The Perfect Script You Need to Ask for a Raise
If you think you should be paid more for your work and are ready to do something about it, it comes down to finding a new higher-paying job or asking for a raise.
Obviously, both of these choices can cause lots of anxiety. There’s also the issue of timing. Most people recommend waiting at least six months before asking for a raise. This is, of course, if you are new to a company. If you’ve been with a company for years, the rule of thumb is to ask for a raise only once a year.
But, with inflation catching up to people’s salaries, would it be terribly wrong of you to ask for a raise now?
There’s a lot at stake when it comes to asking for a raise. You don’t want to signal that you feel undervalued at the company. Yet, you want them to know you believe your capabilities and skills are worth more than what you’re getting paid right now.
If you’ve done your research, you’ve thought out the possibilities, and you still believe this is the right time to ask for a raise, here’s how.
Script to ask for a raise (the right way)
Before sitting down at the big table, rehearse your pitch – especially if you get really nervous when talking about money. The script to ask for a raise has three main sections: the opener, the specifics, and the ask.
Start with an opener:
“Thank you for meeting with me today. I want to share some of my recent accomplishments with you. I’m excited to keep working towards the company goals as I grow my responsibilities. I’d like to discuss my current salary. Is now a good time?”
Then mention the specifics:
“Over the last few months, I [insert responsibilities here]. The result of those efforts [insert results and accomplishments here]. Overall, we’re [insert percentage difference here] than last year.”
Seal it with your ask:
“Based on my research, which includes averages for my job title and experience in this metro area, a salary increase of X% is appropriate considering my tenure here. Does that sound fair?”
When you draft your script to ask for a raise, keep in mind that you need to be assertive. Avoid words like believe, feel, think, just, or might.
These words show that you don’t feel confident about whatever it is you’re asking for. You must walk into this conversation feeling convinced that you deserve that raise.
How to prepare to ask for a raise
Now, asking for a raise involves much more than merely memorizing a script. If you genuinely want to come off with confidence and strategically ask for a raise, you need to spend time doing your homework.
1. Find the best time to ask
While you might want (and deserve) a raise, it might not be the right time to ask. If your company has financial difficulties, you might want to wait until the waters feel calmer. Or, if your manager is overloaded with work, you might want to wait until things settle down a bit.
Usually, the best time to ask for a raise is when it is naturally convenient to talk about pay. Figure out when your annual or quarterly review is coming up. This is when your employer might already expect to talk about your compensation.
2. Research salary trends
When you ask for a raise, you need to come to the table with at least a percentage increase in your mind. Take the time to learn about salary trends for your job title within your city – even if you work remotely.
Compare what you’re being paid to the trends you find to give you an idea of the raise you may ask for. Keep in mind that a 3% salary increase is considered generous. Still, because of the Great Resignation and the current marketplace, many employers plan to raise worker pay by over 3%.
So, this might be your opportunity to ask for more if it feels right.
3. Set the meeting
The last thing you want is to catch your boss off guard to talk about pay. If you are going to talk about money, it needs to be in person and in private – or over a Zoom call if you are working remotely.
Never ask for a raise without setting a meeting. If you have a performance review coming up, you may not need to ask your manager for an appointment since you already have one on your calendar.
However, if you don’t have a performance review on the horizon, try to schedule a meeting at least two weeks in advance.
You don’t have to title the meeting “Salary Raise Request,” but at least you should mention something like, “I’d like to set up a meeting to discuss my compensation,” or “Is it alright if we spend time during my review to discuss my compensation?”
This way, your employer doesn’t seem thrown off by your request when it comes up. And you position yourself as a confident employee.
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Asking for a raise at any stage of your career can be nerve-racking. Can you believe nearly 57% of people have never negotiated a higher salary? They are all leaving money on the table!
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