Employ Me Today

"Asking for a raise ... will help you break through to the next level of your career faster than any other single action."

When was the last time you asked for a raise? I don’t know very many people who have actually asked for a raise. Many have talked about it but few have followed through. Is it fear? Mostly. Is it a sense of self-worth or lack thereof? Partly. Do they all deserve the raise? Usually. If you know you’ve earned one shouldn’t you get it? Yes!

The thought of asking for a raise immediately conjures the fear of rejection, upsetting the boss, seeming ungrateful and even thoughts that you’re not worth more. It is understandably terrifying for most people but forget those fears and negative thoughts. Asking for a raise (or promotion or more vacation time, etc) will help you break through to the next level of your career faster than any other single action. It’s not about the money it’s about establishing who you are in the eyes of your boss.

Asking for a raise will show your boss that:

1. You value yourself

2. You expect to grow and evolve

3. You want to be valued by the company

4. You are willing to go after what you want

A rite of passage results in a leap forward in maturity. Regardless of whether you get the raise, when you ask for one you are taking a leap to show who you are and what you think of yourself. The worst that’s going to happen is your boss will say no and you’ll be no better off financially. On the other hand you could get the raise AND your boss will now be forced to recognize your value to the company (because they probably don’t want to lose you) and your sense of self-worth, which nobody can argue with. Assuming you work hard to prove your work ethic and performance before asking then you’ll have everything to gain and little to lose.