Get a Raise in 30 Days

[image error]Getting a raise at work involves more than just asking; it’s having strategy, and preparing those around you to trust and rely on you so that when raises are handed out, you’re top of mind.  Nicole Williams, best-selling author, consultant, and career expert for LinkedIn, offers ten steps to better position yourself for rewards at work.  If you start now, you could be well on your way to a raise in as little as one month.

Step #1: Be the Go-to Guy or Gal

Every time someone new depends on you, even if they’re not your boss, your “irreplaceability” factor increases. Know what deadlines your colleagues have coming up and figure out how you can be of help to them, even if it’s not about work.  “People will be just as thankful that you’ve recommended the perfect restaurant for their friend’s birthday party, as they are when you offer to look over the report they’re working on,” says Williams. Is your work buddy overwhelmed?  Step in and lend a hand.  Is your boss a techno-phobe?  Show her a new app or teach her to pull her email from her POP account to her phone.  Being helpful around the office can pay quick dividends in popularity, visibility, and even raises.

Step #2: Build a Track Record 

Whether you’ve been at your job for weeks or for decades, the only way to a raise is to demonstrate value.  And the only person who knows exactly what you contribute day in and day out is you. So, keep a list of all of your accomplishments and achievements at work, and write them down.  Don’t assume you’ll remember all these personal “pats on the back” if ever you’re put on the spot.  A well-documented (if only in your mind), and well-prepared argument go a long way in convincing those you work for just how valuable you are. Qualitative evidence helps, too: did sales jump after you suggested more prominent placement of the new merchandise?  Did your co-workers productivity increase after you implemented a new workflow?  Be ready to talk about your sucesses if and when the opportunity presents itself.

Step #3: Seek Feedback

Don’t just wait around for someone to tell you what you’re doing is right — or wrong, for that matter.  Reviews are a great time to ask for feedback, but that opportunity may only come up once a year. Why wait that long just to find out that there’s something you’ve been missing?  Be proactive, and ask.  Find out what your supervisor thinks your weaknesses are.  She’ll appreciate your willingness to learn and will probably be thankful she didn’t have to bring it up herself.

Step #4: Better Yourself

Once you know what you need to work on,  take immediate action to improve in this area. Get the training you need, practice, rehearse, read books, i.e., do whatever it takes to get better at whatever it is you’re lacking. You’ll be better off than your competitor who might try to cover up her lack of skills by ignoring them.

Step #5: Learn Something New

Relatedly, in addition to getting better at what you already do, try learning a brand new skill relevant to your work.  “This is the fastest way to increase your value and up your chances of a raise,” says Williams. “Figure out what your colleagues one or two levels above you know that you don’t, and get on it. Even if you have to spend a little money on the side to get the knowledge you need, it’s an investment that is likely to pay for itself sooner than later.”  Williams recommends checking out the competition on LinkedIn, by doing an ‘Advanced People Search’. You can check out the skills and programs your co-workers list on their profiles. Take a class, earn a certification, or sit in on extra training meetings.  You never know when these enhanced proficiencies will prove their worth.

Step #6: Implement Organization

Anytime you can offer a solution to make “the way things have always been done” better, do it. Maybe it’s offering to type up and distribute meeting notes after your weekly meeting. Or perhaps it’s coming up with a system to improve quality assurance. Williams reminds us that,”Even unorganized people love organization—[maybe] they’re just waiting for someone to do it for them.”

Step #7: Find a Mentor

The senior-level staff at your company probably have a wealth of information and experience — valuable institutional knowledge, as well as sage career recommendations. Consider this advice free and ripe for the picking.  Find a person you don’t work directly under whose business style you admire, and ask if she’d like to grab coffee while you pick her brain. As you maintain the relationship and continually demonstrate your desire to succeed, you’ll gain a powerful ally who will have good things to say when your name comes up.

Step #8: Take on a New Project

One of the best ways to chase a raise or promotion is to be doing the work of the position you want already, therefore it’s unlikely you’ll ever get a raise without increasing your workload.  So, buck up and make more work for yourself, whether it’s expected of you or not. If you’re unsure where to begin, ask your boss what areas of the company she’d like to see improve, and then come up with a plan of attack.  Pitch her your idea for a project, and then make sure you execute on what you promised.

Step #9: Toot Your Own Horn

Related to #2 above, Williams says, “No one like’s a braggart, unless of course whatever you’re bragging about is useful to them.” Make sure the right people know that what you’re doing at work is contributing to their success, whether it’s alerting them you’ve established a valuable contact at a networking event, or updating them on the advancements you’ve been making on that “special project” you took on (above). In other words, don’t be shy about status updates, progress reports, or how your actions are making everyone look good.  It’s possible no one would ever know otherwise.

Step #10: Ask for It!

If you’ve successfully implemented the other nine tips, people at your company have probably already noticed. But that doesn’t mean these actions will automatically manifest into more green.  For that, you have to ask — directly.  Schedule a meeting with your boss, present your proven value, and name your price (within reason, of course)!  You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Photo Courtesy of: www.farnoosh.tv/wp-content/career-big.jpg