How to get a pay rise

Pay freezes were common during the recession, but now the economy is picking up slightly, many companies are more confident about the future. Pay rises, however small, are creeping back onto the agenda. So what can you do to try and boost your pay?

1. Set up a meeting with your boss

First of all make an appointment to have a chat with your boss. This is a much better approach than mentioning your pay rise request on the spur of the moment or in a casual setting. And it will also show that you're serious about your request.

2. List the things you do

Denise Taylor, author of 'How to get a job in a recession', advises employees to do some preparation and research before the meeting in order to achieve the best result.

“The research needs to include being clear on what you are doing in your job and also what other people earn for similar sorts of work,” she explains.

“When you first took on the job you probably took a few weeks to learn the job and as the months have gone by you have got better. Think about how things have changed and if you are doing more work or have you taken on extra tasks - such as doing a financial summary each week or taking on more managerial duties.

Go through and make a note of all the extra things you now do. You can then use this in your negotiation with your boss.” 

3. Offer to take on more

If you’re not doing much above and beyond your job description, offer to do so.  Ask whether you can take on more responsibility or mentor a junior member of staff to justify your request for a pay rise.

4. Know what you can ask for

So how much should you ask for? Don’t be afraid to start off with a high figure. Your boss is unlikely to agree straight away but may well meet you in the middle. If possible find out what colleagues doing the same job are earning or what rival companies are offering.

Websites such as benchmarkmypay.co.uk and totaljobs.com/salarychecker tell you the average salary for your role or profession.

5. Use other offers to negotiate

If you’ve been headhunted or have a job offer from a rival firm, don’t be afraid to use it as a negotiating tool. However, don’t threaten to leave if you don’t get more money unless you’re genuinely happy to move on.

6. Other perks

If your company can’t offer you more cash, ask for other benefits. These could be things like more annual leave, flexible working, gym membership or private health care.

7. Schedule in a pay review

Marielena Sabatier, chief executive of Inspiring Potential, a company that specialises in helping people reach their potential at work, says not to take the rejection personally if your request is turned down.

“If you don't get a pay rise it could be for a number of reasons - there might be two or three others performing better than you are or the decision could be purely financial,” she says.

“The best way of handling rejection is to see it as an opportunity to learn and improve your skills. Be open to any feedback from your boss, in fact, ask for it so you have an opportunity to learn where you could improve - this is the secret of career development and to ensuring future promotions and pay rises."

If you've been turned down, also ensure you ask if you can have another pay review in a couple of months' time and in the meantime try to improve on any feedback you had from your boss.