Let’s face it: money is the reason most of us go to work. It would be great to be one of those fantastic entrepreneurs who figured out how to generate millions worth of income under a palm tree, but the reality is that most of us are going to have to earn income the good old fashioned way. way – campaigning for someone else.
This is why it is so important to ensure that you are receiving adequate compensation for your efforts. Most of us focus on this aspect of our jobs before accepting an offer, but lose sight of fair pay once we’ve settled into a position.
Part of the problem is that, with today’s long working hours and democratic office etiquette, our bosses are often our “friends.” It’s a great state of affairs when you’re enjoying a celebratory drink at the end of a long project, but not so great when you’re asking for money. Remember, it is not polite to ask your friends for money; in fact, you’re not even supposed to talk about it.
However, you can’t just wait and hope that your “friend” will remember to reward your hard work with financial remuneration. Most likely, he achieved his current position knowing how to manage a good team and keep his overhead low. The probability that she says its superiors that your good friend needs a little more than their the money is probably quite low. To put it bluntly, it looks much better getting great results from a team of low-level monkeys than from a team of well-paid professionals.
Your salary and compensation is your responsibility. If you’ve been working for a while and haven’t seen a noticeable increase in your paycheck, it’s time to take a big boy pill and plan your attack.
The first thing to consider is whether you really deserve a raise. Look back honestly at your accomplishments. Have you been largely responsible for the completion of a major project? Increased sales? Have you gone above and beyond to ensure any success on behalf of the company?
Then add to these questions the word consequently.
If the addition of the word consequently makes the statement true, he is definitely due a raise.
Start your investigation. What is the industry standard for salary? How much do most of your peers earn?
And, most importantly, what do you want? I once decided to forego a substantial raise in exchange for a benefits package not usually available to someone in my pay grade. That was my decision. I asked for it, pressed it, and was able to prove my point.
You should also determine what objections may be raised if you ask for a raise. If your company is in the midst of major layoffs to cut costs, your offer of additional financing may help management make a difficult decision easier. No one wants to be the boss of someone who isn’t happy with what he has to offer.
If your company is in a happy financial position, determine what other obstacles may exist: a manager showing a budget at 1999 levels, an upcoming review (in which case you can request that the review be expedited), or war concerns in Iraq. or the weak parenting skills of Britney Spears. Know your boss’s hot spots: anticipate them.
Be ready for more money and new responsibilities. However, you must also prepare for any falls. If you’re not on very good terms with your boss, be careful.
I once had an employee barge into my office and tell me flatly that he had been offered literally double the amount of money he made at my company. He said that he had 24 hours to match that offer or else.
When I wished him the best in his new company, he admitted that he had made up a job offer to try to force himself on me.
He wasn’t that valuable, and my hand wasn’t forced. Within a week, he was no longer employed in my office.
