You may never know that - despite the economy - now might be the right time to ask for a raise, or at least a bump in non-monetary compensation. Because the fact is that you can't simply put your career on hold because the U.S. economy is in recession.
So here are five tips to follow before taking the plunge: Be sure to follow the advice carefully and to adjust it to your own personality, preferences and style at the workplace. 1. Recruiters can tell you the latest real-world salary info based on their recent placements. Make sure you're underpaid. Your first step is to gain an understanding of what your job pays at other companies. You can use sites like JobConcierge.com partner PayScale.
2. Document your performance. Prepare a memo that highlights your accomplishments, focused on measurable results. Write it with the same care and approach as you would your resume. Use lots of action words, bullet points and impressive numbers - but no fudging the facts!
3. Time it just right. The best time to ask for a raise is just after you've completed a major project or scored a big sale. That's when you can argue your value with the least resistance. Speaking of timing, it's a good idea to choose a day when your boss is in a good mood, too.
4. Increase in vacation time, tuition reimbursement, a more flexible work schedule, telecommuting from home, or other possibilities are good fallback options in case the boss says no for a raise. 5. Ask for an answer in your meeting. If you don't get one, schedule a follow-up discussion to revisit your request. Don't leave it open-ended - make sure a plan is in place for your boss to make a decision. For more job advice, be sure to check out the JobConcierge Best Job Search Advice.
Author Resource:-
JobConcierge offers executive jobs - real people search 300 job boards and submit applications to take care of your entire online job search. The site is known for its best executive recruiters