Five ways to ask for a salary increase

If you feel like your salary is below what it should be, you're probably not alone.

In several parts of the world, wages have not increased despite rising living costs.

Increasing salaries is a move expected by many, even more so in this context. While there is no guarantee that talking to your boss will lead to the raise you want, there are ways to increase your chances of success.

We spoke to employers, managers and psychologists in the UK, who outlined five tips on how to best negotiate a potential pay rise:

 

1. Choose the right time

Jill Cotton, fashion expert says that it is good to prepare the conversation in advance will give you and your boss time to prepare and thus make it more likely to discuss productively.

"Don't shock your boss," explains Cotton. "Tell him you want to talk to him specifically about salary."

Rowsonara Begum, who, together with her brother, manages an Indian restaurant in England, also explains that there is a good time to consider the state of the business itself: if an employee presents his needs during a period when business is good, there are more chances of success in asking for a raise of salary.

2. Take evidence

If you are asking for a pay increase, you must have a valid argument.

"Understand what you do at work, and what you have done to develop yourself, support your team as well as your managers ... List all the benefits of what you have done," says Shan Saba, director of British recruitment company Brightwork. . .

This evidence of good work also helps your boss understand why you should be paid more, according to Stephanie Davies, a psychologist who specializes in workplaces.

"The brain needs a 'why': why should I pay that much?", he gives an example.

However, it's not just about carrying a list of all your achievements: It's also important to be clear about what you want to do next, says Shan Saba.

"If you have ambitions to grow within your organization, have a plan of what you intend to do in the coming year.

3. Believe in yourself

Jill Cotton, from Glassdoor, says that people often do not feel confident in bringing up this type of topic because there is a "stigma" on the issue of pay, which the expert believes is an "important part of the job".

  Women and people from minority groups may find it difficult to ask for a raise, adds psychologist Stephanie Davies.

  He advises that it is best to find some type of counselor or experienced person who can help you prepare for this conversation.

4. It is good to know the amount of increase you want in your mind

Most experts agree that it's best to have the exact amount in mind before you start negotiating a supplement.

Do your research, advises James Reed, president of recruiting firm Reed.

  "You can search online for job advertisements and see how much the salaries are for similar jobs," he says.

  Cotton warns that the amount must be real.

"We would all like to be paid millions every year.

  But we are paid to work with the skills we have," he says.

 

5. Don't give up

If the above steps do not lead to a positive result of a pay increase, try not to be discouraged.

"Sometimes these conversations can take time, even months, but it's important to keep communication open," says Begum.

Salary isn't everything either, says Reed.

"It's not necessarily just about money. You can get more flexibility in working hours," he says, adding that additional training and development tools can also be discussed.

  And if you feel like you're not getting what you want from your employer, remember that there are other opportunities out there.

"You can always look elsewhere, that's the great gift," says Stephanie Davies.