How can I get my boss to give me a raise?

Question

Ive been working for my boss for a year now and I only get paid 5.50 an hour. I'd like to get a .50 cent raise and I'm not sure how to be assertive enough to get that. Please help!

Answer 1

First off,
Make sure you are doing quality work, on time, and not missing time do to personal reasons.
Put together a list, and memorize it, about why you deserve a raise. The reasons should be work related, not personal related.
Do Say:
I have been here one year and feel that I get everything accomplished with high quality and high customer satisfaction. I have an above average attendance rate and am willing to take on more responsibilities in my job. I was wondering if you could take a look at my salary and see if there was anything more you could do.
DO NOT:
-Say you need a raise because you have been there a year (just being there does not qualify you for more, you have to produce while you were there)
-Say that you should get paid more because someone else gets paid more
-Say that you should get paid more because you have a lot of bills or financial responsibiliy.

Your asking for a raise should be about your job performance, not personal reasons. I would also recommend that you ask for a raise, but do not ask for a $ amount, they may be willing to give more than you ask for. If they do ask how much, tell them more than you are looking for (a dollar more or .75 more)

Good luck

Answer 2

First of all ASK! My firm belief is that most people are underpaid because they just don't ask.

To ensure (as much as possible) that you get what you ask for be prepared to show your boss how you EXCEED the details of your job description, what you do that is better or more. If you can also show how you're making your boss more money &/or saving them money, that's even better.

I don't know what you do or where you live but 5.50 seems very low. Find out what minimum wage is, and what others with comprable jobs for comprable companies make. Don't ask for less than $1 raise as that takes just as much guts and preparation as asking for just .50.

Take a deep breath, visualize yourself getting the $1 raise, realize that you deserve it, smile and approach your boss assumming that you'll get it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

The first responder has an excellent answer.

The minimum wage goes up to 5.85 on 7/24, so you'll get one automatically in another month. It goes to 6.55 a year after that.