How to ask for a pay rise: Five tips for success – and the one thing you shouldn’t do

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. That’s classic advice for workers when it comes to getting a pay raise.

But being British, many of us are not as good at this as we could be; We often try to avoid what we feel may become an uncomfortable conversation.

The best way to overcome any concerns about asking your boss for more money is to be fully prepared for the conversation.

That means putting together a clear case for why you deserve more, being prepared to make your points without getting flustered, and knowing the best way to approach your employer.

A well-rehearsed plan and answers to any potential questions will set you up for success. We asked employment experts what you should do to prepare, how to present your case, and get advice on the one thing not to do.

1. Choose the right time

Timing can be everything in life, and since you can’t really ask for a pay raise multiple times a year, knowing the best time to do it can pay off.

If there is an annual review process, this may be an ideal opportunity to ask, but make sure you arrive comfortably before the deadlines. Ideally, you want to be in your boss’s mind when the process begins, not right at the end.

Another obvious time to ask for a pay raise is when you’re in line for a promotion, or if you’ve recently been given more responsibilities or asked to take on a new project.

But if none of these are the case, what should you do? Career expert and author James Innes, also known as The Jobs Guru, says choosing a good time of year can help.

Innes says February to March can be a good time to ask: “For many businesses the end of the financial year is approaching and therefore budgets are being set for next year.”

Alternatively, he recommends the anniversary of your start date. “September is also a good time, after the holidays and before the Christmas period,” she adds.

But it’s not just about when, it’s also about what else is happening. Be aware of the big picture and choose your moment.

Consider whether your employer is facing financial difficulties or business uncertainty, or if your boss is under more stress than usual, as this could make it less likely that your request will be granted.

Time it right: James Innes says that at the beginning of the year or around your work anniversary is a good time to ask for a raise

2. Understand your value

Before requesting a meeting to discuss a salary increase, you should calculate how much money you should ask for and also estimate how you will add value to the business.

For the latter, it is essential to be able to briefly outline some key things you are responsible for and how you bring value to your employer.

The latest ONS figures show the average salary rose by 6.2 per cent a year, excluding bonuses, at the end of 2023.

This generated a real wage increase, as it exceeded the 4 percent consumer price inflation recorded in December 2023.

But to give yourself the best chance of getting a good pay raise, you need to dig deeper into what’s happening in your industry.

Tessa Hollingworth, north-west managing director at recruitment company Hays, suggests finding out how much people are typically paid in their jobs, not just in your company, but across your industry.

Both hay and Total jobs Have salary verification tools to help you do this.

You can also find the average salary across all UK occupations in our overview of the highest paying jobs, which uses official ONS data.

She says: ‘If you discover that the industry salary for your role is lower than your current salary, then you are within your rights to bring this type of information to the table when you speak to your manager.

“However, please note that they are not required to match it.”

Even when entering into negotiations with data available to support your case, you should be prepared for your employer to try to meet you in the middle.

An alternative approach Innes recommends is to be careful when specifying the salary you want, as your employer may anchor around that. This might be good advice if your boss has a higher figure in mind than you expect and you talk yourself out of spending more money.

Innes suggests entering into a negotiation in a face-to-face meeting with your boss.

He says: “This will give you and your employer the opportunity to engage in a two-way dialogue, put all your cards on the table and hopefully come to a solution that you are both happy with.”

On the rise: ONS figures show which occupations saw the biggest pay rises in 2023, but average earnings for jobs vary substantially

3. Don’t do it by email

The temptation is great to hide behind an email when asking for a raise, but it’s much better to do it in person.

Totaljobs gives this advice: ‘Whether you work from home or in the office, make sure it’s a face-to-face request, as it’s harder to reject than one made over Messenger or email.

‘Contact your line manager as going over them will prove politically bad in the vast majority of cases.

‘The type of relationship you have with your boss will help you decide how to ask for a salary increase.

“Raising the issue informally may be more successful for some and may be the start of building a case with more important stakeholders, but other managers will prefer a formal approach.”

Play your cards right: avoid confrontational language if you want to ask for a salary increase

4. Show that you deserve a raise

Asking for a pay raise just for doing your job to a decent standard is not the best way to get it. Instead, you want to show that you are going above and beyond and exceeding expectations.

You should also describe what else you can bring to the business and how, as a highly motivated employee, you can help it progress and add even more value.

Innes suggests thinking about the progress you’ve made in your role and what value you’ve added that makes you deserving of a higher salary.

Leading into negotiations with examples of your development in the role that support your request will make your case even more compelling.

Hollingworth says a business case must be prepared. “This should focus on demonstrating, with evidence, how valuable you are to the business,” he says.

‘Consider the value you bring to your employer. If you have taken on additional responsibilities and made crucial savings, then you already have solid evidence to present. Be specific and provide tangible evidence.’

5. Be willing to compromise

If you enter into a negotiation with your boss, you should be willing to reach an agreement that both parties are happy with.

Be grateful for a salary increase offer, and if it doesn’t match your expectations, see if you can leave the door open for more in the future.

Let’s say you expected more, but you understand the situation and there might be a chance to get to where you would like to be in the not-too-distant future, say, a year from now.

Not being willing to compromise could cause you bigger problems than simply a lower salary than you want.

Innes says: ‘I’m not just talking about your chances of successfully negotiating the pay rise, but also (and perhaps more importantly) the relationship you have with your current employer.

If your employer cannot increase your salary, or cannot meet the figure you ask for, they can offer you alternatives such as more vacation pay, more convenient schedules, or objectives to meet in a certain period for a future salary. raise.

Consider these and what they are worth to you; Think not only about the salary figures you receive, but also what your total package is.