How to Ask for a Raise and Drive Your Boss Mad

You have received training in personal development and realised that you deserve better. But this bright thought won’t occur to your management. Secretmag.ru interviewed a few leaders and HR companies to learn what one should say to fail for sure and whine chokingly at an office water dispenser.

COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW HARD LIFE IS

“An employee once came by, dead serious, to ask for a raise and another half-day off a week, reasoning that she wanted less travelling by metro,” says Alexey Batylin, CEO at Activity Group Marketing Agency. According to employers, appealing to personal circumstances is one of the most popular and ineffective ways to ask for a raise. “Human-wise, I can counsel, encourage or give a nod of understanding, but salary reflects the level of competencies, and a raise should come from performance, not demographic achievements,” believes Andrey Myakin, Founder at Tnomer Property Renovation Service. According to Valery Razgulyaev, Information Management Officer at Vkusvill, the best way for a person is to just notify the management of their willingness to earn more and ask what they need to do for that.

WAVE YOUR JOB OFFER AND THREATEN TO LEAVE

“This immediately makes me want to send such an employee to the company he or she intimidates me with. It is clear that their only motivation is money, but for me it is unacceptable,” tells Kira Zhestkova, Marketing Director at the savings management service Fins.money. Of course, if you are an exceptional professional in your area, this may work, but the relations with the manager will be marred. While proving how important you are to the company and asking for a raise, you had better avoid manipulative actions. If you are really thinking of leaving, make your meaning perfectly plain, and the employer may offer a raise or even a promotion. Good workers make no promises and do not blackmail, but demonstrate what they have done, says Olga Kuzmina, CEO at ManpowerGroup Russia & CIS.

SHOUT AND STAMP YOUR FEET. SHED A TEAR, IF THAT DOES NOT WORK

“First of all, imagine being a person who thinks life owes them something. Start your promotion-related dialogue vehemently with high-flown talk: “You must give me a raise!” And don’t forget to bang your fist on the table,” mocks Tatyana Kozlova, HR Director at the shipping company Baikal-Servis. Unfortunately, emotionalism will not do any good, so speak calmly without turning up the heat.

Even if the employer says no to your request for a pay raise, do your best to finalize the conversation positively and try approaching the manager some other time, recommends Ruslan Karpov, Area Manager at Unity Recruitment Agency.

COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR COLLEAGUES

“My colleague earns a higher salary is a common reason with workers who find themselves to be underestimated,” says Ludmila Shusterova, Director for Strategic Development, BDO Unicon Outsourcing. “I never compare employees to one another and suggest discussing personal merits only.” In fact, you are never quite aware of your colleagues’ entire scope of functions and achievements, let alone workers from other companies. “Arguments like these when people measure everything in a baby-like manner are only suitable for a playground,” adds Mr. Myakin.

“One should not tell their colleagues how unhappy they are about their salary and complain hoping that this information is communicated to the manager with a positive effect,” believes Natalya Khamova, HR Manager at Lush Russia. Be honest to your employer and use rational arguments.

FORGET ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS

You are unlikely to be given a raise if you previously agreed to a smaller remuneration. “I remember an employee who accepted a job offer with a certain salary rate and after the probation period he announced that he was not satisfied with it,” tells Marina Malashenko, HR Director at the online travel agency OneTwoTrip. “So he left.” Asking for a raise makes sense when you have already done something valuable for your company. Mr Karpov thinks that it is only relevant when a worker has at least one year of service with the company or is subject to a greater scope of responsibilities.

MENTION INFLATION

And the exchange rates of the US Dollar, the Chinese Yuan and the Mongolian Tugrik altogether. “With the same inflation rates some industries and companies grow in leaps and bounds, while others lose profits and go into the red,” says Anastasia Borovskaya, CEO at the Russian School of Management. “One cannot judge the capabilities and profits of the company they work for by inflation”. If the profits of your company have grown during the time of your employment, not without your contribution, it may be a sound argument to ask for a raise.

PICK THE WRONG TIME