If you have been doing a good job at work, you should never be afraid to approach your boss and ask for a raise.
Unfortunately, many people are afraid to ask for an increase in their salary even if they think they deserve one. If this sounds like you, the following tips may help you get the pay raise that you deserve.
1. Conduct Some Research First
First of all, you will need to find out whether or not your place of business has any rules regarding raises.
Many veterinary clinics and hospitals have specific guidelines that employees must follow before they can be eligible for a raise. For example, some businesses have what is known as skills-based raise schedules.
What this typically means is that you must attend various continuing education courses and/or prove through experience that you have mastered the skills necessary for your position.
Additionally, many practices conduct annual reviews of their employees, at which time it is determined who has and who has not earned the right to a raise.
2. Sharpen Your Skills
If your employer has a skills-based raise schedule, one of the best ways to sharpen your skills is to enroll in some continuing education courses relating to the veterinary medicine field. However, the best way to get a raise is to enroll in some veterinary technician specialty courses.
There are several recognized specialties in the field of veterinary technology, and the best thing is that employers are often quite willing to pay their vet techs more if they choose a specialty. Some of the areas you can choose to specialize in are large animals, zoological medicine, dentistry, behavior, anesthesia and emergency care.
3. Prove You are Worthy
Of course, if you want to ask your boss for a raise, you will need to prove that you are worthy of one. You cannot get a raise if you are slacking off on the job.
With that said, before you ask for an increase in your wages, you need to make sure that you are going above and beyond what your employer expects of you.
Make sure that you are showing up for work on time every day and completing all of your work before you go home. It can also help if you offer to work overtime, on weekends or during holidays.
Finally, maintaining a positive and cheerful attitude can go a long way in making a good impression with your boss as well.
4. Choose an Appropriate Time to Approach Your Boss
All too often, employees choose the wrong time to ask their bosses for a raise, only to be turned down.
Do not let this be you!
Take some time to evaluate the situation, and choose your time wisely.
Some things you should take into consideration before approaching your employer are as follows.
- Your Boss’ Emotional State – Never approach your boss when he or she is in a bad mood.
- The Financial Status of the Business – Never ask for a raise if the business is struggling financially.
- Day of the Week – Do not approach your boss on the busiest day of the week.
- Prior Commitments – Do not approach your boss when he or she is busy with other commitments.
- End of the Day – At the end of the day, your boss may be too tired to speak with you about a raise.
5. Prepare for Your Meeting
With all of the above considerations in mind, the best time to ask to speak with your boss would most likely be in the morning on a day that is typically not that busy. However, it is essential that you take some time prior to talking with your boss to prepare for your meeting.
Jot down your accomplishments and highlight your favorites. In this way, when your employer asks why you feel that you are deserving of a raise, you will know what to say. Other things you may want to jot down include your favorite aspects of your job, your strengths and your goals pertaining to the company.
6. Exude Confidence
Perhaps the most important tip of all for how to ask for a raise is to exude confidence. Be confident in yourself, and your boss will be confident in you as well.
Before you meet with your boss, take a deep breath and relax. Remember that your boss is simply a person too, and so long as you have been a good employee, you very well may get the raise you want.