Asking for a raise.

A recent question was asked to MBFAW: how should I ask for a raise? Here are my 4 points of advice:

Write a list of your contributions. List everything you are doing in your job, including and point out where you are going above and beyond. Bring this list to your manager during the meeting you have set up to ask for the raise. This makes it easier for him/her if a formal request for your raise must be submitted. Make a compelling case for why you are an asset to your boss through all the good work you do.

Do your homework. Appeal to fairness by doing your homework on what others in your industry and with your experience are making. Salary.com, Payscale.com, Indeed.com, and Glassdoor.com are all places to look for comparison.

Focus on what's in it for them. How can getting a raise help your manager? "I am excited to take on even more and contribute at a higher level, as I have shown I am capable of. To do that more, I need to be accurately and fairly compensated." Think of your situation and how your raise can help your manager - the "what's in it for them" question.

Timing matters. Be mindful of when you schedule the meeting to discuss your compensation with your manager. Make sure there aren't urgent deadlines or big upcoming meetings that could take away from your conversation.

It never hurts to ask, and you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!