In this economy, it may not seem like the right time to ask for a raise, but you'd be surprised at what might happen if you went about it the right way.
In this economy, there are so many people looking for a job, that if you have one, it's likely that you are doing whatever it takes to hold on to it. With many companies downsizing and laying off workers, the remaining employees are forced to take on more work and more responsibilities without getting any more money.
While times are tight for everyone, working harder for a long period of time without getting anything more for your efforts can cause you to become resentful and start looking for other options.
But, there is help available. A new site, GetRaised.com, is able to help. They are a site that helps people figure out if they deserve a raise, and if so, how to get it.
The site helps walk you through the process of determining if you deserve a raise. You just put in your job title, location, answer a few questions and they will give you their opinion about if you are due for a raise. And if so, for $20 they'll help you determine how much of a raise you should ask for. They even guarantee that if you don't get a raise in six months time, they will refund your money.
It isn't all computer based either. When you pay the $20, you also get a real person who will help you come up with the best way to ask your boss for the raise and they will even keep motivating you to follow up after the conversation.
Of course, if you'd rather not pay a service to craft a speech to ask your boss for the raise, you can always do it yourself. Many times, when you start the conversation about getting a raise with your boss, you will be surprised that they may not even know how much you are making. That is why it is so important to do your homework ahead of time. Do some research and find out what the average salary is for your position, in your area. Bring this data along with you when you start the conversation.
Next, find out how your company is doing. Are they making money or are they barely keeping the business afloat. If they are having a good quarter, look at how you or your team are contributing to the overall success. Then, you need to do a self-evaluation. Make a list of what your duties entail and see if you are doing the work of two people or if you have had to take on responsibilities that normally belong to someone above you.
Getting a clear picture of what you bring to the company can help you determine if your compensation is measuring up. If it isn't, you can bring this data with you to back up your request. If your boss isn't willing to give you a raise, you may want to ask for other types of compensation, like an extra vacation day or offering you a flexible work week.
Asking for a raise can be a high stress situation, but with the proper amount of research, you should be able to make your point and show your boss exactly why you are due more money.
Have you ever asked a boss for a raise? How did it go? Let me know in the comments.
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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for SalesHeadsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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