Negotiating a pay rise can be a difficult thing to do at work. If you think that you deserve a pay rise, you might be trying to work up the nerve to do it and develop a strategy to get what you want.
But it can be hard to decide how you should approach the issue, especially when you’re scared that it might backfire on you. Standing up for yourself is important if you think that a pay rise should be coming your way.
So if you’re looking to negotiate a pay rise in Brighton and Hove, try out these tips to improve your chances.
Meet with Your Manager
Meeting with your manager gives you the chance to kick off the conversation about a possible pay rise. You can talk about your performance and lay out your case for why you think you deserve a pay rise. When you arrange a meeting, try not to do it too soon so that you have some time to repair. It might feel intimidating but you can start a conversation that gives you the chance to make your arguments and to answer any questions or concerns from your manager.
Research Salaries
If you’re asking for a specific amount of money, you need to be able to justify what you’re asking for. You should be able to discuss both your achievements and your skills and experience, as well as average salaries. Do some research to find out about average salaries for your role in Brighton to help you argue your point. You can look at job listings for roles similar to yours and use salary checking tools too.
Prepare to explain why it’s time for you to get a pay rise.
Ask at the Right Time
Not just any time is the right time to ask for a pay rise. You need to get the timing right if you want to increase your chances of success. When you’re negotiating a pay rise, consider when your last pay rise was. If it was recent, you need to be able to justify another one so soon. Think about whether you have recently performed better than before, taken on new responsibilities or started consistently outperforming your colleagues.
If you want a pay rise, you should be able to show that you have been performing well for a significant period.
Prepare to Sell Yourself
Your manager will want to know why you deserve to have a pay rise, so you need to be ready to sell your skills, experience and knowledge. Before you meet with them, make a note of your achievements and successes, and think about what your strengths are. Don’t just consider what you have done recently for the company, but also how you will contribute in the coming months. Writing down your argument can help you to prepare but can also be useful for your manager, who might need to make your case to decision makers who control the budget.
They have to think about how a pay rise for you will benefit the business, so you have to be able to explain what you can offer them. As well as talking about what you do now, you might also want to discuss what more you could do.
A pay rise might mean that you take on more responsibilities or start producing more work.
Ask About Other Benefits
Sometimes when you try to negotiate a pay rise in Brighton, you could be turned down. It’s not necessarily because you don’t deserve one, but could be more of a budgeting decision. However, you might still be able to negotiate other benefits, such as flexible working hours or paid time off. There are plenty of non-monetary benefits that you could find useful and might make your job worth staying with your employer.
Perhaps you want some help with training and development to help you go further in your career.
Maintain Good Connections
Even if you are turned down for a pay rise, be careful with how you choose to respond to it. It might make you feel like your employer doesn’t appreciate you, but it could be that it’s just not the right time. If you wait for a few months, it could be the right time to bring it up again. You might ultimately decide to look for a new position, but you should still keep things professional with your current employer. It’s important to have good references and you never know when your connection to someone could come in handy.
If you do decide to look for a new position after being turned down for a pay rise, Just Brighton Jobs can help you find your next job in Brighton.