Ten Great Ways to Get a Raise

Once you have a job, perhaps the next most important thing is when you will get a raise. To assist you in obtaining more money from your employer we have compiled these ten great ways to get a raise:

1. Ask for a raise. Of course this is obvious, but some people are fearful of asking. You must realize that often a raise will not be given until it asked for. So try this first.

2. Bring the boss homemade food, like cookies. This is nothing more than an old twist on the apple for your teacher. Imagine the boss having a bad morning when you show up with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for him or her. It will work even better if you tell the boss that your spouse, or mother, made the cookies. That way your Boss will think your whole family likes them. When raise time comes around your Boss's stomach will cause them to do the right thing.

3. Make a list of the all important dates to your company managers. Include their personal birthdays, anniversaries and anything else they care about. Send each of them a hand written card on each occasion. It might be corny, but will also be remembered at raise time. Do not send this by email as it will seem impersonal.

4. Find out what the management doesn't want you to know. Having information that the management doesn't want you tell anyone might just be an added incentive for the boss to be nice to you at raise time.

5. If you are brave enough, and don't fear getting fired, tell the boss you are thinking of quitting to join a competing company. If you are not fired you may be offered a raise.

6. Come up with a bright idea to make the company more money and then give credit to the person who controls your salary. If you have no ideas to help the company, then just praise the boss all the time for their great ideas. You are almost sure to receive a raise.

7. If you normally work fast, then slow down and make it obvious. When management asks why you have changed, tell them it is the financial strain and you are barely getting by. Tell them if you made just a little more money it probably would help you to get back to your normally productive self.

8. If you work slowly normally, try speeding up when the boss is around. See if you can get a co-worker to comment to a manager about how hard you seem to be working lately. You can return the favor later.

9. Become a leader of the other employees. Make sure that management realizes your power. They might give you special treatment at raise time so you will say good things to the other employees.

10. Know what you are worth. Some people stay at one job, not realizing just how much other companies pay for the same position. Do research and show your company management the results, especially if they do not pay as much as other companies. They may give you a raise, or you can always quit and go to work for the higher paying company.