Previously, we discussed whether you should bring up a raise in a tough economy. Today, we’re walking you through how to connect with your boss and giving you a script of common raise-related questions to review, to prepare you for some of the questions that might be thrown your way.

Connect With Your Boss

1. Check your employee handbook to see if there is a set protocol in how raise negotiations happen. Even if it specifies that as a rule “raises only happen once a year with a 2% increase allotted to all employees”, don’t throw in the towel now, every single rule has exceptions. Especially for those who ask.
2. If possible, do not reach above your immediate supervisor because this undermines their authority. You want them on your side.
3. Depending on the atmosphere of your office you can;

• Drop in on your boss in the morning and let them know that you would like to meet with them briefly before the end of the day.
• Send a formal email requesting a meeting or a performance review.

The magic rule for approaching your boss is – suck it up and do it! There is no perfect time to ask and the guy who waits for the perfect moment just never gets it done. What is the worst that could happen? You don’t get the raise? No. The worst case scenario is that you don’t get a raise – yet. But, your your supervisor is better versed in your achievements and knows that you are interested in moving up in the company. Which puts you in a better place then when you started.

Script – Bringing up the raise
The company culture and conversational relationship vary dramatically in every situation. While you may feel comfortable bridging into the conversation in any number of ways, we offer the following script. Your boss will always appreciate your frankness and professionalism.

Boss: What did you want to speak about?

You: I have been thinking about my future in the company and I was wondering if you see an opportunity for:

1. a promotion?
2. appropriate financial compensation for the additional responsibilities that I have taken on?
3. appropriate financial compensation for the additional hours that I have taken on?
4. an end of the year bonus or additional vacation time?

Things you should not bring up as part of your case:

1. Why you need more money. Everyone wants more money. While your boss may empathize with you on a personal level, professionally this is about what you add to the company.
2. The salaries of your coworkers. This is not about analyzing your bosses decisions in giving other people raises. This is about demonstrating why your contributions deserve attention.

Boss: Why do you think you deserve a raise?
You: I have taken on benefits management and payroll, which were not part of the original job description. As the company has grown by 20%, these positions have taken up even more time and I am now basically running our HR department. This role is not in my job description but I have streamlined the process so that I can now manage both roles. In this new role I have managed to negotiate lower health care costs -expected saving will be $26,000 this year- without changing the benefits received by our employees.

Tailor your response to make your contributions, big and small, stand out. Try and highlight any of the following;
1.New roles/responsibilities that you have taken on
2.How you have maximized efficiency
3.How you have saved the company money
4.How you have brought in money for the company
5.How you created or implemented a successful project.
6.If you have taken on extra hours
7.If you stand out as one of the hardest and most efficient workers

Boss: What are your ideas for moving forward?

You: Next week I am planning on revamping the lead-source procedure for the interns. They spend eighty percent of their time writing out addresses by hand when we could digitize the process. This will require one week of data entry to set up the new process but it will free up the interns to take on more difficult tasks. Looking even further into the future, I’ve thought about my position here over the next five years. And I wanted to express my interest in moving into the events department if that is a possibility. I realize this isn’t a natural jump for my position but events planning is where my heart is at and I think that my current job tasks; organizing documents and staff, along with my managerial skills could make me a competitive candidate. Do you think this is an opportunity that I could work towards?

This is a golden question to prove your future worth and also to plant the seed about your interest in the future for taking on a different role. Be sure to address a plan that you have for the immediate future and one long term goal too. This will assure your boss that you will continue to work hard after the raise and that you won’t just settle comfortably into your current tasks. It’s an exchange. You’ve told them what you want. Now have them tell you what they’ll get!
You have plans and you should lay them out clearly. Come up with some great ideas!

If you have some short-term goals but you aren’t sure where you are going to fit in the company in five years – feel free to ask.
You: What career opportunities do you see for someone with my background?