Getting a Raise

I don't know anybody who likes asking for a raise. Even if they know they deserve it, going into your boss feels like stepping onto thin ice whenever the subject is money. Some people - too many, probably - avoid the whole issue by waiting until their performance review to have the discussion. By then, as Sixto Ortiz, Jr., points out, it's usually too late.

The truth is, convincing your boss to give you a raise is long process, which begins long before you open the discussion. The foundation of your arguments is your performance - you have to show your firm you're well worth the extra investment you're asking them to make.

Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success, says the preparation process should start six months in advance. Trunk recommends sitting down with your boss and deciding on a list of large goals that your boss agrees will exceed your current job description if you meet them. The key is to demonstrate that you're doing more than you're getting paid for, she says.

Of course, reaching the end zone depends on your ability to get these significant goals accomplished in a relatively short period of time. The trick is selecting challenging but achievable objectives. If you're too ambitious in your goals, you'll only be frustrated and look worse for the wear.

Some ideas on how to prepare yourself - and show yourself off - are in the article.

How to Ask for a Raise [JITM]