How To Ensure You Get A Salary Raise This End Of The Year

By Lilian Wamaitha
It the last quarter of the year which could only mean one thing…year end reviews are right up the corner.
It is your only chance to ensure that you start your 2019 on better terms by leveraging all your hard work for the past year into a pay rise.
But that’s easier said than done, right?
Big companies will be reviewing their finances and cutting out on unnecessary expenditures.
Small companies however, may not have any end-of year reviews.
Either way, preparing for it will go a long way in ensuring that you take advantage of this year end opportunity to make your case and earn a raise.
Let’s look at ways you can do that, shall we?
1. Schedule for a year-end review meeting
The first step to getting that raise that you really want is to ask for it. And obviously you just can’t walk into your boss’s office and request for a salary review.
You want to let them slot time for you.
Look at it as a meeting to discuss your future at the company. This way your boss knows that you are serious about advancing in your career and you asking for a meeting means that you help them prepare.
Do it in person or via email but take it upon you to suggest for a meeting preferably towards the end of the week; that way you both have a whole weekend to reflect on it.
2. Prepare for it
Like I mentioned you will only get a raise if you ask for it.
But before you even ask for that meeting, make sure that you are prepared and by prepared I mean that you have something tangible to back up your request.
Your employer will not just review your salary just because they want to.
You will need to prove that you are worth the raise and most of all worth keeping around.
Prepare your list of accomplishments and achievements that will be hard to say no to.
If you are a performer, trust me your boss will want to keep you around come next year and if a salary raise is what will make you stay, best believe they will give it to you.
Must See >>> Why You Should Never Quit Your Job Before Finding A New One
3. Be as specific as possible
Best believe that when you request for a meeting to review your salary your boss will come prepared to discuss your performance as well.
If during the meeting most of their feedback is positive, then take that as your chance to make your big move.
Be however specific in what you are asking for. You want a salary raise? How much? Flexi hours? A review of your commission structure? Whatever you do, don’t be general.
4. Be pleasantly persistent
Sometimes you asking for a salary raise may seem pushy or selfish but it’s not.
Appear as pleasant as possible. Smile. Lead with your intent which in this case is to continue excelling by being a team player.
Use terms like “we” and “us” to show that you are more than willing to find an acceptable way forward for both you and the company.
Be persistent and firm with your request while keeping as calm and warm a demeanor as possible.
5. Make sure you follow it up in writing
If your employer agrees to some of your requests or tells you they will get back to you, don’t just sit there waiting for the magic to happen.
Make sure you follow it up in writing as a way of documenting the conversation.
If you get a no, the best thing you can do is ask if you can revisit the conversation in maybe 3 to 6 months.
The goal is to leave the conversation with a clear plan of action; to stay or to start looking for another job?
To wrap up
You going to ask for a salary raise will not mean that you will get a yes. As the company prepares for the coming year so should you. Whether it’s cutting your losses and moving on to another job or sticking around, this is the time you have to decide.