Three Steps to Increase Your Chances of Promotion

One of the most common career scenarios is the feeling that you’re doing a good job and you’re not getting paid enough for it. Maybe you worked overtime, volunteered on committees, or helped train others. You may have shared new ideas that have been implemented to make your company more efficient. It’s natural to think, “I deserve a raise for all of this.”

But you, right? This is where a lot of people get confused when it comes to talking about salary: they go to their boss with a list of accomplishments and say things like, “I think I should be paid more. Look at everything I do.” The problem is that many managers, human resources or finance departments will look at this list of achievements and decide that this is just what productive work of employees looks like.

Having a list of accomplishments is a great proof that you are doing a good job, but quantifying your work with numbers is a stronger argument that highlights your worth. There are other important factors such as timing and being professional if your request is denied.

Can you prove that you are underpaid?

Sites like Glassdoor have payroll tools to help you figure out an average salary range based on your job title, years of experience, location, and industry. Salary.com has a similar tool called “What am I worth?”. it also takes into account education, level in the organization, and the number of direct reports (if you are a manager). These sites may require your email address, so if you don’t want to share your information, you can rely on job postings that include pay ranges for similar jobs in your area.

If you find out you’re underpaid, document what you found and include links or attachments. Provide your information and the location where you found it to your manager. They’ll love checking your research, so be sure to include the search criteria you used so they return the same results. The strategy is not only to show your employer what you are worth, but also to show him what others think you are worth. Any boss who appreciates you will understand that you are giving him a list of positions that you could leave the company for.

But if you find out that you are actually being paid fairly—maybe even more than the market average—you can still ask for a raise. Just be as objective as possible. Decision makers need quantifiable criteria to justify why one fair-salary worker gets a promotion and not another.

Find the best time to ask for a raise

Choose the right time to ask for a raise. Almost every organization is based on a budget cycle in which payroll money is planned, approved, and then paid to employees. Salary changes (such as a raise or even bonuses) often need to follow this cycle, so even if you have evidence that you are underpaid, your request may still be rejected for falling outside of this cycle.

Ask your supervisor when a promotion is being considered, how it is approved, and what documentation might be helpful. Knowing the organizational processes that support wages will only help you in your request for a raise. You can also go one step further and talk to your boss about your salary expectations. Be honest about how much money you want to make and whether your expectations are realistic for your current position . If you’re already at the top of the salary range for your position and it might be difficult for you to get promoted, it might be time to consider a new job.

Answer well if your request is denied

Even if you have a great case, there is a real possibility that your request for a promotion will be rejected. This can be affected by various factors, such as budgetary constraints and other circumstances unknown to you. Either way, a good answer now demonstrates your professionalism and will either help you get promoted in the future or leave your job on good terms.

The key is to thank your boss for considering your request. Avoid arguing or discussing a solution and try not to close or withdraw. Keep being a good worker.

You can say, “I’m disappointed, but thank you for considering my request.” Then switch the conversation to discussing a plan you and your boss could develop to help you reach your salary goals. When is it reasonable to expect an increase? Six months? Year? What show do they need to see? Showing off your professionalism will only help you get promoted in the future.

One of the most important career lessons to learn is that just because you’re good at your job doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get promoted. You need to know what pay is fair for your job, time your request correctly, and respond well if you are denied. This is a way to increase salaries now or in the future.