Asking for a raise is as nerve racking as professional experiences come, however it’s also a negotiation that everyone will endure at some point with an employer. Before we delve any deeper into the process and how you should go about it, let’s first settle on one highly likely and somewhat surprising variable (which some people might not realize when frustrated over their pay): The majority of the time – scratch that – 99.9% of the time, you have to ask for a raise in order to receive one. So, if you haven’t rolled up your sleeves, done the research on median salary ranges for your position and taken proactive measures, then it’s not likely you’re going to see your paycheck increase. But we know it’s not that easy. Asking for a raise is one of those meetings where walking in confident and determined is likely going to be the most crucial factor in determining the outcome. Before we go any further, let’s get something straight: we’re not talking about those automatic, one – two percent raises that the HR department rewards you with on “Cookie-Friday” after you’ve put in 4 years in the company. We’re talking about a real raise
