Career Success: Tactics to Avoid When Seeking a Raise

It only seems fair that as your skills and responsibility increase, so should your paycheck. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes you have to take the initiative and ask for that raise—and this process often includes some pushing and/or negotiations on your part.

It’s okay to be assertive in this case. You want to make a strong case for why you deserve this raise, and cite examples of the value you bring to the company. So while persistence and a bit of horn-tooting is fine, there are a few things you should never do when asking for a raise. Making any of these mistakes can not only sink your chances for a raise, it may put you on your boss’ bad side. This article outlines a few no-no’s when seeking a raise. Some highlights:

Don’t threaten. Giving your boss an ultimatum or threatening to quit if you don’t get a raise will only put your boss on the defensive, and won’t establish a cooperative tone for the situation.

Leave your personal life out of it. Don’t say you need a raise because you’re getting married or your kid is heading to college. From an employers’ standpoint, raises are based on merit, not need.

Be selective with your requests. If you ask for a raise every time you take on new job duties or meet some sort of milestone, you will quickly wear out your welcome in the boss’ office.

What should you do to increase your odds of success? Be prepared to make an objective case as to the value you provide to your workplace, and how you have earned this raise.

What tactics have you successfully used in asking for a raise? Share tips in the comments.

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