Have you spent weeks or even months building up the courage to ask for a raise at work? If your request was denied, don’t despair – not getting the raise you’re after may actually be an opportunity in disguise.
An opportunity for what? To ask the questions that could set you up for getting a bigger paycheck or better benefits in the future.
Rather than simply accepting “no” for an answer – or letting that no be a huge blow to your self-esteem – ask these three questions when your boss doesn’t give you the salary increase you know you deserve.
First & Foremost, Ask Why
Can’t understand why your request for a raise was denied? Then ask why. See if you can get your boss to dig a bit deeper into why they won’t increase your salary.
Take some time to process your feelings, and when you broach the subject with your boss, be sure to keep things professional and diplomatic. It can be fairly easy to get a bit heated when you truly feel you deserve the raise you’ve asked for, so consider practicing the conversation in advance.
For example, you could say something like:
● I’d like to get a better understanding of why you chose not to grant my request for a raise.
● Is there something I could be doing more or less to be a better candidate for a raise?
● Was my request denied due to budgeting concerns?
● How are performance and compensation evaluated here?
● What factors contributed to your decision?
Getting more information about the reasoning behind your boss’s decision can help you create a plan for getting the raise you’re after.
Or, if your boss is vague and doesn’t offer up much helpful information, this can help you determine whether it may be time to start creating an exit plan, so you can work on finding a position where your skills and talents are more valued.
Ask About Alternative Benefits
If your organization is unable to give you a raise for budgetary reasons, you may be able to negotiate additional benefits for yourself, but only if you ask for them. And if you’re successful, those additional benefits can make your work life feel a whole lot more enjoyable, since they are, in a way, a form of compensation.
What kind of benefits should you negotiate for? That really depends on what’s important to you.
Depending on what you value, you may want to consider asking for:
● The option to work from home, either part-time or full-time
● Additional paid vacation time
● Funds for a home office upgrade
● Funds for professional development
● A change of title
● Stock options
If your request for additional benefits is denied, and your boss won’t divulge why, it may be time to consider looking for a new job.
According to a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center, roughly 50% of workers who switched jobs from April 2021 to March 2022 saw a 9.7%+ increase in their annual pay year over year.
If you want that raise, and your current employer won’t give it to you and won’t provide any additional benefits – and won’t let you in on why – switching companies may be the only way you’ll get what you’re after.
Ask About Bonuses
If you want more money, and your employer can’t grant your request for a salary increase, ask about variable pay, such as project-specific bonuses. That way, your employer is only on the hook if you knock the project out of the park, and that’s true even if bonuses are already part of your existing pay structure.
Be sure to discuss project-specific metrics with your employer, and what the compensation will look like if you hit or exceed those metrics. Your boss may be more willing to increase pay in this fashion since you’re getting concrete results, and they’re essentially paying you for achieving those results in addition to your base salary.
Want Better Pay? One Tech Staffing Can Help You Get It
If you’re looking for a position where your skills, talents, and expertise will be valued – and you’ll be compensated accordingly – get in touch with our team at One Tech Staffing.
We’re a national technical recruiting firm and partner with professionals in the engineering, design, drafting, automation, manufacturing, utilities, and medical device industries to help them find jobs that suit their experience and skills. We’ve placed countless job seekers over the last 40+ years, and we’d love to work with you, too.
To get started with your job search or learn more about how we work, call us today at 952-884-9199 or contact us online, and we’ll get in touch.