A Guide On How to Get the Salary You Deserve
Your company is paying you less than you deserve. If you think so, then it is probably true. While some good companies come close, most companies never truly pay their workers what they deserve. Now, how do you convince the company to offer you the salary you deserve?
There are many ways to go about this. Requesting for a raise has been ongoing since time immemorial but how many people really get what they deserve in the end?
In this article, you will discover the most effective ways to get the salary you deserve. There are also many other terrible ways to request a raise that will only make things worse. Again, this article exposes them and why you should never take such actions.
How to get the salary you deserve
Do some research. When you’re set to request a raise, you never know what to expect. The best thing to do is go prepared for a fight (it rarely ever comes to that). Heads of organizations are smart people. You have to get your facts right and come up with more ammunition than them to stand a chance of getting the salary you deserve. Under no circumstances should you approach the management unprepared. Do some thorough research. Find out how much you are worth based on industry standards. Ask your contemporaries with similar qualifications, experience, or billable hours and compare salaries. You could also check online for useful information on it. This knowledge will help you during negotiation. Also, don’t expect to be paid much more than the industry standard. Likewise, knowing the company’s salary policy will make a lot of difference. Your company salary structure will give you a hint of how to negotiate for an increase. Even if you think you deserve more than what is in the company policy, stand your ground but be reasonable. They can make an exception for you.
Compare within the organization. Besides doing some research on how much people get paid elsewhere, do some within the company. There are likely others within your company with similar qualities that are getting higher salaries than you. Get some data on your colleagues that are in the same bracket and compare salaries. If you find out that they are earning more than you, then you have a strong case. Even if you all earn equal pay, that should not stop you from pursuing your goal.
Gather data proving that the company has improved, thanks to your expertise. Nothing speaks louder than your billables and overall impact. Gather all the necessary data on how you have impacted the company in recent times. if you make the most sales, ensure that you have the data ready. Likewise, if you bring in the most clients or manage the biggest accounts, keep the records. Have a record of all your wins ready and request other vital information you may not have access to.
Ask for a raise.
If you need something so badly, just ask. If you don’t ask, chances are that you will not get a raise anytime soon. Ask the company for an increase in your salary. There is a huge difference between thinking you deserve more and deserving more salary than you currently earn.
The following factors are what you need to prove that you truly deserve the salary increase. Also, they are what you will refer to when presenting your case to the company.
- Experience. your experience on the job plays a major role in determining whether you deserve a certain amount or not. If you have seen and done it all, it means the company has invested a lot in you. Their loss could be a rival’s gain. The odds are in your favor.
- Work ethic. Whether they mention it or not, companies recognize those that are pulling their weight. If you are “Mr. or Ms. Dependable” in the organization, you have a strong case.
- Qualifications. Companies take pride in having highly qualified staff in their midst. If your qualifications stand out from the rest, you are on your way to getting the salary you deserve.
- Awards. These are the “feathers in your cap.” As an award-winning employee, if you are getting less than what your contemporaries in other organizations are earning, you will most likely get a raise.
- Successful projects. Perhaps the most important input that cannot be denied. In every organization, sector, or denomination, those who make the most money or complete the most projects for the company mostly get what they want. If you just completed a project that earns your organization a good profit, this may be a good time to ask for a raise.
Since you are aware of most of the factors that will help you plead your case, have them ready. Request for an official meeting with those in charge of handling salary and compensation-related issues in your organization. You don’t need to make a slide- you could take your laptop with you though. Have your facts and figures ready. Show them, don’t just tell them how important you are to the company and why you deserve the raise. After telling them why you deserve a raise, wait for their reply before giving them a figure you think you deserve. If they agree, ask them how much they would like to pay you henceforth. Asking them for their opinion is advantageous because it gives you time to analyze the situation better. Also, they might end up giving you a figure that is more than you hoped to get. End the meeting by reassuring them of your commitment to the organization.
Negotiate other benefits.
Sometimes, even though you try your best, you still might not get the salary you deserve on the first try. It won’t be fair to you to put all your eggs in one basket. Have other things you can negotiate on with the company. While you seek a salary increase, try adding other benefits to the mix. There are other options like working remotely, vacation days, and more. Put those on the table as well so that you can at least get something to hold on to.
Make yourself available to offers from elsewhere.
Although common in sports, this tactic is very effective across every denomination or field. Since no organization ever wants to lose its “star”, they will break protocols to keep them happy. Every organization knows who makes them as great as they are. They also know that they might be underpaying them. Instead, they hope that the employee doesn’t ask for a raise because they would have no choice but to fold. You don’t have to start any trouble if after reaching out to the company you don’t come to a favorable conclusion. If you want to get your company’s attention, make yourself open to offers elsewhere. It drives them crazy. They get jealous and feel threatened by their rivals when they see you flirting with other organizations. Some people purposely trigger a “bidding war” so that when another company starts poking their noses, their parent company will be forced to improve their salary.
Get support the right way.
People sometimes don’t dare to demand what they want. Instead, they drum up support from others. It happens in the corporate world as well. There are ways to go about it and other ways that could be the death of you in the job. Instead of seeking people who would help you stir up trouble, let your aim be for these people to help make things better. Speak to superiors who would support the idea and have them on standby in case you need reinforcements. Also, seek support regarding negotiating from these professionals. Take advice from both males and females because everyone has a different approach to negotiating.
Actions that will never get you the salary you deserve
Doing what gets you the salary you deserve is the goal. Yet, there are a few actions that some people take to achieve the same goal to their detriment. Due to frustration, bad advice, and overall emotional triggers, some employees do the wrong things and end up short. Beware, because there are a few actions that will never get you the salary you deserve.
Playing politics.
This is where being sly does not do anyone any good. When you don’t see yourself getting the salary you think you deserve, turning to others for support can be bad sometimes. It depends on how you go about it. There is always someone who is a big influence in terms of giving staff a raise or promotion. In the case where the person (or persons) are not responding to certain demands, forcing them out can become an option- a regrettable one. Soon people start playing politics and choose sides just to get the person who favors them into office. If things don’t go as planned, instead of getting the salary you deserve, you might get the boot.
Negative attitude
Truth be told, it can be frustrating to not get the recognition or salary you deserve. However, the wrong way to go is to have a negative attitude towards the management or your superiors. Never try to force their hand because an employee can never be bigger than the company that pays them. Negative attitudes come in various forms: some are subtle while others are aggressive.
- Rage. One of the things you can never do is turn to rage. You are possibly frustrated but going into a rage will never get you favors. It could make matters worse for you. Storming into a superior’s office to make a scene could result in security throwing you out.
- Likewise, throwing a tantrum is an immature move. If you have something to say, say it like an adult professional, not a child who got the wrong toy on their birthday.
- Also, some issue threats. Whether personal threats or a threat directed to the organization as a whole is never the way to go. Even if they resolve the issue- which is unlikely- the company will never forget what you did.
- Lastly, some people give an ultimatum, which is a threat in a refined manner. No company takes kindly to threats. If you eventually get at least a raise, chances are that you won’t be there for long.
Going public
Perhaps the most immature move in this case. It is a career-ruining way to ask for a salary you deserve. Not only will you burn bridges by doing so, but you also will never get that salary increase. Likewise, other organizations will be wary of you. Going public with anything is extremely easy these days. You may contact media outlets, and influencers, or use your social media platform. However, telling the world about what goes on in the company can land you in jail. It could be a violation of your Non-Disclosure Agreement. Also, telling your family or close friends about it might not be a good idea. Some overenthusiastic relatives or friends could start some trouble with the company without your knowledge.
Quitting
There comes a point when people, in this case, feel underappreciated and quit their jobs to send a message. Quitting will barely solve the problem. While some employees are quintessential to their organization’s success, with the right attitude, resources, and training, someone else can step in and do the job. For this reason, companies hardly fight to keep an employee that decides to quit. The fact is that no company will completely ignore the cog in their machine until they quit if they truly want them to stay.
Final thoughts
Everyone thinks they deserve more than what they are currently earning. You are well within your rights to ask for a salary increase but you need to back it up with reasons. These are facts and figures. Once you can prove that you deserve a certain salary, take the above-mentioned steps to get it. There are also wrong ways of getting a deserved salary but you must ignore them. Have you ever requested a raise and got it? please share your experience in the comments section.