How many times have you wished to feel recognized for the job that you do? 

Most people are in the same boat as you. Perhaps you’ve never asked for a pay raise, perhaps you’ve wished you had the courage to stand up for yourself and ask for one. Well, you’re not alone there. Most people don’t ask for more money because they have been taught one of two lessons:

1. It’s vulgar to ask about money – even when it is your money.
2. You’re afraid you’re not worth what you’re asking.

Here’s the thing: if you feel that you deserve a raise, there’s every chance that you do deserve it. Most people never ask for more money, feeling that they should wait to be rewarded. However, if you’re going above and beyond in your role, you need to consider lacing up your bravery boots and learning how to ask for more from your boss. A lot of employers know that you won’t ask and they’ll wait you out. So, here are a few tips for asking your boss for a raise:

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1. The first step is knowing that it’s totally normal to ask for a raise. Payroll professionals out there won’t be stumped if employees suddenly have more money added to their monthly wage, they’ll roll with it. You will not be inconveniencing anyone when you ask for more money, so it’s always worth it to do it.
2. Go with proof you deserve this raise if you decide to ask. You want to ensure that you definitely are offering the business something stellar before you ask to be recompensed. You have to be able to argue your case succinctly, and that requires evidence on your part to show you are worthy of the additional cash.
3. Time this conversation well. Approaching someone in authority and asking for more is not easy, but your boss is also human. You need to think about timing this when they’re not having a rubbish day or dealing with back to back meetings. Time it well and you’ll likely find favor.
4. How long have you worked in your job? It’s likely that the length of time that you have been in your role will be enough to ask, especially if you have served rather a length of time. Revisiting the salary with which you started and asking for more at the right time is not a bad thing and you will likely be told yes!
5. If you know what’s going on with your company budget, you are going to be in the know. If you can factor in your company budgeting cycles, you’re going to have time to plan your meeting well. This way, you cannot be told that you can’t have it due to the budget – you know the budget!
6. Get online and figure out what your work is worth. Once you know what others are being paid around the world for the same job, compare your salary with theirs and you can go in armed and ready!