How To Ask For A Raise

If you have been in your job for awhile and you have been doing a good job, you may believe that you deserve more money for it. Many employers simply take their employees for granted and they don't think to give raises as often as they should. If you are known for being a consistent employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty, it isn't unheard of to ask for a raise. Generally speaking, you won't want to ask for a raise if you have been employed for less than nine to 12 months but after that you are in the clear.

A great way to ask for a raise is simply to foster open communication between yourself and your direct supervisor. If you have this open communication from day one you will find that it is a lot easier for you to share your achievements, thus making it more obvious why you want a raise when you ask for one. Of course, this requires forethought so it may be a bit late to foster satisfying communication like this before you ask for your raise.

If you believe that you deserve a raise you can choose to either ask for the raise in person or you can ask for it through a letter or an email. Depending on who you work for, there may be a preferred method of communication and you should go with that. Many individuals find that they do better asking for this sort of thing through email because they can more clearly state their thoughts, but others are more than comfortable doing this in person. Decide for yourself which works better for you and be ready to present your thoughts carefully to your supervisor.

When asking through email or in person for a raise you need to be able to cite why you deserve such a raise without coming right out and bragging about yourself. Simply state that you have been working hard and you believe that you have been going above and beyond the call of duty. When you say this you can then cite instances where you have worked harder than your job description called for, instances when you helped others, and other important issues. You don't have to go into great detail, as this may come across as bragging, but you can highlight areas where you really shine.

Simply stating the facts like this will give your supervisor food for thought, and if possible they will probably give you a raise. You need to stand ready to answer hard questions that relate to opportunity areas, or areas where you could stand to do a little bit better. Everyone has these areas, but it doesn't mean that you don't deserve a raise. Simply put the information out there, letting your place of employment know how valuable you are. The worse thing that can happen is that you will be told that you cannot have a raise at the moment, but you will definitely be put on the radar for future raises. Accept this answer graciously, but remember that you can always ask again in the future.

3 Ways to Get Yourself a Promotion

In a perfect world, our skills would always be appreciated, our potential unleashed, and our career horizons unlimited. But are you stuck in a job you're tired of and can't get promoted to something better? From benefits to vacation time there are a lot of reasons to stay with your current employer. Here are three quick tips that can help you get a promotion before the job is posted:

Work Beyond Your Position: Look for opportunities to work on different projects with different people. Often managers may only think of you in terms of your job description. By showing you have untapped skills, you can quietly let them know you're overqualified for your current job.

This strategy may see you do more work or possibly someone else's work. But think of it as a job interview. If you're good at something new, it will be noticed. Remember, it's always better to say, "I'm glad to help out," than, "That's not my job."

Share Your Knowledge: Do you have off the job interests that might be valuable in the workplace? For instance, your job might involve sales but after hours, you spend a lot of time learning about computers. When you learn something new and interesting from your hobby, share it with your superiors. Just because you have a lower position in the organization doesn't mean that you don't have something to teach those above you.

This can be as simple as leaving an article in someone's mailbox with a note saying, "I thought you might find this interesting." You're sharing information but not telling someone what to do with it. Nowadays no one can keep up with all the information that's in our world. By sharing you can make someone's life easier while promoting yourself.

It's News to Me: If you never talk about career advancement, how would anyone know it's your goal? Use your annual evaluation to ask your supervisor about advancement opportunities. Find out if you're lacking a skill that you'll need to get to the next level.

You're not saying that you hate your current job but rather would like to explore other opportunities. In food terms, it would be like saying, "I always eat the chicken at this restaurant but I think I'd like to try the fish. Do you think I'd like the fish?" In this scenario, you may experience some rejection. But wouldn't you rather experience it now, when you can work on your deficiencies, instead of during an interview?

Interviewing Tips to Get that Job! Are you Really Listening 7

It is important to be alert for the interview. Be prepared to answer questions by using examples from work, school and other experiences in the past. You may not have the right answer to all the questions, but your stories make you a real person. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before the interview and always be on time, or early for it. It shows the organization that you are a professional, dependable and committed individual. Most organizations are looking to hire employees who are willing to work until the job gets done, which may be longer than nine to five.

Listen carefully during the question and answer period. If you have to describe for the interviewer the strength and weaknesses, then speak them clearly and distinctly. Do not mumble words or use street terms to the point where it is confusing and no one understands it. Answer all questions to the best of your ability and avoid nodding your head to answer a question. When asked a question, explain it to the fullest potential, and do not say "yes," or "no." Do not say "yea," but "yes." Do not say "na," but "no." Do not shake your head when responding to a question, but respond by saying "yes," or "no," then elaborate on it.

Prior to the interview, prepare an outline of all your skills and experiences (including volunteer work), and other duties and responsibilities that relate to the new job. Keep all your skills up-to-date so that you can express yourself well and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. If possible, try to schedule the interview toward the end of the week so that you are not the first person. Employers are in better spirits toward the end of the week. Most employers are looking for people who are intelligent, knowledgeable about the work and communicate well with others.

Good listening skills will make you a more productive employee. You should listen carefully during the interviewing process. You should avoid talking too much or talking over the interviewer, while he is speaking. Listening allows you to pay more attention to your response to questions during an interview.

Are you interested in taking my online courses?

To the new and experienced entrepreneurs, getting help with your small business is very crucial to your success. Getting the right help will cause you to avoid costly mistakes, and it can also help you to save a lot of time, money and energy. You will need to get the right help to form the legal structure of the business, financial, management, procurement/certification, marketing, pricing products, preparing a business plan, and more. If you are a business owner who is wondering if you can take your business to new heights, contact Dr. Waters at tina.waters@waienterprises.com