Money: it is the main reason why we work. To earn money to spend in other areas of our lives. You feel you should be fairly compensated for the work you do. This could end you wanting to get paid more than you do right now, effectively getting a raise. But how do I get a raise? Read on to find out.

Keep a list of your achievements

Companies think in terms of dollars. They think about achievement and work in terms of how many dollars the company has made or how much they have saved the company. To effectively get a raise, you should also try to think this way.

As you focus on accomplishments that may have helped your business make or save money, write them down. Think back to the last year or so and write down any accomplishments or successes you’ve had. Along with the achievement, write down how you have saved or made money for the business. This could be in terms of increased efficiency, the ability to analyze existing information to make better decisions, more accurate systems, or reduced manual work and related costs. These are great ways for a business to see its benefit to them.

Do extra activities

Companies essentially pay their employees based on how valuable they are to the company. This “assessment” is not based solely on your work. One of the things you can do to make yourself more valuable to your company is to do additional activities. This should be to the benefit of your co-workers and the company. Depending on where you work and the size of your company, this could mean:

• Become a security or first aid officer for your area
• Start a sports team to improve fitness, health and teamwork in your office
• Organize a training session to share information with your co-workers

These types of activities help both you and the company: you will benefit from doing them (be it knowledge, better labor relations or something else), and your employer will appreciate the improvement it has for the company. It’s something you can discuss with your manager when you’re wondering, “How do I get a raise?”

Research Similar Positions

One of the main drivers of a company and how much a particular employee is paid is how much another company is willing to pay them. It all boils down to a few main areas: experience, industry, and skills. Her experience in the workforce generally guides her salary. The industry you work in can affect how much you get paid, and different skills and their current demand have an effect on salary.

What do you care about this? Well, in order for you to convince your employer to give you a raise, you need to know what the “market rate” is for your position, or what someone with your skills and experience could earn. If you’re a .Net developer with five years of experience, the average salary for this position might be around $70,000 per year (just an example, I don’t know what the actual salary is). This would serve as a guide to how much you can aim for and to let you know if you are currently earning less or more than average. Of course, there are more things that affect salary than just experience and skills, but it’s a good starting point.

Just ask

The above tips may be good to know and very helpful, but the best answer to the question “how do I get a raise” is to simply ask! Ask your human resources department, ask your boss, ask whoever is in charge of employee salaries. I think many companies would be happy to offer their good employees a pay raise if they asked for it and made a compelling case for doing so. No need to be afraid or feel guilty, it could actually work better! You’ll feel like you’re being paid fairly, and your employer will be happy that you’re happy, and have probably saved money to find a replacement for you.

I hope these tips have answered the big question, “How do I get a raise?” Leave your comments below if you have any other tips you’d like to share!