Do you want to get paid more?

No? Ok, nvm.

Oh! You said yes! Praise the LAWD. I thought my efforts were in vain.

Here’s 10 *highly specific* things you can do to get a raise, step-by-step.

1. Track your wins (a.k.a. keep receipts)

Most people work hard and hope someone notices. Don’t be that person. Start a “Wins” doc and jot down every project you crushed, deal you closed, or process you improved.

Example: "Increased sales by 15% in Q2" sounds way better than "I work really hard and I think I deserve it."

2. Know your market value (and don’t lowball yourself)

Would you buy a car without checking the price online first? Nope. Same goes for your salary.

Hit up Glassdoor, Payscale, and levels.fyi (if you're in tech) to see what people with your experience make. Bonus points if you can find out what competitors pay.

3. Timing is everything

Remember being 17 and waiting till your dad was relaxing after dinner, sipping a glass of wine before you asked if you could borrow the car? Asking for a raise is kinda the same.

Under which of the following scenarios would you ask for a raise?

a) the company reports a great quarter!
b) your team wins a big client!
c) your boss gets back from a vacation where she let slip she may be getting proposed to, only to see no ring on her finger…

If you picked c), go directly to Jail, do not pass GO.

Choose your moment and don’t try and catch them by surprise!

4. Build a simple, strong case

Bosses don’t want essays; they want clarity. Stick to three points:

• What you’ve done: "I streamlined process X, saving Y hours."

• How it helped: "That freed up the team to close 20% more sales."

• What you want: "Based on market data, I’m requesting a raise to $X."

5. Invest in yourself first

"I learned [insert skill here] to help the team" sounds a lot better than "I want more money because I want to pop bottles in the clurbs."

Sign up for a relevant course, get a certification, or become the expert on something valuable for the team. Companies love when you proactively upgrade your skills—it gives your boss something to brag about.

6. Act like a leader (even if you're not one yet)

You don’t need a fancy title to show leadership.

Run point on a project, mentor a junior colleague, or volunteer for that annoying cross-departmental task nobody wants. It screams "I'm already performing above my pay grade" without actually screaming.

BUT BE CAREFUL WITH THIS ONE. Acting like a leader doesn’t mean you should start bossing people around (although that does sound fun). It just means you should take some visible initiative.

7. Practice the talk (yes, out loud)

Have you ever wanted to be an actor on the big stage? Not me. But practicing this conversation like you’re about to star on Broadway will make this conversation on the day much easier.

Try role-playing with a friend (kinky) or using ChatGPT to simulate possible objections - the voice feature is great for this. Or just be a regular weirdo and practice in the mirror. Awkward now, smooth later, richer soon.

8. Pre-empt the pushback

Bosses have a playbook of reasons to say no. Prepare for the classics:

• "We don’t have the budget." “Totally get that. How about a performance-based increase in six months?”

• "Salaries are set by corporate." “Would you be open to advocating for an exception given the results I've delivered?”

• "You're already well-paid." “Market data shows my role typically earns X. I'd like my compensation to align with that.”

9. Be flexible (within reason)

If the budget is genuinely tight, which happens, negotiate other perks:

• Extra vacation days

• A title bump (which helps when job-hunting later)

• A commitment to revisit your salary in a few months

• A melon party (Severance anyone?? Good right??)

10. Plant the seed early

Your boss likely isn’t going to make a decision on the spot. So here’s what to do:

• Build your case with the steps above.

• Set a meeting with them and make it plain what you want to discuss.

• Outline your case and say:

  • “I know these decisions don’t happen quickly, and I’m not here to pressure you. I plan to accomplish [X, Y, and Z] in the next [4-6] months. If I was able to achieve these things within that schedule, do you think this raise would be justified?”

• Then you can go back and forth and find out EXACTLY what you need to do to get to your desired income and within what timeline.

• Document the conversation with an email asking for confirmation on what you discussed.

If your boss isn’t willing to have a conversation around achieving ambitious goals and getting an aligned raise, you probably don’t want to work there anyway. Plus you’ll already have done your market research. Later hater!

The bottom line

Getting a raise isn’t magic; it’s a mix of preparation, timing, and knowing how to present your case. Start tracking your wins today and practice the pitch—because if you don’t ask, someone else will.

Now go get that bag.