Career Center: Getting a raise in tough times
Negotiating is scary: "If I ask for a raise, might the boss fire me?"
That calculus is especially tricky today. With employers relentlessly cutting labor costs—offshoring, downsizing, substituting technology for people, and converting permanent jobs into project-length positions–how in the world can you negotiate a salary increase?
Here's the advice I give my clients on how to overcome the fear and get that raise.
1. Wait for the right moment. The right time to ask for a raise is right after you've achieved something significant, such as completing a tough project under budget, or when your boss or other key person has complimented you.
What if you're a new employee? Your moment of maximum negotiating leverage occurs when you've been offered the position but haven't yet accepted it.
2. Assess your negotiating position. Does the boss like you a lot? Is your job essential to the organization? Would it be difficult for the employer to find someone at your current salary to replace you? Would a new employee need significant time and training to get up to speed? The more yeses, the more money you're probably safe in requesting and the firmer you can be in responding to a "No." Just as important is knowing upfront the strength of your negotiating position. That will make you more confident in the bargaining.
3. Try to get your position upgraded. It's easier to justify a higher salary if you can get your job description changed to include higher-level work.
4. Figure out how much to ask for. If possible, give your boss an estimate of how much your efforts add to the company's bottom line, and certainly, try to obtain comparable salaries. You may get them at salary.com, a salary survey posted on your professional association's website, or by asking colleagues and recruiters in and outside your workplace. List those comparables on a one-pager, and at the bottom, estimate your fair market value in light of those comparables. That will help convince your boss and give that boss something to show to higher-ups to justify giving you the raise. That one-pager will also add to your confidence in the negotiation.
5. Make your boss compete for you. Nothing enhances your negotiating position like another job offer or expression of interest. So, even if you intend to stay put, put feelers out. If another employer or headhunter expresses interest, you can legitimately tell your boss, "I'm quite happy here, but there has been interest from another employer, I have learned that I'm underpaid relative to the market, so I want to talk with you about a raise."
6. Ask for what you want. For example, "I appreciate your thank-you note, but recently, another employer has expressed interest in hiring me. I'm happy here and would like to stay, but I got this list of comparables, and in light of that, I realize I'm significantly underpaid. What do you think?"
In the book Women Don't Ask, Carnegie Mellon economist Linda Babcock cites research finding that men initiate negotiations up to four times as often as women do. If you believe you deserve a salary increase and don't ask for it, it's probably unfair to complain that you earn less than men do.
If the boss says money isn't available, you might try, "Would you like me to work fewer hours until the company's financial situation improves?" Or, "Will you give me the raise in three months?" Get it in writing.
If the boss turns you down flat, say, with just a bit of edge in your voice, "I understand your position" and leave the room. That often scares the employer more than a more aggressive response. Often, within a few days, the boss offers you an increase. If, after a week, you hear nothing, come back with, "Your silence suggests that you think my request was unfair. What am I not understanding?"
If you can't get anywhere on salary, and even if you can, you might try for a noncash, tax-free goodie: the right to telecommute, a more prestigious title, flex hours, an employer-paid week at a professional conference that just happens to be in Hawaii.
A final tip: Don't overnegotiate. The extra money you get, after taxes, is rarely worth the ill feelings and risk of getting fired. Even if your tough negotiation prevails, your employer will expect top-dollar performance–screw up once, and you may be in the doghouse. My rule of thumb: Reject the first offer; accept the second.