I’m about to get a promotion, and with it will come a payrise. However, my manager (business owner) is not known for paying knock-out salaries, and it’s likely that the rise will be smaller than I’ve been hoping for.
Can anyone suggest tactics re negotiating a higher rise than originally offered? I’m not sure how to do it without sounding ungrateful.
I work in a high demand sector, whereby I could reasonably expect 3 or 4 job offers if I chose to leave.
Just say it with confidence. Tell him that your skills are in high demand in the job market. If there’s anything else that you feel makes you valuable - experience, familiarity with the company and other employees, demonstrated ability - say it straight out. Don’t be bashful. Just sell yourself as well as you possibly can.
Do some research to compare what similar companies in your area are paying people in similar positions to the one you are being promoted into. Remember that range would include people who’d been doing that job for a while, so you’d probably be at the low end to start with.
Stay away from any angle about you needing the money, that is the kiss of death to pay negotiation. Bosses pay you for what you’re worth, not what you can spend.
Having some real numbers is always the best. Looking for job ads, using salary websites, and contacting the professional association for your field are ways to get data.
Also, be prepared to negotiate for things other than base salary. For example, maybe you could get something in writing about getting a bonus of however much if you reach certain goals. Or maybe he can’t budget for salary, but could give you an extra week vacation, a better office, a better computer, or a training class. Have a few alternatives.
You can turn down the promotion. It works like turning down a marriage proposal “while I am flattered that you believe I’d do a good job in this role, I can’t take on the additional responsibility for such a small increase in salary.”
(Every time I’ve used it, money has been renegotiated).
I find that people run into problems and disappointments when they throw personal feelings into the mix. There is a market salary your job is worth. You should never be bashful or worry about appearing ungrateful or greedy for demanding what you’re worth. Does your boss worry about appearing cheep? Bosses will often appeal to your sense of guilt to avoid giving raises.
Better bring it up before he does. In my experience, he has a certain latitude before it’s decided and zero to change it. If you bring it up before the review, he may say to wait for that, but at least he will have had a chance to consider it.
Payrise is perfectly spelled. It’s just a slightly different term than payraise, meaning the same thing. Payrise is more commonly used in the UK/Australia/NZ from what I’ve seen.
They’re similarly derived, after all, since ‘raise’ and ‘rise’ both connected to the notion of ‘going up.’
I suspect that if the OP has heard the term payrise, his boss has too.
I think pretty solid advice has been given so far. If you’re having problems putting yourself into the position of negotiating an increase in pay without sorting to personal arguments, trying imagining yourself playing the role of a sports agent negotiating for a better contract for a top footballer. Stepping outside the role of “you” might help you put yourself in a position in which you’re more confident of your own position, but you’re free to negotiate the best deal you can.
Who knows, maybe your boss will offer some type of perk in lieu of salary that you might also find acceptable: more vacation, company car, a year’s supply of Diet Coke, who knows?
Another tactic you can use (assuming it applies–in some jobs it doesn’t, at least not quantifiably) is to figure out the monetary benefit you’ve brought to your company–ways in which you’ve improved bottom line, brought in more customers, saved the company money–anything you can quantify.
That’s what it’s all about, when you come down to it: how good a worker you are and how much value you bring to the company (along with how much more that you’re likely to bring in your new position).
I agree with the advice about not making it personal. This is a purely business negotiation, and personal feelings are irrelevant. If it’s practical, you might try a bit of roleplaying with a friend or family member to help you solidify your position and not get knocked off your game by potential objections/arguments from your boss.
Don’t imply that you might go elsewhere if you don’t get your raise–unless, of course, you are. Some bosses will call your bluff, and if you back down, the boss will know that he can continue to take advantage of you.
