Are You Getting Paid Enough?
A poll before the pandemic found nearly half of Americans thought they were underpaid , and COVID made matters worse as nearly a third of Americans lost their jobs or received a pay cut, according to Redfin . Do you feel like you’re underpaid? Here are some tips on how to justify a promotion.
Identify underpayment first
Unfortunately, it is a reality that many workers do thankless jobs for little money. For most of us, the market dictates what we define as underpaid. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to earn more, but knowing how your salary compares to others is the most effective way for your employer to justify a raise. To make your case more compelling, use comparable numbers from the same industry and location (as cost of living varies) and demonstrate that you have taken on more responsibility or experience than is typical for your position. To help you argue for this, try the following sentences:
Use salary comparison sites
Visit sites that allow users to view salaries by job type, such as Salary.com or Glassdoor . Wages can vary widely, so do not treat these income ranges as an objective fact, but rather as general guidance as to how much a job can be paid for. Don’t get too carried away with the names, as many of them can be too general. For example, the title “coordinator” can include all types of responsibilities and can vary greatly from company to company and from industry to industry. This is why sticking to your industry is so important: if you’re a publishing coordinator, comparing yourself to an event planning coordinator can undermine your position. Focus on what you are doing rather than titles, unless they are very specialized.
Compare your salary with your colleagues’ salaries
Stop a colleague in the lobby and blurt out, “Hey, how much do you make?” may not like it, as many people talk delicately about their salary. But as long as you are tactful, knowing how much your own company is already paying people in your position is invaluable information.
Ask calmly with trusted colleagues or even predecessors who have worked at your job and have since left the company. People will be more comfortable talking about this topic if you focus on generalities, so ask about the companies that “pay for this position” or what the salary range will be for a newly published position, rather than specific people. paid.
Also, remember to consider the benefits your job provides. Perhaps this is not a salary, but it is worth considering the additional vacation, as well as the company’s reputation. Is the trade-off worth a small boost?
Know your value to the company
Speaking of coordinators, I once met someone who was informally leading a communications team. She outgrew her original role and was clearly important to her company, but the title remained. The danger here is what is called “ job shrinkage, ” which describes the negative impact on your paycheck when you’ve worked in the same job for a long time. In this scenario, inflation and new market conditions are not factored into your salary, and in extreme cases, new hires may earn more than you.
Avoid this by knowing your true value to the company, especially if you have taken on roles not covered in the original post about your job, as employers are more likely to raise your paycheck if you can prove you have taken on more responsibilities. … Write down your accomplishments and make it part of your presentation when asking for a raise.
Ask for a raise
Take a good time to talk to your manager. You need to be clear about why you think you deserve a promotion, have a realistic idea of what you should be earning, and be able to point out relevant achievements that validate your position. (This can help you write a small script ahead of time.)
If your promotion is rejected, remain calm and professional and ask their reasons why (if it is for “budgetary reasons,” you can try to negotiate extra leave or other benefits). If you’re having trouble with your employer, you might want to look for another job. As annoying as it is, the work you’ve done to justify your promotion will at least give you a head start in the job market. For more information on how to negotiate a raise, read this Lifehacker post .