How To Negotiate A Pay Rise

Ask for a meeting

Start negotiations by requesting some time with your manager to discuss your performance, advises Michael Cheary from recruitment site Reed. “Try to allow yourself some time for this so you’re well prepared. Although it can sometimes be intimidating, always remember that a meeting is a two-way communication and whatever happens, you can argue your case, and answer any of their misgivings.”

Ultimately, however, your relationship with your manager will be what dictates how best to organise this meeting. “You might prefer to give them the subject in advance,” suggest the experts from recruitment giant Michael Page. “This can be particularly helpful if you want to seek their advice on how to prepare for the meeting. Or maybe you'd rather send a generic, agenda-free request and do all your talking on the day.”

Get your timing right

Remember, not everyone is entitled to a pay rise just because they want one – the timing has to be justified. “Before you approach the subject, take a step back and ask yourself the following questions,” suggests Michael. “When was your last pay increase? If it was within the last year, why do you warrant another one so soon? Has your performance justified asking for more money? For instance, have you been consistently hitting your targets? Do you outperform your colleagues?”

According to the experts, the best time to negotiate a rise is after a period of consistent performance, as it’ll make you the obvious for a raise. “We're not suggesting you abandon your request entirely, but when it comes to negotiating a pay rise, you want the deck to be stacked in your favour,” agrees the Michael Page team. “Wait until their schedule is comparatively empty – ideally at a time when there are no major business headaches to distract from your meeting.”

Do your homework

Ahead of any potential meeting, it pays to ensure you’re prepared to justify your worth. “Consider some of your recent achievements, the knowledge and experience you bring to your role and why now is a suitable time for a pay rise,” says Michael. “You should also research the average salaries in your industry for the role that you do. One of the quickest ways to do this is simply by finding job adverts for similar positions and seeing what they’re offering.” 

“The average person thinks nothing of spending hours getting ready for an interview, yet far fewer do the same when negotiating pay at their current employer,” the Michael Page team points out. “Practice running through the core message of your pay rise sales pitch. You should be able to present your business case in no more than a couple of minutes and prepare answers to likely follow-up questions, such as: what pay rise are you looking for? How did you arrive at that figure? What more could you do to earn it?”

Get ready to sell yourself

You’ll need to be able to explain why your employer should invest more of their budget in you, so be prepared to sell yourself. “Play to your strengths, and make a note of your successes,” explains Michael. “Demonstrate your contribution to the company for the last and next six months, whether it’s through generating revenue, applying your expertise or showing your dedication. Always remember that your boss may not be the final decision maker, so writing your case down in a clear and concise manner will help them to communicate your request to the relevant parties.” Because pay rises are a business decision, you’ll need to be able to prove what you can provide in return. “Offering to increase your responsibilities, promising a greater output and taking on other daily duties are all good ways to prove that your pay rise is good value for money for your employer,” Michael adds.

“You should also take the time to highlight the key skills you possess that are in short supply, or otherwise entirely missing in your organisation,” add the Michael Page experts. “The more you can prove that you are indispensable to the business, the more likely you are to land that pay rise.”