prove your worth with your past work contributions

Don’t just ask for a pay raise when you don’t have anything to show. To have a successful salary negotiation, you need to present examples of your strong performance and demonstrate the value you bring to the company.

Prepare evidence to highlight your quantitative achievements and how they have led to higher productivity or revenue growth.

You should also talk about your plans for the next 6 to 12 months to showcase your potential. It shows that you’re committed to your job and have the intention to grow within the company.

It's important to have a negotiation strategy and consider all your options to boost your chances in getting that pay raise.

be prepared to negotiate

Even if your manager wants to and is able to increase your salary, it may not be high enough to meet your salary expectations as they may not have the budget to do so right now.

If your company is not able to meet your salary expectations, ask if there are other options available. You might be able to get some additional employee benefits, such as overtime transport allowance, hybrid or remote work, or a more manageable workload.

You should also follow up closely with your manager on the company’s next salary adjustment cycle, to ensure that they secure enough budget then to revise your pay to be more in line with your expectations.

These adjustment cycles usually happen around three months before the end of the financial year, so be sure to set up a meeting with your manager to discuss your salary outlook for the next year. The performance review is also one opportunity where you can raise your concern about your salary.

if necessary, be ready to quit

Should you make a job switch if you’re underpaid?

Many people stay in jobs they don’t like because of the reasons that make a job switch sound scary. This can be due to the fear of not having another job lined up after resignation and not having enough savings to tide you through the job searching period. Others may be afraid that they will face the same situation in another company and would rather not risk their job security.

However, sometimes a change is what you need, especially if you are underpaid, overworked or stuck in a stagnant career.

As author and motivational speaker T. Harv Eker once said, “Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.” If progress is what you seek, perhaps it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and pursue a more meaningful and fulfilling career.

Start your job search for a company that can offer you the salary that you want as well as a better work-life balance, working culture and career progression opportunities. A new employer may be willing to pay you a higher salary or offer better benefits if you show your desire to learn and develop within their company.

Furthermore, if you work with a specialised recruiter, they’ll be able to negotiate your salary offer on your behalf so that you’ll get the most out of it.

Ultimately, the decision to make a job switch should be based on what is best for you and your career. If you feel that your job satisfaction is steadily declining, it’s time to explore your options. Even if you feel negatively about your current employer for underpaying you, you should still try to leave on good terms as much as possible.

Check out all our latest job openings or create a myrandstad account with us to get started.

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