LinkedIn career expert reveals seven crucial tips when asking for a pay rise (and the one thing to ALWAYS avoid)

• LinkedIn career expert revealed crucial tips to secure a raise from your boss 
• READ MORE: Five phrases to say in an interview to make sure you get the job

A career expert has revealed seven crucial tips for bagging yourself a pay rise – and the one thing you should always avoid.

With inflation increasing month by month and the cost of living crisis putting on the squeeze, there’s almost never been a more welcome time for a salary boost.

According to Charlotte Davies, a career expert at LinkedIn, that is why a paltry salary was one of the most common reasons people considered switching jobs at the start of this year.

However, she admitted that asking for a pay rise can feel ‘daunting’ regardless of how well you’re doing at work.

Charlotte Davies (pictured), a career expert at LinkedIn, said a paltry salary was one of the most common reasons people considered switching jobs at the start of this year

She said: ‘It’s a process each of us will likely go through at least once in our professional lives, but it’s something that requires a careful assessment of your current role and where your organisation stands financially. 

‘Ensuring you are well prepared with thoughtful research and careful planning, will give you a much better chance of approaching the conversation with confidence and put yourself in the best position to negotiate an outcome that you’re happy with.’

At the beginning of the year, LinkedIn research found that many people were considering changing jobs, with a demand for a higher salary being the biggest motivator for those wanting to leave their current role (36 per cennt). 

Professionals who said they would stay in their jobs said so because of a good salary (42 per cent), higher bonuses (26 per cent) and a promotion (26 per cent). 

Here are seven top tips to get a raise – one one thing to avoid at all costs.

Prepare for all possibilities 

The key to a good discussion on pay is preparing for all possibilities and having evidence showing how you’re excelling in your current role is important, it isn’t the only thing that can lead to success. 

As well as this, it’s also important to anticipate the questions that your boss/ manager might ask.

For example, taking steps to look at similar jobs adverts to see what they pay (LinkedIn is a a good place to start), deciding whether you’d be happy with a payrise in six months time, or considering whether you’d accept a different position if offered are all potential topics that could come up in a pay rise discussion. 

These are easy things to overlook, but they can be crucial when negotiating.

Don’t be afraid to rehearse

It’s important to look, and feel, confident in what you’re asking for. This will come from knowing exactly what you want to say and how you want to present your case to your manager – think of it as your time to shine. 

Practice how you talk about recent achievements, and discuss what you’re most proud of with friends, family or other colleagues. 

It’s also worth considering reaching out to your professional network (privately!) to see if an old colleague or mentor can share any advice or insights from their previous experience asking for a pay rise.

Think about specific measurable examples of where you’ve added value – whether you won a new client, recruited an excellent new team member or helped the business operate more efficiently.

It might feel daunting or awkward to talk about our own achievements, but by taking the time to rehearse, you can make sure that you’re comfortable and confident with everything you’re saying before it comes to the real thing.

Among the seven top tips to get a raise at work is rehearsing ahead of your meeting and being prepared to negotiate with your boss (Stock image)

Get the timing right

When asking for a pay rise, timing could not be more important – both for you and for your company.

Be mindful of where your company stands at this point given the current economic climate. 

For example, perhaps their recent financial performance is down, or they have cut back on some areas. It’s important to read the situation and also know that it’s okay to wait if the timing doesn’t feel right.

On a personal front, is the timing right for you? If you’ve recently met your objectives, completed a big project or piece of work, or received positive feedback from your manager, then it may be a good opportunity to ask for a pay rise. 

If you haven’t, but one of these things is on the horizon, it may be worth holding off until then.

Be prepared to negotiate

An important part of negotiating your salary will always be to do your homework and make sure you have all the facts to hand.

Know what others in a similar position to you are earning and make sure to compare the qualifications and experience needed for these roles to your own to make sure they’re truly similar. 

This approach also shows your manager that you’ve done your due diligence. 

Be open to more than salary

Although a higher salary is what automatically comes to mind when negotiating a better compensation package in the workplace, if you don’t feel the time is right to discuss pay rises at your company, think about the other benefits that might indirectly help you financially. 

For example, this could be arranging paid training courses, or more flexible working hours which could potentially allow you to save in other aspects of your life, such as travel costs.

Take advice from others

Negotiating a pay rise is something you can practice and get better at. 

If you’re looking to build your confidence, then it might help to treat it like any other skill you’re looking to develop. 

In particular, speaking and learning from other people can significantly help. 

Don’t be afraid to look for online resources and tools, such as LinkedIn blog posts which could help with your preparation. 

It’s often helpful to hear from those who have been there before.

For new jobs, get it in writing

For those who have already made the decision to find an increased salary elsewhere, negotiating pay after receiving a job offer comes with its own unique set of challenges. 

Convincing a new employer that you’re worth the increased wage can be more difficult considering they haven’t worked with you. 

Often, the compromise is your new job will promise a salary increase once you’re in the role for a set period of time.

My top advice for those in this position would be to get confirmation in writing. Whether that’s a commitment on email, or written into your contract. 

This way, you can have more certainty over your financial situation, and avoid the stress later down the line.

But beware, there is also something you should always avoid if you’re seeking an income boost.

Don’t let a ‘no’ derail you

Even if you follow the above tips, there is a chance that your employer might not be able to meet your request. 

This could be for a number of reasons, some of which might be out of your control. 

The most important thing is not to let a knock back derail you. 

When the time is right, feel free to pick up the discussion again, and if you feel like you’re not progressing or getting the recognition you deserve it might be time to look elsewhere.’

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