If you feel like your job isn’t paying well, you’re probably not alone.
Although you may receive some salary increases as your seniority in a job progresses, you probably They don’t keep up with the increase of the cost of living.
This means that many people find it difficult to meet their needs.
Whether you work in the public or private sector, having a discussion about a raise with your boss often doesn’t guarantee more money.
But maybe you should rethink what they are the best strategies to do it.
We spoke with recruiters, a manager and an occupational psychologist to give you five tips on how to better negotiate for a raise.
1. Choose the right time
Jill Cotton, career trends expert at the job site Glassdoor, says that schedule a talk ahead of time will allow you and your boss time to prepare. This way you are more likely to have a productive conversation.
“Don’t blurt this out to your boss right away,” Cotton says. “Be honest and say that you want to schedule a conversation that is specifically to talk about salary“.
As the manager of a UK food joint, Rowsonara Begum says that asking for a raise should also come at the right time for the business.
If employees choose a time when the business is doing well, they will have a better chance of successfully negotiating more money.
2. Bring proof of you good performance
If you are asking for a raise, you must have many proofs of why you deserve it.
“You have to know what you’ve achieved or what you’ve done to develop yourself professionally. Make a list of all the benefits of what you’ve done,” says Shan Saba, a director at British recruitment company Brightwork.
This evidence also helps your boss rationalize why they should pay you more, according to Stephanie Davies, an occupational psychologist.
“The brain needs a ‘why’: why should I pay you that amount?” he says.
However, it’s not just about bringing a list of all the things you’ve done. You must also be clear about what you want to achieve.
“If you have aspirations to move up in your organization, have a plan for what you’re looking to do over the next year.”
3. Be confident
When you ask your boss for more money, it helps to be confident and know your worth.
That’s something Begum has noticed, from having these conversations with employees.
“Here in Salisbury, England, it’s quite difficult to get the staff we need,” he says.
“It has also become more difficult to recruit from abroad. So workers have bargaining power because they know there are shortages.”
Often people do not feel safe because there is a “stigma” around talking about salariessays Jill Cotton, but it’s “an important part of the job.”
Women and people from minorities can often find it especially difficult to ask for raises, adds psychologist Stephanie Davies.
His advice to them is to have a mentor or role model, someone who can guide them through those conversations.
4. Have a number in mind
Most experts agree that it is better have an exact number in mind before embarking on a salary conversation.
Do your research, advises James Reed, president of the recruiting firm Reed.
“You can go online and look at job ads and see what’s out there for similar jobs and what the salaries are,” he says.
Cotton warns that the number must be realistic.
“We would all love to be paid millions every year. But we are paid to fill a role with the skill set that we have,” he says.
5. Don’t give up
If the above steps do not result in a pay raise, don’t be discouraged.
“Sometimes these conversations can take a while, even months, but it’s important to keep communication open,” says Begum.
Pay isn’t the be all and end, either, Reed adds.
“It’s not necessarily just about money. You may be able to get more vacation time or more flexibility in work hours,” adding that you could also negotiate more training and skills development.
And if you feel like you’re not getting what you want from your employer, remember that there are other opportunities out there.
“You can always look elsewhere, that’s the big lesson,” Davies stresses.
Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate them so you don’t miss out on our best content.
