Communications of the ACM
Get A Raise: Do's And Don'ts For It Pros
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Convincing your employer that you're worth more tomorrow than you are today requires strategy, data on compensation trends, and good timing. Hoping, much less expecting, that your employer will magically decide to add 20 percent to your salary is a bit optimistic for most business climates these days, especially in an IT environment, where "do more with less" has become standard operating procedure. That means you need to know that you deserve what you're asking for, show your employer why, and get them to agree that you deserve it. The good news is that there are proven ways to improve your odds of getting a raise without leaving your current employer.
Even when your skills and experience align well with the current hot fields in IT, a raise isn't a given. It's also relative: Maybe your background includes skills or experience so hard for hiring managers to find that you can walk into your boss' office and demand a raise right now. However, even elite talent can wear out its welcome with too many demands, too much re-negotiation, and too many headaches for the bosses. Again, strategy, data, and timing play a crucial role, even for the most sought-after skill sets. Being able to explain, quantitatively and qualitatively, the business results of your hard work is crucial. Come to the table with your quantified contributions at the company. Demonstrate your value by detailing how your accomplishments ladder back to your manager's goals or the company's bottom line. There are plenty of factors in whether you will or won't get a raise, including some beyond your control. Make sure you're minding the variables you can influence and giving yourself the best shot.
Getting a raise, especially if you've been with the same company or in the same role for a long time, shouldn't be based on real data. Find out what other people with comparable jobs, experience, and locations are earning. Check your salary to see if you are underpaid for your market. Quantifying the time and money you've saved the company makes a strong case for why you deserve a portion of the earnings. Any time you can express achievement in dollars earned or saved, that's a bonus. But metrics such as people-hours, system availability and speed, bugs fixed, or help-desk tickets closed will do just fine, too. It's helpful to set a plan in place. If now is not the right time for a raise, set a meeting with your boss where you can both agree on objectives you need to hit over the next six months. The bottom line is that you will need a mix of strategy, data, and good timing when it comes to getting a raise: You need to understand the request's place in the grand scheme of the business and avoid blindsiding your boss with a raise request.
From Information Week
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