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1. Ask at the Right Time
Timing makes or breaks your shot at a raise.
You know how trying to have a deep convo with your boss at 4:59 PM on a Friday is a recipe for disaster? Yeah… don’t do that.
You’ve got to play it smart. Bosses have moods, deadlines, and stress levels just like you.
When you ask during budget season or right after you crushed a big project, you’re way more likely to hear “yes” instead of “let’s talk later.”
Pick the Best Moment
Think of it like asking someone out. You don’t do it when they’re angry about traffic.
You do it when the vibe is right, when you’ve already made their life easier, and when they’re in a good mood.
Catch them after you just saved the company money, solved a headache for the team, or hit a new sales record. That’s when they’ll actually listen.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Wait until after you finish a high-impact project and then schedule a quick sit-down using a tool like Google Calendar so your boss knows it’s serious, not a hallway chat.
2. Show How You Make the Job Easier
Here’s the truth: bosses love people who reduce stress.
If you’re the person who makes their life simpler, they’ll fight harder to keep you happy.
Forget bragging about staying late every night. What matters is how you save time, money, or brainpower for your team.
If you handle tricky clients so your boss doesn’t have to, or you streamline a process so the whole team wins, that’s gold.
Make Yourself Irreplaceable
You don’t get a raise just for “being nice” at work.
You get it for proving that replacing you would cost the company more than paying you more.
That’s the vibe you want to give: “I’m worth more because I make your job easier.”
And hey, don’t just think about your direct boss. Other leaders notice when you solve headaches, too.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write down two ways you’ve saved your boss time or money this month and bring them up in your next 1-on-1. Bonus points if you use simple data from tools like Excel or Trello to show proof.
3. Point Out What You’ve Done Well
You can’t assume your boss knows how awesome you are.
They’re too busy juggling meetings, reports, and that one co-worker who still doesn’t know how to use Zoom.
So if you want a raise, you’ve got to remind them of your wins.
Not in an annoying way, but in a “hey, here’s what I’ve accomplished lately” kind of way.
Keep Receipts of Your Wins
Think of this like flexing your highlight reel.
Closed a big sale? Write it down.
Trained the new hire without losing your mind? Add it to the list.
Bosses forget stuff fast, so when you show up with a track record, it’s harder for them to say no.
You’re not just asking for more money. You’re backing it up with proof.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Keep a simple “brag list” in Google Docs with bullet points of every win, then share the highlights in your raise convo so they can’t ignore your impact.
Bonus: Learn How to Negotiate Like a Pro
You can show your wins all day long, but if you stumble when it’s time to actually ask, you’re leaving money on the table.
Negotiation isn’t about being pushy. It’s about knowing how to have the right conversation at the right time.
And honestly, most people are terrible at it. They freeze, they accept less than they deserve, or they mumble their way through.
The good news? Negotiation is a skill you can learn quickly.
One of the best places to start is by checking out the book summary of ‘‘Never Split the Difference’’ on Blinkist.
It’s based on the strategies of a former FBI hostage negotiator (yes, hostage negotiator. Talk about high stakes).
Thousands of professionals swear by these tactics because they’re practical, easy to apply, and., best of all. They help you walk into your raise meeting calm and confident.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Read the Never Split the Difference summary on Blinkist in under 15 minutes, and practice one technique. Like mirroring or tactical silence. Before your next raise conversation.
4. Let Your Boss Hear Good Things About You
Here’s the thing: it’s not just about what you say. It’s about what others say about you.
If your boss keeps hearing, “Wow, Sarah really nailed that presentation,” or “Tom saved us with that client,” you start looking like the MVP without lifting a finger.
You don’t need to play politics. You just need to build a solid reputation.
Build a Positive Reputation
When co-workers trust you, managers respect you, and clients sing your praises, you’re basically stacking social proof like Legos.
And yes, your boss notices.
Even if they don’t admit it out loud, hearing your name in positive conversations makes them more open to bumping your pay.
That’s why networking inside your own company matters as much as doing the job itself.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Offer quick help to teammates on tough projects, and then ask them to give feedback to your boss in team check-ins so your reputation spreads naturally.
5. Step Up When Others Don’t Want To
You know that moment when everyone avoids eye contact in a meeting because no one wants to take on the extra task?
Yeah, that’s your golden ticket.
When you step up where others step back, you instantly look like the team’s problem-solver.
Sure, it might feel like extra work, but it’s actually a long-term play for your wallet.
Stand Out with Initiative
Taking on what others avoid doesn’t just show you’re hardworking. It shows leadership potential.
It tells your boss you’re willing to handle uncomfortable or tricky situations, and that makes you valuable.
Think of it this way: if you’re the person who cleans up the mess nobody else touches, your boss will remember it when money’s on the table.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Volunteer for one project that people clearly avoid, then keep a note of how you delivered results so you can remind your boss during your raise talk.
6. Write Down Wins You Don’t Want to Forget
Your brain can’t remember every victory.
Between deadlines, weekend plans, and whatever TikTok trend you’re stuck on, stuff gets lost.
That’s why you need a record of your achievements. It’s like a financial diary but without the cringe.
When raise time comes, you’ve got all your “receipts” ready to show.
Track Your Success Like a Pro
You don’t need anything fancy. Just one document or app where you jot things down.
Finished a project early? Write it.
Client love your work? Add it.
Covered a shift so the team didn’t collapse? That counts too.
When you show your boss a list of results, it hits harder than vague memories.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Start a running list in Notion or Google Docs and update it weekly with small and big wins so you’re never scrambling when raise season shows up.
7. Check What Others in Your Role Get Paid
Let’s be real. Money talks.
If you don’t know what people in your role are making, you’re negotiating blind.
That’s like trying to buy a car without Googling the price first. You’ll get played.
Know Your Market Value
Websites like Glassdoor, Levels. fyi, or PayScale, exists for a reason.
They give you the average pay for your role in your city.
When you know the range, you have power.
It’s not just you asking for “more money”. It’s you asking to be fairly compensated based on actual data.
Your boss can’t argue with numbers that everyone else has access to.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check sites like Glassdoor for your job title + city, write down the pay range, and bring those numbers to your raise talk as proof.
8. Practice How You’ll Ask Ahead of Time
Walking into a raise meeting without practice is like stepping on stage without knowing your lines. You’ll freeze.
You need to rehearse so your confidence shows.
This isn’t about sounding robotic; it’s about knowing your key points so you don’t ramble or chicken out.
Build Confidence with Rehearsal
Grab a friend, record yourself, or practice in front of a mirror (yes, it feels weird, but it works).
The goal isn’t memorizing. It’s getting comfortable saying the words “I’d like to discuss a raise.”
You’ll walk in steady instead of shaky, and that difference can seal the deal.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write a short script with three main points (your achievements, market research, and timing) and rehearse it out loud until you sound natural, then test it on a friend or even your phone camera.
9. Don’t Just Work Hard! Work Smart
Working late every night doesn’t guarantee a raise.
If effort alone got people paid more, half the planet would be rich by now.
What matters is how much value you create in the shortest time.
That’s called working smart. And it’s the secret sauce your boss notices.
Focus on Impact, Not Hours
Instead of staying late for show, focus on doing the things that move the needle.
Finish high-priority tasks first.
Automate the boring stuff when you can.
Find ways to cut waste and get more done with less.
Your boss won’t care how many hours you clock. They’ll care how much you deliver.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a free tool like Todoist to prioritize three impact tasks daily and finish them before you touch low-value work.
10. Use External Leverage
Here’s a spicy truth: sometimes the fastest way to get a raise is to have another offer on the table.
Companies suddenly “find” budget when they think you’re about to leave.
You don’t need to play dirty. You just need options.
Keep Your Value in Demand
Update your LinkedIn.
Apply for roles that interest you.
Take recruiter calls instead of ghosting them.
Even if you don’t want to leave, knowing your worth outside your company gives you confidence inside it.
When you can say, “I have other opportunities,” your boss listens differently.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Keep your resume polished on LinkedIn, take one recruiter call per quarter, and mention offers casually when discussing your future growth.
11. Be Ready If the Answer Is No
Sometimes, even if you deserve a raise, the answer will still be no.
Budgets get cut, timing sucks, or the company is just being cheap.
That doesn’t mean the game is over.
It just means you need a backup play.
Turn “No” Into Opportunity
If your boss says no, ask what you need to do to make it a yes next time.
Get specific goals, timelines, or skill gaps you can close.
This way, you’re not walking out defeated. You’re walking out with a roadmap.
And hey, if the roadmap looks impossible, that’s your signal to take your talent somewhere else.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: When told no, politely ask “what goals should I hit to earn it next time?” and write those down so you can track and revisit in 6 months.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Fatter Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
