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Here’s the case: you might be all passionate in what you are doing for a living and willing to give your best for the company’s sake. While you want to hold high such commitment, there are times when you have to be realistic about your true values in the organisation. If you think that your monthly pay-check no longer match with the efforts you put in your job, or your compensation needs some reassessment, maybe it is time for you to negotiate a salary raise with your boss.

Every organisation might have different rules and policy when it comes to money talk. Some companies adjust their employees’ salaries within particular period of time, while some others do not own such policy. If your employer belong to the later type, then asking for a pay raise could be the best solution to improve your wellbeing, as well as knowing your values in the company.

The problem lies in the fact that salary negotiation often comes as a daunting and intimidating challenge you might have to go through in your carer journey. For most of the time, employees are holding back, because they are anxious and afraid of the manager’s response towards such request. If you want to get the ball rolling and get the raise you deserve, take a look at the following do’s and don’ts in making salary negotiation below:

DOS

Make a plan. The key point here is to ask for salary raise only when you feel you deserve it. That being said, before calling your boss for a discussion, you should take time to think and contemplate why you deserve such raise.

Provide relevant reasons. Be professional and provide pertinent explanations that supports your argument. Before entering your boss’ room, you have to make sure that you have been prepared with necessary weapons to strengthen your position. To convince your employer that you deserve it, you will need to compile your proof of achievements, significant contributions, and excellent performance reviews.

Arrange the timing. It is crucial to notify your boss in advance that you want to have a private meeting with them so they can schedule their packed agenda. The best time to ask for a raise is after successful projects or positive performance reviews.

Understand the review policy. Do your homework to research your company’s review policy before you demand certain amount of pay raise. You need to find out as much as possible information about average salaries in your field, on the same level, and throughout the region, such you will have better insight about your position in the industry.

DON’TS

Ask via emails. Something confidential such as salary raise negotiation should never be discussed via emails. Not only unethical, people might interpret written words differently than your initial intention. If this happen, you will get bad reputation instead of good pay raise.

Threat your boss. It is okay to be persistent, but never go overboard or your boss will see you as being annoying instead. While you might have strong reasons why you need salary raise, do not be overly emotional when your boss’ response does not meet your expectation. Unless you want to lose your job, you should not threat or bluff your boss with any kind of harsh ultimatum.

Negotiate during heated time. Consider your company’s current condition before you ask for pay raise. Tight deadlines and busy agendas are among the most heated period where your boss will feel stressed and overworked, and you should avoid such time. It will be wiser to take your time and wait patiently until they showcase good mood.

Get intimidated by gossips. Money-related issue often brings up sensitive discussion among work peers. Just because you hear that you co-worker gets higher salary than you despite both of you working on the same project, does not mean that you can automatically demand for salary raise. Do not get intimidated by baseless gossip and focus on your own work quality.

Next read: Top 10 Factors to Ensure On-The-Job Employee Happiness