There are people I know who work very hard and do a great job, but have difficulty getting noticed and being given the raise they deserve. It's likely that you know such people too. What’s wrong with the picture?
If you ask me, people in the workplace should learn (and master) a very important skill. The Art of Tooting One’s Horn. I’m serious! I belong to that school of thought that even if the managers you report to know how a dedicated and competent employee you are, they won’t give you a bigger salary unless you ask for it! It all has something to do with the bottom line. Management loyalty belongs to the company that provides for their livelihood. The more the operating budget can stay at an affordable number (and that could mean keeping the salary budget under control), the better for the overall operations.
However, if you muster the courage to demand for what you believe you deserve, be prepared to explain the reasons. Present details, facts and specifics. List all the accomplishments you’ve done and the difference it brought to your company. If you helped save some money through thrifty practices you undertook on your own initiative, the more that it is pointed out, the better for your case. In other words, put the spotlight on yourself and make yourself shine!
Requests for an income enhancement are better written than verbally conveyed. This is when a writing skill can clinch the deal for you. Your memo requesting for a raise must be worded to convey, not your need for more money (even if that’s the absolute truth) because your rent went up, or you have to pay ex-spouse alimony… blah, blah. State your desire to feel recognized for all the hard work and any extras you’ve contributed to your company. Remind how the extraordinary work you put in has helped the overall corporate success, even contributed to your boss looking good to his management. This is one scenario where you must be good about selling yourself (look at it as another job interview that you need to pass with flying colors).
Even if the current economy isn’t showing much exciting progress, it won’t hurt to flaunt your skills. More so if you believe that your work input has improved your operational systems. If you feel that you’ve been performing and accomplishing the work of two or three people following the layoffs in the recent past, say so. Explain how your responsibilities have grown and as a result, you deserve extra compensation for making a difference. State how a financial reward can motivate you to work even better. Call it a merit increase request. Do it to get it out of your system (because keeping the resentful feeling of not being appreciated bottled inside might demotivate you and result in adversely affecting future work performance), if not to prove the point that a raise in your near future is well deserved.
Even if the current economy isn’t showing much exciting progress, it won’t hurt to flaunt your skills. More so if you believe that your work input has improved your operational systems. If you feel that you’ve been performing and accomplishing the work of two or three people following the layoffs in the recent past, say so. Explain how your responsibilities have grown and as a result, you deserve extra compensation for making a difference. State how a financial reward can motivate you to work even better. Call it a merit increase request. Do it to get it out of your system (because keeping the resentful feeling of not being appreciated bottled inside might demotivate you and result in adversely affecting future work performance), if not to prove the point that a raise in your near future is well deserved.
If your employer sincerely values your contribution and appreciates your work, therefore would hate to lose you should you look for another job, something positive in your favor should really happen. Even if you end up getting a salary increase that is below your expectation, be grateful! Look at it as your reward for the 110% you’ve given to the organization. Remember, workers in other places may not be as lucky because they’re stuck with their pay of past years' service. Something extra (even just a little) in your paycheck should inspire you to feel good because your employer didn’t let you down.
I think that bosses gain more respect for employees who know their worth and show it. Everyone should have the ability to ask for what they deserve, but not many are up to the challenge. Employees who can present their case prove that they know how to take care of themselves. Simply keeping quiet about your work accomplishments, and your need for a pat on the back, is selling yourself short. It takes away the opportunity of feeling rewarded for the work that you’ve accomplished and continue to do.
If and when you indeed get a higher pay in this failing economy, you’re among the fortunate folks. Getting a salary raise at this time seems like a hard goal to achieve. But if you want it bad enough, and you don't hesitate to tell the Universe, you should be able to get it!
Forget not writing a Thank You note to the people who gave you the monetary recognition. Failing to do so is a not a good thing. Miss Manners will frown on it!
Keep shining!
