If you are planning to ask for a pay raise, there is some prep involved in order to do it right. Simply barging into your managers office unannounced and asking for a raise will not get you the outcome you want. Below are the top do’s and don’ts for asking for a raise.

DO – Schedule a Meeting

The last thing you want to do is catch your manager off guard when asking for a raise. There is steps that they must take in order to get a raise approved so not allowing them to prepare will almost always force a no. Be sure to schedule a time to speak with your boss instead of blindsiding them. This will most definitely work to your benefit.

DO – Keep it to Yourself

Make sure that you are the first person that talks to your manager about your raise. Discussing the fact that you are asking for a raise can cause all kinds of gossip and mixed feelings in the office. You may unknowingly encourage other co-workers to schedule their own pay raise meetings or stir up strife with others that feel as though they have also been working hard. Not to say that they haven’t, but asking for a raise is a private matter. Do your best to keep it to yourself so it continues to stay that way.

DO – Crunch the Numbers

While you wait for your meeting, prepare production numbers and other reasoning that backs up why you deserve a raise. If you have put in extra work, taken on additional responsibilities, become a leader in the office and/or increased production, these are all things you want to highlight in your meeting. Make sure there is no question about your worth to the company.

DO -Keep an Open Mind

Even if you show all the reasons why you are a rock star employee, you need to be prepared for a possible no. Many companies are just getting their heads above water from the disaster the pandemic has been. There may simply not be funds available to give raises at this moment. However, that does not mean that funds won’t be available in the future so be confident in the fact that you put yourself on their radar. Your manager now knows that you are seeking an increase and you have the proof to back up your worth to the company. Even if you don’t get one now, when it comes time to pass out raises, this meeting may be the thing that lands you at the top of the list.

Don’t – Involve Co-workers

It is good if you are close with your co-workers. Many of the people you work along side every day will become some of your best friends. This is good to have but keep in mind that they are still your co-workers. Confiding in other people you work with about a raise has the strong potential to get messy. Someone may confide in someone else and it get back to your manager before you get a chance to talk to them. Comparing salaries also tends to come from these conversations which can cause issues within the office if someone realizes that they don’t get paid as much as others. If you need someone to talk to about it, confide in a friend or family member outside of the office.do not confide in coworkers or compare salaries. This can get messy both ways.

Don’t – Come in Unprepared

Along with crunching numbers you may also want to practice your speech a bit in order to present your case confidently to your manager. If you go into your meeting sounding unsure, shaky or insecure you are less likely to convince your boss of what you are saying. Managers want to see employees come in strong and sure of themselves when talking about an increase.

Don’t – Skip the Ask

One thing many people tend to do when entering an uncomfortable situation like asking for a raise is actually ASKING for the raise. Employees will often dance around the words without actually saying them. It is so important to be completely clear about what you are asking for so nothing can be construed. Be clear and concise and make sure you don’t skip the most important part: ASK for the raise.

Don’t – Replace a Promotion with a Raise

Sometimes when you go into a meeting with the intentions of receiving a raise, your manager may offer you a promotion instead. This may include a better title, more responsibilities and/or a bigger office. Do not get caught up in the new title, remember what your meeting is about. Do not accept a promotion without an increase in pay. A new title does not always equal a pay raise. It’s important to determine exactly what your promotion includes before accepting or you may shoot yourself in the foot.

Asking for a raise, especially in this workforce climate, can be a daunting task. The more prepared you go in, the better your outcome will be. Make sure you are ready, confident and ask for what you want. The conversation may continue past that initial meeting but doing your part to make it known to your manager what your needs are will definitely move you in the right direction.