how to ask for a pay rise...nicely!

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stresshead

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What is the best way to ask for a pay rise…

My annual review has come upon me all of a sudden and my grievance is that another girl started the job 2 months after me on quite a few €K more than me – she has the same experience as me. I imagine she actually negotiated for that bit extra but I want to be brought to the same scale as her now. So here are the issues…

  • I can’t say “X told me she’s getting €Y” as that would get her in trouble
  • I’m really really bad at stuff like this – I get embarrassed

I’m just scared I’m gonna sit in there and not say a word and take the 3% or whatever they give me like a fool! So any tactful ways of putting it without sounding like a whinging auld cow would be useful!

Answers as soon as possible please!
 
hey you need to be sure you didn't miss anything..maybe the girl have a different qualifications than you? or some other factors, how long have u been working in the company?
yep new staff sometimes get paid more than more experienced staff due to inflations and many reasons.
do talk to your manager and see what his opinion is, you gotta be speak out if u want ur voice to be heard.theres no nice way to do this.
 
stresshead said:

Answers as soon as possible please!
Click to expand...

You want to get a positive result out of the assessment so
be prepared for it, picture how well it could go and how badly it could go and be ready for things that might through you of balance -

do you think you will be praised in general?
are you ready to discuss things you could improve and have a plan of how you will develop next year?
You have to have a justification for a payrise so get a good one ready!

Do wait untill it is almost complete before discussing a pay rise and dont be fobbed off with 'this isnt the time to discuss that, we will have to make another meeting'.

Dont talk yourself out of it, by that I mean ask open ended questions like - I believed I have progressed or we have agreed I have progressed (if you have just agreed that), is there a possibility for my salary to reflect that?
Let them fill in the silence.

Be careful not to completely change the tone of a good assessment by demanding something, but do be firm if you really believe you are entitled to it.
If they give reasons why they think you arent entitled to something consider those reasons carefully.
 
polo9n said:
hey you need to be sure you didn't miss anything..maybe the girl have a different qualifications than you? or some other factors, how long have u been working in the company?
yep new staff sometimes get paid more than more experienced staff due to inflations and many reasons.
do talk to your manager and see what his opinion is, you gotta be speak out if u want ur voice to be heard.theres no nice way to do this.
Click to expand...

polo9n is absolutely correct. If you believe that you are doing a good job in your own right and you are worth more money, then you have to have the courage to say so. If you don't put a value on your contribution you can't really expect the company to do so either. You have to be polite but firm and there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed. It's basically a business transaction. They will pay you as little as they can get away with and if you don't seem to mind then that only confirms what they are thinking.

If they don't budge, it probably means that they don't believe that you'll look elsewhere in consequence, or in the worst case it could mean that they don't really care! Not a pleasant thought I know, but this is the real world we live in.

It's really up to you.
 
Thanks for all the advice, it’s just one of those awkward situations I’ll have to get on with! I have no doubt that the other girl is only on more because she asked (I am equally qualified – soon to be more as I am soon to finish my Masters), so unless I want to spend all of next year moaning about the unfairness of it all I’ll just have to get on with it!

I’ll let you know how I get on, not sure if it will go ahead this afternoon after all…
 
since you got a master coming its way
if i were u i will definitly look for a different job with way better pay!
2k? u will get 10 times than that in ur new job!
with better package and recognition!
 
Personally, I'd suggest you forget about what X is being paid!

If your happy with your salary and the work you are doing what difference does it make that a colleague is making more/less. If you feel that you are being underpaid (and the amount X is recieving is the straw that broke the camels back) then fight your corner. Request what you feel is fair for your position and the work you do. Forget about what others are being paid, you want what is fair for your sector/market/position/experience/ability/dedication.
 
oops, apologies I had this in the wrong forum!

polo9n said:
since you got a master coming its way
if i were u i will definitly look for a different job with way better pay!
2k? u will get 10 times than that in ur new job!
with better package and recognition!
Click to expand...


maybe in a years time this might be an option, but not at the moment, which is why I don't want to get a reputation as a demanding so-and-so!
 
Satanta said:
Personally, I'd suggest you forget about what X is being paid!

If your happy with your salary and the work you are doing what difference does it make that a colleague is making more/less. If you feel that you are being underpaid (and the amount X is recieving is the straw that broke the camels back) then fight your corner. Request what you feel is fair for your position and the work you do. Forget about what others are being paid, you want what is fair for your sector/market/position/experience/ability/dedication.
Click to expand...


very sensible advice, and I agree I was happy enough until I knew what others were being paid! but isn't that always the way!
 
You could see if there are similar jobs advertised in the websites. If they are offering a higher salary than what you are paid, then you know you are being underpaid.

However, the company could have been anxious to get the other girl to take the job. They may not have been able to find any other suitable candidates at the time so they may have given her more than the 'going rate' for the job.

You can ask for a rise by listing your accomplishments in work. It is no harm to mention that the market rate for your skills is higher than what you are being paid at the moment. If the employers are willing to keep you then they will pay more. However don't hold your breath, as employers often don't have respect for good employees who are being paid low wages. The ironic thing is that employers often have more respect for employees who demand higher wages, as these employees are more confident and know their net worth.

If you do not get your raise, then try to get another job soon.
 
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