How To Get a Pay Rise & What To do If You Don’t Get It
By Career counseling, Career Development

During the first job interview for your new role, it’s best to negotiate and ask for good pay. If you’re one of those people who missed the opportunity to do that, don’t fret, you can still get the pay rise you deserve. We know how impossible it is to get a pay rise out the blues, so we’ll be sharing few tips for you to get what you deserve.

Before asking for a pay rise, you need to:

  • Know how much you want
  • Show why you deserve the rise, using your performance metrics.
  • Upskill and negotiate
  • Note the best time to ask for what you want

After planning and being sure of what you need, you need to have answers to the question “Why do you think we should give you a pay rise?” These are questions whose answers can be well thought out before time. Prior to the meeting, it’s important that you:

  • Know your real worth: While checking through online, you can see how much someone in your role is paid averagely. Compare your current pay with this average salary. If you’re getting lower or around that price, then it’s time to ask for a rise.
  • Send out applications: Apply for other jobs, and watch how and when the hiring managers respond to your application. If you get these jobs, then obviously, your CV is marketable. If you’re also being offered the same job at an higher pay, you may want to show your manager how much worth there is to you.

Show why you deserve the rise: There are several reasons why you may deserve the rise. These could be due to

 – the extra time you spend working,

– your skills, 

– the things you do outside your job description, 

– and all the ways you carry out your tasks.

These metrics can be presented to your boss, and used to convince him that you deserve this pay rise.

Upskill and  negotiate well: Looking at your job role and finding ways to improve would make you an asset to your company. Look at the areas you need to improve on,the courses you can take and the seminars you can attend. 

Inasmuch as you’re getting better at what you do everyday, you definitely deserve a pay rise. Companies that know how much of an asset you will be to them, would do anything to keep you in the system. Negotiating a pay rise well with what you have is definitely worth trying.

Note the best time to ask for what you want:

Prepare the time and scene you want to table your request before your boss. You know the best time to talk about anything at all, and it would be nice if you used such an opportunity. The best time could be when your boss is in a good mood, or when a client just paid for a contract. The best time could also be an hour of the day that they are not tense.

Do not Compromise

Table your request, negotiate well and do not compromise. Remember all of the things you want and stick to the original plan. If at all you would want to compromise, make sure it’s worth it. 

  • If the working condition at your job is favourable, and you feel safe there too, some compromise can happen. If you’re offered 199,000 naira, instead of the 200,000 naira you’re trying to negotiate, you definitely should take it. 
  • If there are other compensations like a work leave, travel sponsor, then you may want to consider these.

After all these, it’s important you stay confident that your plan will work. If it doesn’t, you would also know you tried. And remember, opportunities came in from the previous applications. You had callbacks for interviews, and this shows how valuable you are.

After choosing a day and time, meeting with your manager upon prior notice, make sure to make your desires known clearly. 

When asking for a pay rise, it’s important to keep it professional. Don’t be demanding and don’t speak negatively of anyone else within the business to prove your point. Make sure to leave the conversation open, so you can get as much feedback as you can. 

Just remember, there may be unforeseen reasons you can’t get the pay rise. But if you try your best, you should definitely get what you want.

Just do your best, and leave the rest. 

 

What should you do if you don’t get the pay rise?

If your request gets rejected, don’t get bitter or sad. 

  • Stay as calm as possible: You don’t want to ruin all that you’ve had ongoing, so you should be as calm as you can. Although you may be pissed, don’t throw tantrums or shout. This will only make matters worse, and bring about consequences you may find hard to handle.
  • Ask for reasons you didn’t get the rise: The company may in that moment be unable to afford what they know you deserve. And you may also not be doing as good as they want. But in all, it’s important to get the reasons from them. Be careful not to jump into conclusions.
  • Don’t stop being a good employee: You shouldn’t start being different from who you were, showing up late or being lackadaisical about work.
  • Look out for new jobs: If you work with an employer that’s bad, and the company where employees are not valued, it might be time to move forward.This shouldn’t be done in a haste after your request was denied. But if you’ve met all your goals and you’re a consistent worker who has been denied raises and opportunities for advancement for no good reason, then you have to do what’s best for you by leaving.