6 Strategies to Prove You Deserve a Raise

6 Strategies to Prove You Deserve a RaiseIts the end of a productive year, and youre aya you deserve a raise. After all, no one knows better than you do about what youve accomplished this year. Now the key is making sure your employer knows that, as well. Whether youwantto ask for a raise straight-up or negotiate a bigger one during an annual review, there are steps you can take to put you in a better position to increase your paycheck. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Know your market value.Its entirely possible youre being underpaid relative to other people in similar positions. Its also possible that your desire for a 43% increase is totally unrealistic. Thus, its time to hit the Internet. Do as much research as you can to determine what your role is worth at a range of companies. Sites like Glassdoor and PayScale can be excellent resources to give you a sense of what others are making in your field. Knowing what you can reasonably exp ect is crucial in preparing your raise request.Look at your companys overall health.Is your company in cost-cutting mode? Did it have a banner year with high-profile clients? Understanding how your company is doing in general can help you figure out where to set your raise expectations. If it hasnt been a great year for your employer, a huge salary bump just may not be feasible or likely, so shoot for a moderate one instead. This shouldnt stop you from asking for a raise, but it can help you figure out what to ask for. If your company is struggling, acknowledge that in your request I know were cutting back, but Id still like to discuss a salary increase.Dont wait for them to come to you.Use the years end or a scheduled wertmiger zuwachs review process to let your boss know that youd like to discuss salary and career growth. Schedule some time to talk about it with your manager, or at least to touch base before a more formal meeting.Practice negotiating.Grab a friend to practice your spiel of reasons you deserve a raise. Have the person be as tough a counter-negotiator as possible, so youll be ready for any kind of resistance. Know your accomplishments and strengths cold, so you can rattle them off when asked. Try different ways of working them into conversation so they dont come off like a recited list.Have others sing your praises.If you can walk into the room with kudos from other people, it shows your boss youre an essential team member. If youve received any grateful emails or nice compliments from colleagues or clients over the past year, nows the time to dig through your email archive to find them.Dont make it personal.This is not the time to bust out sob stories about your finances. This raise is about being compensated specifically for your work and your role in the company. Similarly, dont try to exploit whatever personal relationship you may have with your boss. If you two go out for happy hour drinks twice a week or snark on each others Facebook, th at needs to stay separate from your professional performance evaluation.No raise is guaranteed, but being extra-double prepared for the discussion, as well as having realistic goals in mind, will show that youre ready for the next step up.