Asking for a raise is never easy, but there are times that you shouldn’t consider doing it and times that you have a good chance of getting it. Unfortunately, people often pick times when they really shouldn’t be asking.

When the economy looks bleak and you’re struggling a bit with your bills it would seem like the right time to ask for more money, but keep in mind that you’re not the only employee dealing with economic downturn – it’s affecting the entire business and that means that your boss might be suffering, too. It’s better to wait it out. The same is true if the company is going through an expansion or if it’s involved in a costly lawsuit. Uncertain economic times for the company usually means no raises, and it’s better to ask when the company is doing well.

If you work for a company that’s been performing well for some time – and if you’ve been performing well for some time, talk to your boss. Most companies have policies about how often raises are given, so know the procedures first. Don’t just barge in and start requesting more money. That won’t get you what you want.

Instead, do your research on what you’ve contributed to the company. Know the raise policy.  Be prepared.  Then, schedule a time to talk to your boss when the two of you can both sit down with one another. It’ll help show you’re a professional, and professionals are more likely to get raises.

Tags: job skills, job tips, raise

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 am and is filed under Freelancing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.