💸 Feeling unappreciated? Here’s how to ask for more

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How important is discussing your value?

When we discuss salary or promotions, we aren’t really talking about just money. When a company decides our salary, they’re deciding our value (yikes).

This is determined by the usual host of factors, such as the average salary for our position, our official responsibilities, our prior experience, and our educational qualifications (ugh🤢).

But this isn’t always accurate.

For instance, our pay doesn’t account for how much initiative we’ll be taking once we start work. It also might not reflect additional responsibilities we accrue during our time there. 

Before we sell ourselves short, let’s ask: Have I undertaken additional roles? Am I more skilled than I used to be? My job title may not have changed, but has my job scope changed? Have I outperformed my peers with visible results 🏆?

If you feel you’ve increased your value to the company, it’s not entitled or greedy to… update the company on what you can bring to the table. Think of it as keeping our superiors in the loop, rather than asking for more money.

But what do we prepare?

Before we decide that it’s time to raise that raise up (pun intended), here’s a checklist of what we should do.

1) Talk salary with our colleagues

I know it may be a difficult subject to broach, but it will help us make more informed decisions about whether we’re earning enough. It will also provide a gauge of how the company compensates its employees.

For instance, we’ll have more leverage in a negotiation if we find out that we’re earning less than someone doing the same work as us. If your colleague learns you’re earning more, link them to this newsletter!😅 

Additionally, do a lot of research online about what a competitive salary is for your position. One useful resource is mycareersfuture, where you can see the salary range offered by employers for various roles.

2) Make a list of reasons why

Now isn’t the time to be holding back on your achievements.

Curate a list of extra responsibilities you’ve taken up, especially if they were on your own initiative. Bring up your tenure with the company. Talk about your performance relative to your peers. Companies love data – SHOW exactly how you’ve made a difference.

3) Decide what you want

If it’s a promotion, be clear about the position and responsibilities you’re ready to take on. For a raise, decide your minimum ask. For reference, 10%-20% is quite typical. Don’t leave it up to them to guess what you are looking for.

Negotiation tips 

Alright, we’ve gotten our bosses’ attention. Now what?

1) Choose the right time to strike 

Look for an opportune time to talk to your superior, ideally when you’ve displayed your ability to take on more responsibilities. This can come in the form of leading a project or managing a team. On the other hand, it’s probably not a good time to ask for a pay raise when your company has just suffered massive losses, for instance. 

[Aside: Usually, companies have performance review periods when everyone and their mother will be flagging their achievements in the hopes of a raise or promotion. While that is the season that your bosses are thinking about your performance (likely due to HR waving a pitchfork), don’t wait till then. Keep them updated regularly on your accomplishments and your hopes for your career. 

Long story short: Your boss shouldn’t be surprised that you are approaching him/her for that promotion, as it should’ve been part of your ongoing career conversation.]

2) Look beyond a pay bump 

So you’ve asked for a raise and justified why you deserve one, but it’s a “no”😭. Before you decide to throw your letter on the spot, consider whether there is room for negotiation.

If a raise is too much for your current position, perhaps you could ask for a promotion. But do think about whether the new scope is in line with your goal. If that is off the table as well, talk benefits – such as the option to work from home or have more off days. (This is not very likely as company policy on these areas are usually fixed, but there might be some wiggle room in smaller businesses.)

If all else fails, you could propose a shorter review cycle after finding out how you can improve in order for the company to take your salary expectations into consideration. 

3) Ask for feedback 

Successful negotiation or no, it’s always good to ask for concrete steps you can take to do better. Knowing what your bosses want to see in you can’t hurt your chances when you’re ready to have this conversation again, later in your career. 

Take notes and work with your line manager on how to get to where you want. On the plus side, your supervisor is now well aware of your expectations, so it might be easier the second time around (provided you haven’t left in a huff!).

If the answer is a no, you can also ask for advice from other mentors/seniors that you work with. They might have insights on your performance and why your line manager might have declined your request. Just don’t weaponise their positive feedback to use against your boss to prove that he or she is wrong – hello, don’t shoot your own foot just to prove a point.🔫

4) End on a good note 

If the answer’s a “no”, don’t take it personally. It could very well be a “not yet”. You might think you’ve done great, but your line manager might have their own valid reasons for not promoting you just yet.

You know when it’s time to go

If this is a process that has been repeated multiple times with your boss not willing to budge despite your stellar track record, consider if it’s time to go. 👣

Even if you love your job, ask yourself if it’s worthwhile to stay on if you are not rewarded for outstanding performance time and time again. A company that undervalues you does not recognise your worth.

Organisations can sometimes take long-serving staff for granted, especially if they don’t advocate for themselves. 

You can start looking elsewhere to find out what opportunities are out there without having to commit to anything right away. Be clear about what you want from your job/career to make sure your emotions don’t sway your decision-making. 

TLDR:

• Don’t be afraid to talk money with your boss

• Preparation is your friend - research on market rates, ask your peers what they are making and list all your achievements

• Timing is everything

• Don’t give up if the answer is “no”; take feedback onboard for the next try