What is the most challenging conversation with your boss at the office? Of course, there will be different answers, but asking for an increment might be the most common.
If you are a government job holder, it’s fine as your salary will rise yearly by stipulated rules. However, for private sector white collar job holders, ‘a request’ for an increment is a must to get a hike in most cases.
While most people wonder how to talk about these issues, the simplest solution is to remain confident. If you are doing well at your workplace, don’t hesitate to ask for a hike.
Here’s how you should approach your boss for a conversation regarding a salary review.
Make your ground first
To make your cause strong, meeting your KPIs and going beyond, if possible, is necessary. Try visualizing where you would like to see yourself in the coming days in your office and work accordingly. Dedication and consistency are necessary to ascend to a higher position. While your professionalism will gradually take you closer to your dream job position, it’d certainly facilitate a yearly salary hike.
Note, this cycle of going professional is not applicable for your first increment only. Start working for your next increment the day you get one.
Take case studies to your boss
To argue for a hike in salary, it is essential to put forward strong cases. One effective way is to measure your work and compare it with others in the same position in the industry.
If your counterparts in other companies earn more than you, then it’s a good argument already. If not, change the strategy. Find out where you are unique and doing better than them.
Let your work speak louder
Never shy away from taking your credit. If you are too gentle to talk about your achievements, it’ll be detrimental to your growth. Make reports, and presentations on your works and achievements and speak confidently about what you’d achieve further. Your ideas and ambitions regarding the company will ease your cause in front of your boss.
Add value to yourself
This should be a lifelong practice - making yourself more valuable. If you have mastered a particular skill, try upgrading that to another level with relevant training, workshop, professional courses or even higher academic degrees. In the process, you’d make yourself an unrivalled asset in the particular sector, which will naturally add to your financial values.
Speak in person
Asking for a salary review has multiple dimensions that need to blend properly to convince your boss. Your application mail must be crisp and precise, which might not establish your logic well. Therefore, talking in person is always preferable.
Apart from your achievements and industry salary structure information, you might have other reasonable causes to ask for a hike, like inflation, expensive lifestyle, marriage, etc., which are not suitable for the application. Rather, express your urges and necessities with your voice and let the application just be paperwork that official formalities require.
One important thing in this matter is time. Before going in, make sure it’s not a tough and busy day for your boss. Pick a relaxed hour that’d allow at least 10/15 minutes to sit with your boss and inform them about the situation in detail.
