Master the Art of Salary Negotiation: Choose the Perfect Moment to Succeed

2 October 2023 Read by 11125 persons

 

 


Many employees wait for their year-end or year-beginning review to negotiate their salary, however, they forget that asking for a raise is not improvised and that it is necessary to sharpen your arguments beforehand in order to hope for a satisfactory result.

Is there really what could be called a "good time" to start, and if so, what is this ideal moment, where the doors are likely to open more easily?

 

Inappropriate times

Yes, there are undoubtedly more appropriate times to discuss your compensation... But above all, there are times when you should absolutely not raise the subject:

For example, when:

  • your boss announces (or has just announced) a drop in turnover,
  • a redundancy plan has just been put in place,
  • your boss is having personal problems (health, family, love, finances...),
  • there is a climate of confusion, or tension and negativity at work,
  • upon your return from vacation or maternity leave,
  • after layoffs,
  • during a restructuring

 

Favorable moments

It is important to ensure that your approach is not perceived by your manager as a claim, an aggressive demand, which would reduce your chances of seeing your request succeed. It is wise and recommended to carefully choose the moment when you will address him: consider starting after having invested yourself positively and fruitfully in an important project, for example, or during a change of status, position, workplace, or even at the date of your previous raise.

 

Avoid requesting on the day of your annual review

Of course, you think that this long-awaited - or dreaded - interview is the right time to discuss a raise. Not so sure... Not so obvious, even. It is preferable to postpone your request by a few days, since the interview should remain a place for a serious and precise assessment of the past year and also for the definition of new objectives.

However, you would be right to agree, at this time, to a subsequent meeting to address the crucial issue.

In short, remember that choosing the right time to talk about a raise can allow you to get more, and above all, remember to not wait for your employer to take the initiative. In most cases, it's up to you to play!