How To Ask For A Payrise (And Get It)

Want to get paid more but don’t want to necessarily switch job? Many of us think we should be paid more for our job, but few of us do anything about it. This is because asking for a payrise is a scary prospect – although it really shouldn’t be. Unless you really don’t get on with your boss, it’s unlikely that they’ll throw such a request back in your face. In fact, even if they refuse, it’s likely they’ll respect you more for having the courage and intuition to ask. Here are a few ways that you may be able to increase your chances of an employer saying yes.

Take on more responsibility

First of all you need to be able to give evidence that you’re going beyond the line of duty. This means taking on a little more responsibility. This may be hard if you’re already rushed off your feet, although staying behind extra hours might strengthen your case. If there are new employees in the office, consider volunteering to train them. You can even offer to help your boss lower their workload, although don’t try to steal too much responsibility as it could look like you’re trying to outdo them rather than work with them.

Get better qualified

Taking the time to learn some new skills or get better qualifications can help justify your reason for getting a pay rise. The likes of Training Connection have many courses available from project management to online marketing. A boss may be happy to let you go on such a course – it could save them having to train you and could also help you develop new skills that no other employee has, making you a valuable asset.  

Ask your employer at the right time

Now you’re ready to finally take the leap. But wait – timing is everything! You want to have enough time with your employer without interruption and you want them to be in a good mood. Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are therefore often best avoided. Scheduling in a time may be better suited if your boss is often busy.

Be straightforward

There’s no easy way to break the question. The best thing you can do is be courteous – don’t make a demand and don’t get defensive. Other than that, be straightforward. Tell your employer you’d like to be paid more and give evidence of your extra responsibilities and qualifications. Reinforce the fact that you care about the company and want to progress so that it doesn’t feel like a threat to leave.

Give them time to reflect

After making your request, be silent and let your employer have their say. They may ask how much more you’d want to be paid or they may simply say they need to think about it. If they say the latter, give them a few days to reflect and then come back to them (at an appropriate time so that you’re not hassling them). They may well have to talk with an accountant first and see if it’s financially viable. They may also want to monitor you for a few days to justify a pay rise, so bear this in mind and be on your best behaviour.