make sure to also do your research to know the salary you will ask for. You can use online salary research tools to search this up, where you can compare market and industry trends that are more specific to your exact location. Here you can also consider your education level, and years of experience to identify your value. Take the time to look at several different values that will help prepare you when negotiating the salary with your manager.    

3: Preparation is key

Now that you feel the timing is right and have done your research, it is time to prepare your delivery. With the right amount of preparation, you will look confident and secure while asking for that raise. Here are some tips to examine :

  • How will you benefit the team? While you are currently excelling in your current role, think about how your accomplishments have helped the team or ways that you could offer more support. Asking for a raise could lead to more projects, colleagues to train, or different managers to report to. Seeing how you fit in the long haul would be ideal to bring up in this conversation. 
  • Write out your script. While asking for a raise is not an easy task, writing out and practicing a script will help manage any feelings of fear and anxiety. Practicing and rehearsing what you will say in the meeting will assist you in looking confident and secure.

4: Thank Your Manager

With everything said and done, make sure to thank your manager for taking the time out of their day for this request. You should also either later that day or the next, follow up with an email to your manager. Include a quick recap of reasons why you deserve the raise and a summary of how the meeting went. Give your manager some space after the meeting, as they will now take the time to review your information and discuss it with other supervisors/management.