Menu
In today’s uncertain economic environment, young professionals often prioritize higher pay as a proof of their impact in the workplace.
However, it’s essential to remember that employees have bargaining power when asking for raises, provided the foundation is right. If you’re seeking a better title, a bigger paycheck, or more responsibility, but your boss hasn’t indicated any upward mobility, it may be time to make some changes.
In this article, we’ll explore negotiation tactics and a step-by-step guide on how to get a promotion and salary raise at work in 2023, specifically targeted at career-driven youths seeking better opportunities.
1. Track your accomplishments.
Highlight your accomplishments whenever you are asking for a promotion or a raise. Be focused on exceeding expectations on any project assigned to you. Understand the goals of your tasks and go above and beyond, be consistent about this. Instead of sharing a list of everything you’ve done, try to highlight your ‘exceed-expectations’ projects, preferably, do that in numbers — increased sales by X%, brought in X number of new clients, etc.
Also, include projects that required increased responsibilities above your current grade level. Tracking your previous achievements can highlight your wins for the company – and signal to your boss that those victories would not have been possible if not for you. Limit yourself to three to five recent accomplishments.
2. Dress for success
Research from OfficeTeam shows that 86% of workers and 80% of managers think wardrobe choices affect an employee’s chances of earning a promotion. Observe what your supervisor or those who work in your dream department wear and follow their lead. Dress appropriately for your work environment and find ways to incorporate your personality into your wardrobe, too.
Also, according to research by University of Hertfordshire professor Karen Pine, your clothing can impact your self-confidence. You’re definitely more likely to impress your boss when you feel confident.
3. Improve your skills with career development goals
A promotion sometimes requires additional skills. Prepare yourself by learning those skills prior to asking for a promotion. Online lessons in soft skills, like leadership, critical & analytical thinking, and communication, can prepare you for the next level. You can also learn specific technical skills for your next role.
4. Act like a leader
No boss will promote an employee who doesn’t demonstrate good leadership skills. According to Harvard Business Review, if you want to move up in your career, you have to “act, think, and communicate like a leader long before that promotion,” and doing so will ultimately make you more likely to get promoted.
So how can you prove your leadership capabilities without a team to lead? First, make sure you’re not so distracted by your ambitions that you forget to excel at your current role. Get your work done, and do it well. From there, look for extra tasks, neglected business needs, and smaller leadership roles that aren’t being filled, and volunteer to take them on.
Build relationships with important figures at the company. And don’t let your ego get in the way – instead, focus on what the company needs and maintain some modesty.
5. Be sociable
No boss will promote an employee who doesn’t demonstrate good leadership skills. According to Harvard Business Review, if you want to move up in your career, you have to “act, think, and communicate like a leader long before that promotion,” and doing so will ultimately make you more likely to get promoted.
So how can you prove your leadership capabilities without a team to lead? First, make sure you’re not so distracted by your ambitions that you forget to excel at your current role. Get your work done, and do it well. From there, look for extra tasks, neglected business needs, and smaller leadership roles that aren’t being filled, and volunteer to take them on.
Build relationships with important figures at the company. And don’t let your ego get in the way – instead, focus on what the company needs and maintain some modesty.
5. Just ask for it, but start the conversation early
If you don’t talk to your boss about growth opportunities and your career trajectory at the company, your boss might not even realize you’d like a promotion. Timing is important. Have a 1:1 with your manager before the performance review/appraisal cycle starts.
Take this opportunity to explain to your Manager that you’re hoping to get a promotion/bigger role & raise and ask what you need to accomplish to get one. Yes, be that direct!
Your manager’s response might depend on factors outside of your control, such as the company’s overall success or the team’s budget. But your contributions to the company’s well-being could also be a factor.
Either way, starting the conversation makes it easier to follow up down the line. If you have added value as required, then when the time is right, you’re simply asking your manager to follow through on their word.
1. Know the going rate for your line of work and ask for it. Do your research on pay for similar positions using sites like Salary.com, Indeed or Glassdoor. If you’re underpaid, you might simply ask for an increase to match market standards.
2. Summarize any increased responsibilities and projects you’ve taken on since you were hired and explain why what you’re doing now is worth more than the rate you got when you were hired.
3. Highlight your accomplishments on the job and the value you bring to the company. Where possible, quantify that in numbers.
4. Restate why you like this job. When approaching your boss — make sure you convey that you’re worth it. That you are someone they want to keep on the team.
5. If a pay increase isn’t an option, come up with some alternatives that would make you happy, such as training/career advancement sponsorships. This can qualify you for a higher pay bracket later; Flexible hours/Remote Working; Stock Options; Financial Wellness Benefits (Better HMO plan that includes, gym & spa access); More interesting/challenging/cross-border assignments etc.
Remember: Just because you know how to ask for a raise and have a strong case doesn’t mean you will get it. So, be gracious regardless of the outcome.
If you get turned down, maybe end the conversation with something like: “I understand. Maybe we can see what the landscape looks like in six months and revisit the conversation then.”
Then set a calendar reminder to set up a meeting with your boss in six months.
And, ask your boss what you can do in the meantime — picking up new responsibilities or skills — in order to set yourself up for future promotion and raise.
And, just for good measure, here are five things NOT to say when asking for a raise.
Stay the course, earn it, and revisit in six months – If you are patient, consider staying in the same job and continuing to work hard. This will highlight to your boss that you are a good worker and deserve this promotion. Earn a certification, improve on your skills, then, revisit asking for the promotion in six months.
Consider finding a new job – If you feel underappreciated in your current role, look for a new role that provides more income or responsibility – ideally both.
Look for positions within the company – You may seek other positions within the company that will give you more responsibility. A lateral move might be the right choice if you want to stay at the same company. You will have the opportunity to work under a different supervisor and may have a better opportunity to move up.
Ask to do more – Asking to do more work highlights to your boss that you have the schedule and capacity to take on greater responsibility in your current role. That can lead to a promotion sooner than expected.
Find a side hustle that can supplement your full-time job – Find a side hustle. It could be related to your full-time job or may be different, but it is a pathway for you to pursue your passions and make money doing it.
Volunteer – You can learn many of the soft and technical skills you would need in a corporate setting. Update your employee personnel records and CV with your volunteer work. It will signal to your manager and other external business decision-makers that you are the right talent to bring to their company.
Understandably, asking for a raise can still be uncomfortable. But you can get it by taking the steps to prepare and supporting your request could be the key to your success. Also, remember that if you don’t get it, it isn’t the end of the world.
Focus on continually increasing your economic value in the workplace and you will hit your career and financial goals very soon. Good luck!
Tije is not your average HR professional - with 11 years of experience under her belt, she's a strategic mastermind when it comes to personnel leadership. But that's not all. Tije is a personable and perceptive champion of both corporate and team member success, always keeping an eye on the big picture.
Her impeccable ethics and business sense shine through in everything she does - whether it's recruiting top talent, delivering expert staffing support to management, or mobilizing engaged and loyal corporate business units. Tije is a true HR advisory expert, and her unwavering commitment to executing and implementing tailored business initiatives makes her a force to be reckoned with.
In short, Tije is the HR powerhouse you want in your corner, and we're excited to have her on our blog!
Charis Black Projects is a youth empowerment organization in Nigeria committed to the empowerment of African youths, eradication of youth unemployment & poverty, and the transformation of the African Youth narrative in the world.
Charis Black Projects is an initiative of Goodness Nwachukwu Youth Empowerment Foundation
