SheMentor -

There are few things in your career that will cause as much anxiety as the notion of asking for more money from your boss. However, most of us will find it necessary at one time or another, and it's a good idea to have a firm game plan going into it so that you can maximize the effect of your raise-inducing "pitch". So, in typical SheMentor fashion, I'm going to advise you on what NOT to do when asking for a raise:

1. Do not use your personal circumstances as a reason you should be earning more money. "I just had a new baby", "my wife just lost her job", "my child needs therapy" - these are all traumatic events in one's life but none are raise-worthy, and all will make you look foolish and small if you attempt to work them into a pay increase conversation with your superiors. Raises are merit-driven and as such need to be quantified by real examples of ways that you have either contributed to the company's revenue, or helped to reduce the company's expenses.
2. Do not attempt to draw comparisons between your salary and that of your co-workers. It may be true that you've heard through the grapevine that the lady in the cubicle next door who's been here less time than you makes a lot more money than you do. That may strike you as incredibly unfair, and depending on the circumstances, it very well might be. However, that does not make it a persuasive argument for why you should be getting a higher salary. Other co-worker's salary information is never good conversation when asking for a raise for yourself, so don't do it.
3. Do not use "soft verbs" to justify why you deserve a raise. "Soft verbs" such as "I feel", "I think", "I hope" aren't very decisive and they don't really properly portray the efforts you've engaged in that have resulted in your deserving a raise. Use facts and figures to justify yourself. Use strong action verbs, such as "I built", "I managed", "I won", "I secured".
4. Do not go in unprepared. Money is an incredibly personal subject for most all of us. In order to remain non-personal in your meeting however it's critical that you prepare yourself well in advance. Don't hesitate to take into the meeting notes you've made on specific points you want to make sure you cover, and then refer to those notes during your discussions. You might even bring in a hand-out that outlines the top x points you will be making. That not only helps you keep on track during your discussions, but in the event your boss has to think about it, or needs to get "permission" from someone else, he'll have all the information he needs at his fingertips, because you made it easy for him.

Asking for more money at your work place can be a tricky event, but you can dramatically improve your odds - and your reputation - if you are thoroughly prepared for the conversation and have enough "bullet point" accomplishments identified to back up your arguments. Whether or not the final decision results in a raise for you might be ultimately out of your control, but the path you take to get to the request is certainly NOT - so make the best of it!

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