3 Assured Strategies On How To Ask for Salary Increase And Get It

Andrew Mutegi has been an accountant of an engineering firm in Nairobi’s Industrial Area for two years. He had all along assumed that employees got a pay rise after they were confirmed but two years on, nothing has been forthcoming.

He is now at crossroads whether to approach his boss for a pay rise or cross his fingers and hope for the best. How should he approach the subject?

“One step is by paying reference to your appointment letter. Most of these letters have a clause that stipulates after what period someone should be entitled to a pay review, not necessarily a pay increase,” says David Mureithi, HR Manager Transport and Lifting Limited.

1. Peg your request on performance
Before you head to the boss for a salary increase request, ask yourself what you have done for the organization, he advises. Factor in your input and use it as a benchmark for making your request.

“A serious person,” says Mr. Mureithi, “would base his review request on the analysis of his performance—what have you achieved against your performance? You can then approach your boss and say: ‘I have done cost-cutting, I have spearheaded revenue growth etc’ Make sure you are able to quantify it in tangible measure and put it on the table.”

“In most cases, it is normal practice to review salaries for the sake of increasing it after one year though the laws stipulate that it be done every two years,” he says. Still Mr. Muriithi admits that two years often seems a long time for most people and that’s why in most cases the reviews are done after just a year.

2. Observe the market trends
“I often say that before you head to ask for a pay increase, do your homework properly,” Mr. Mureithi continues.

“Take time and ask your colleagues out there how much the job is paying for the same level of skills. In a normal setting, your job’s pay is expected to be comparatively similar to what other professionals are earning out there in the same position.”

According to Mr. Mureithi, the ability to also consider the inflation which he currently estimates at 7 percent is one of the first steps towards ensuring one makes a reasonable salary request.

3. Be the Perfect Timer
Can one just walk into the boss’s office and request for a raise point blank?

“Look at these two scenarios: if one goes to ask for a pay increase when he is doing well in his work and the other who goes to ask for pay when things are not okay who gets the request granted?” he poses.

“If you get your timing right, you will be able to ask for a raise when the going is right and a wise person will do this when his performance is peaking. Judge the mood, get the timing right and the pay rise will not be denied,” Mr. Mureithi advises.

“As long as you ask in a non-confrontational manner, and at a good time, the worst you can hear is “no.” Be prepared for it, and keep your emotions in check about it. Remember that a “no” isn’t forever,” says Kristi Hedges in Forbes.com. “Ask when would be a good time to revisit the issue, and follow up. A “no” now can be a solid “yes” later. And you’ll have laid important groundwork.”