FINGER TIPS FOR NEED OF MONEY

FINGER TIPS

When all you need is Money...

RELUCTANCE, HESITATION and discomfort punctuated with the occasional outburst of determination to ask for it!

You've been a consistent performer, breezing through every deadline and taking on add responsibilities with relative ease but you still feel that the pay is meagre in comparison to the amount of work you put in.

Asking for a raise may be downright intimidating, but if you want to work with a good amount of satisfaction you need to voice your concern.

Here are a few ways to muster up your courage and help you justify a raise you deserve.
Convince yourself

If you are convinced that a raise is long overdue, the next thing to do is to check if you really deserve one. Once you are absolutely convinced about the genuineness of your claims, start arming yourself with the ammunition you need to convince the person holding the purse strings.
Don't worry about being turned down if it is worth giving a try. ``The fear of being fired for wanting more is just another emotional bluff'', says Rohit Meshram of Careermosaicindia.com, ``any boss worth his salt knows that the cost of hiring and training a replacement amounts to much more than the raise you are asking for''.

Popping the question

Ask for it! Sometimes you have to do just that, and remember not to whine about it. No boss will say that you deserve a raise and then serve it to you on a platter (especially when it is between performance appraisal times). Don't say you need the raise but that you deserve it.
Log your progress

Make a list of all your successes; it could be a new degree you have acquired, or the completion of a successful project etc. When your employer questions you about what qualifies you for a raise, this mental list may come handy.

Be prepared for a happy surprise, especially if you've been working for the same company for many years.

Be prepared for objections

You boss may try to defer the raise by saying ``we are not making any profits at the moment'' or ``it is just not in our budget to allow a raise'', ``that's above the range we have here'' or ``not now, maybe later''. Be prepared for these protests and make sure you have a convincing defence ready.

Follow up

If a raise is not possible immediately, try after a gap of three months. Usually companies believe in bi-annual or annual salary reviews. Most IT companies follow the quarterly or bi-annual system. If your company believes in the annual mode of review, maybe you should talk them into reviewing salaries more often as a retention strategy.

Market rate

Checking out what the going rate is for people of your calibre, qualification and experience will tell you what you are worth currently in the market. You can try the market value meter on the site www.themanagementor.com. If you are underpaid, or new recruits in your office are getting more than you do, it's time you asked for a raise. Finding out how much others make in comparable jobs can also give you an idea.

Deeds prove your worth

Assess the dimensions of the work you have done-will you give yourself a raise if you were the boss? Quality is as important as the magnitude of the work you have done. If need be, document all that you achieved since your last appraisal.

A Timely Meeting

The time when you decide to broach the topic of your increment is important. Try and schedule it just after a success, or when a company has made a profit, or when your boss is in a 'good mood'. Get an appointment with your boss, and make sure you don't approach him on Monday morning or when he is tied up with a lot of work.

In an ideal situation - if the company is financially sound and if you are a consistent performer with a good track record you will not be turned down when you ask for a raise. Your work will speak for you and you don't have to do a lot of convincing as your boss may himself realise your worth!