When Is It OK to Ask for a Raise?

Ever heard the saying, “Timing is everything!”?

In many aspects of life, your success at doing something is often related to when you attempt it. Your career is no exception; getting your request for a pay increase approved can be as much about when you ask as it is about your job performance.

When is the Best Time to Ask for a Raise?

Asking for a raise can feel intimidating, but knowing when to make this critical move can significantly boost your chances of achieving a favorable outcome. Your chances of successfully receiving an increase in your compensation are amplified if one—or more—of the following conditions hold true:

Your Company is Financially Stable

If your company navigated the previous year’s ups and downs with resilience and the business outlook is promising, management may be open to your request. To learn more about your company’s financial health, try to get a sense of how it performed over the past year. Has revenue grown? Has it suffered any setbacks? Are there any indications that business is on the upswing?

If you’re able to determine that your company has weathered recent challenges and is poised for future growth, this could be an ideal time to approach management with your request.

You’ve Assumed Greater Responsibility

Have you recently been assigned more complex tasks or taken on a noteworthy project? If you’re stepping up to do challenging jobs that others shy away from or have extended your work hours, it’s reasonable to ask for a raise. Remember, increased value to the organization can justify increased compensation.

You Have an Internal Advocate

An internal champion can play a pivotal role. If your immediate supervisor takes note of your positive contributions and is impressed with your performance, seek their guidance and support to present your case to the decision-maker overseeing pay raises. If your boss has been less than enthusiastic in their support, find a way to gain their confidence and present your case. Consider asking for feedback on how you can improve in certain areas or perhaps even suggesting ways they might help mentor you. If you have no direct supervisor or other person who can advocate on your behalf, consider asking for an appointment with the human resources manager or someone else in a leadership position.

You’ve Achieved Recent Success

If you’ve recently made a significant contribution or scored a major accomplishment at work, capitalize on the timing of your victory. Present a detailed account of your achievement, weaving in hard numbers and statistics wherever applicable. This could include how you sped up processes, enhanced accuracy, bolstered revenue, or reduced inefficiencies. If you’re in the middle of a big project, consider highlighting what you’ve accomplished so far and how much has been completed. Emphasize any difficulties you’ve overcome or problems you’ve solved to date.

Also, include any praise or accolades that have come your way, such as a letter of thanks from a satisfied customer, an award or commendation from your boss, or a company newsletter article highlighting your contribution.

Your Boss Received Recognition or Promotion

Decision-makers are usually more generous when they’re on top of their game. If your boss has recently been recognized or promoted, it might be an ideal moment to bring up your raise, particularly if you’ve played a part in their success. This can be a powerful moment to ask for a raise, as you’ll have the boss’s attention and goodwill.

During Lower-Stress Periods

Requesting a raise demands a good deal of thought and consideration, so plan your moment as carefully as you plan your pitch. Approach your boss for a discussion when they can afford to give you their full attention. Ideal scenarios are those periods when decision-makers don’t find themselves under the gun with looming deadlines or immense pressure. When your boss is under significant stress or pressure, their attention is divided across multiple high-priority tasks. It’s understandably difficult for them to concentrate on additional matters, even important ones like your salary review. On the contrary, a low-stress period allows for a thoughtful, unhurried conversation where your boss can give your proposal the consideration it deserves.

When Should You Wait to Ask for a Raise?

You now know some opportune times to ask for a raise. But how can you recognize red flags that indicate you should wait for a better time?

Exercise caution if the following conditions apply:

Budget Cuts and Layoffs: If your employer has recently downsized or significantly trimmed your department’s budget, it might be prudent to hold off on asking.
Strained Relationship with Your Boss: The relationship with your manager is of paramount importance when asking for a raise. If it’s currently strained, it might hinder your chances and thus may not be the ideal moment.
Recent Denial for a Pay Increase: If you’ve already petitioned for an increment within the past six months and were declined, wait a bit longer before re-initiating the subject. Meanwhile, seek opportunities to show merit.

Best Practices: How to Ask For a Raise

Providing concrete evidence that you’re underpaid can fortify your case. If you can show, with industry-accepted data, that others in roles and markets similar to yours are earning more, it might be time to negotiate a higher compensation package.

Here are a few ways you can dig into the numbers:

Make use of online salary surveys and tools. Online salary tools can help build a strong starting point. Websites such as Glassdoor, PayScale, and Indeed offer comprehensive salary data gleaned from a vast array of individuals across various industries and locations. You can input details of your job role, industry, location, and years of experience to understand the average compensation for someone in a similar position.
Leverage professional networking events and forums. Events, online forums, and professional networking platforms could be valuable sources of informal but precise information. Conventions, seminars, and workshops can also provide opportunities for peer-to-peer exchanges about compensation ranges and job satisfaction levels.
Analyze industry-specific salary reports. Many professional organizations and industry publications release annual salary reports. These reports often provide extensive insights into salary trends across different geographies and positions within your industry.
Consult recruitment professionals. Local staffing agencies (including PrideStaff!) routinely deal with candidate placements and negotiations and have an in-depth understanding of how much professionals in various industries should be earning. Engage the expertise of recruiting professionals to assess the competitiveness of your salary.
Review the bureau of labor statistics (BLS). The BLS provides extensive data on wage estimates across various occupations. Be sure to check specific factors like geographic location, industry, and job demands to gain a comprehensive picture of your comparative salary.

6 Top Salary Negotiation Tips

Negotiating your salary often feels like walking into the lion’s den just before lunch. Here at PrideStaff, we believe in equipping you with the best tactics to face this crucial part of your career growth. Consider the following salary negotiation tips:

1. Start early.

Consider bringing up your desire for a raise several months in advance of a quarterly or annual performance review. This approach offers two benefits. First, it allows time for your supervisor to consider your performance and your contributions to the company. Second, this window provides you with clear parameters on what’s expected of you to secure this raise, paving the way for meaningful professional growth. Start this process by explicitly stating your objective – you wish to ask for a raise. Ask your supervisor what precisely would need to occur to ensure you get this raise. The answer will provide a roadmap you can follow in the subsequent months.

2. Be equipped with facts.

Have accurate, up-to-date information about average salaries for someone in your position, industry, and geographic area. This can help form a strong basis for your request.

3. Build your case.

Prepare concrete examples of how you’ve added value to the company – major projects you’ve completed, targets you’ve met or exceeded, or new responsibilities you’ve taken on.

4. Plan your approach.

Instead of catching your boss off guard, ask for a meeting and let them know that you’d like to discuss your salary. Making an appointment gives them time to prepare and ensures you’ll have their full attention.

5. Look to the future.

Yes, you should mention your past performance and contributions to the organization, but you should also highlight your future goals. Present your boss with a well-articulated plan for achieving your goals in the coming year. Highlight your targets, the strategies you’ll employ to achieve them, and most importantly, how these goals align with and further the company’s aspirations. Showcase not just your commitment to achieving these objectives but also your competence for it. The crux of your argument should be that investing in you – and approving your requested raise – will bring forth significant returns for the business in the mid and long term.

6. Be prepared to negotiate benefits too.

If a salary raise isn’t feasible at the moment, consider negotiating other advantages, such as additional vacation time, a flexible work schedule, or professional development opportunities.

Looking for a better job?

At PrideStaff, our commitment goes beyond helping you find the right job; we help you find great opportunities that provide the challenge, growth potential, and compensation you need. Partner with PrideStaff to gain resources, knowledge, and support to achieve your next career milestone. Contact your local PrideStaff recruiter today!