I got 3 raises on my job last year – How did I do it?
Photo by: Daquella manera
Photo by: Drooooo
“have you been looking for a new job, where is your resume posted?”
They always come back with the ol’ standbys of:
“I really like the commute” or
“I really like my co-workers” or
“I enjoy the challenges work provides” and those are important things for sure, but before saying those and hiding behind the shield of laziness, ask yourself what amount would make you change your stance. Would a $2,000 dollar salary increase change your mind about the co-workers? There’ll be new co-workers at new jobs, new acquaintances, new benefits, new SALARIES. How about $5,000? $10,000? $20,000? I can almost guarantee that unless you’re making well into the 7 figures you’re willing and able to be bought. I am; and why shouldn’t I be? I’m not rich, but I’m more than willing to try a new skill out to further my networking and salary base to improve my lifestyle.
Photo by: Drooooo
1. I made an effort to ALWAYS have things done on time.
2. I proactively took on new projects that hit our team.
3. I support and praised my peers almost to the point of seemingly overkill; but knowledge transfer is a big piece of ANY organization that has multiple people in similar roles.
4. I created a TON of better ways to do tasks at work. Automating several processes that took manpower; yes, I’m aware that I could be automating myself out of a job, but it is quite the opposite. I got RAISES for doing this, and did I lose my job? No, I got a promotion.
5. The bar wasn’t set extremely high when I started, so passing it was easy. But continuing to raise it was the key.
6. This is a big one, and if this was an ordered list of preference, I’d put it at #1, but since it is not… ASK FOR IT. If you never ask or make aware that you want more money, you’re not likely to get what you’re asking for. I set up weekly meetings with my boss to discuss issues, but also made a point of asking what my next step was on the financial ladder. He’d ask if I was happy with my pay, and I’d say that I was “at work” but I could be better. Adding the things that I had and WAS already doing, it wasn’t a hard sell, I figured I was worth it.
7. Keep a list of all the things you do of worth at your job. You’ll forget them 11 months from now when you discuss what you’ve done and why you deserve a raise. Make a big deal of it. I actually elaborated 3 or 4 sentences worth showing the benefits to the team and more importantly the benefits to the business. Keep that list always cooking.
More may come up later but those are big things I used to leverage my raises. Effectively my salary has gone up 49.88% from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008 using these methods, and I’m certain I’ll get more than at least the 3% cost of living increase this year as well.
Filed Under: Compensation • Net Worth • Retirement
Getting ahead still comes down to hard work, which should be the case. Getting promotions is key since that puts you in a different level of pay than what you may have had before. One goal of mine is to step up my productivity to push for my next promotion rather than just a pay raise.
Congrats on your raises. What do you do?
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Hey this is a really good article. I raised my salary by changing jobs twice in 2 years. But I finally found a place I like to work. I’m going to try out your recommendations and see if I can get a significant raise in 2008.
@JC – thanks for stopping by! Glad I helped out! Live the dream!!!
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hooray 3 raise in a job last year. Bravo! I think you done a great job too. Well, I think one shouldn’t be asking for a raise or over time paid in the first place. you know why? A friend told me her colleague got sacked because kept asking about money. The colleague just don’t bother to show up to work any more and always no show too.
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Great post that I stumbled. I have made an effort to get the people that work for me to always have a list of things that they did during the year. Like any boss, I easily forget what people do, or after months I just sort of take the jobs that were done for a given.
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100% agree with this post. “Don’t settle” is something that children should be taught from a young age. At the moment we are trained from a young age to be too accepting of “fate”.
“Ask for It!” I like it. There’s a study that says women are less agressive than men in asking for a raise, hence women fall behind unfortunately.
Be aggressive and know your worth!