How to best negotiate your raise for next year
29 January 2009
Read by 3833 persons
During your annual review with your manager or HR, it's a good time to try for a raise to start 2007 well. Two arguments to use: the increase in activity in the IT market and your attachment to the company, paradoxically weakened during recruitment.
Certain profiles are in high demand and a war has been declared between IT companies, using a thousand strategies to convince Java-J2EE or DotNet specialists to join their ranks. Other players in this talent hunt: their clients want to add their services after having tested them in a controlled environment.
For those lucky enough to be riding the wave of the IT boom, don't hesitate to set the bar high and mention offers from competitors to get a raise. And even if the IT professional just joined the company with a bonus on their previous salary, they can negotiate other benefits that exist in the same company or elsewhere.
Emphasize your personal and professional investment
Whether you are in demand or not, two major arguments are to be used: if the company is in the process of recruiting, it proves that many contracts are being signed and that substantial sums will be made available to HR to convince new employees. And if it communicates on a steadily increasing turnover, the reward of those who contributed to it must be a point to negotiate in the perspective of a raise. Contrary to what one might imagine, during recruitment periods, companies are weakened. HR departments fear defections from current employees while they want to expand the team.
For managers who don't want to move, the "safe bet" and "loyalty" aspects to the company are cards to play: don't hesitate to talk about your personal and professional investment, with a well-prepared PowerPoint presentation to show your commitment and value. Mention the training you have done, give examples of your potential in one or more technological fields... Acquiring new skills is also a plus not to be neglected.
Another possibility: prepare your annual review by submitting innovative ideas.
Being a "proactive contributor" appears in many job postings. Remembering this and using this argument when you are a manager in your position is a way to stand out and get a short-term or long-term reward. If you are short on ideas, consider consulting newsletters or articles by managers who often reveal their strategy. The type of positions open when the company is recruiting is also a way to guess how to evolve effectively. Finally, information is the best way to know what you can get. By motivating yourself for the negotiation!
Certain profiles are in high demand and a war has been declared between IT companies, using a thousand strategies to convince Java-J2EE or DotNet specialists to join their ranks. Other players in this talent hunt: their clients want to add their services after having tested them in a controlled environment.
For those lucky enough to be riding the wave of the IT boom, don't hesitate to set the bar high and mention offers from competitors to get a raise. And even if the IT professional just joined the company with a bonus on their previous salary, they can negotiate other benefits that exist in the same company or elsewhere.
Emphasize your personal and professional investment
Whether you are in demand or not, two major arguments are to be used: if the company is in the process of recruiting, it proves that many contracts are being signed and that substantial sums will be made available to HR to convince new employees. And if it communicates on a steadily increasing turnover, the reward of those who contributed to it must be a point to negotiate in the perspective of a raise. Contrary to what one might imagine, during recruitment periods, companies are weakened. HR departments fear defections from current employees while they want to expand the team.
For managers who don't want to move, the "safe bet" and "loyalty" aspects to the company are cards to play: don't hesitate to talk about your personal and professional investment, with a well-prepared PowerPoint presentation to show your commitment and value. Mention the training you have done, give examples of your potential in one or more technological fields... Acquiring new skills is also a plus not to be neglected.
Another possibility: prepare your annual review by submitting innovative ideas.
Being a "proactive contributor" appears in many job postings. Remembering this and using this argument when you are a manager in your position is a way to stand out and get a short-term or long-term reward. If you are short on ideas, consider consulting newsletters or articles by managers who often reveal their strategy. The type of positions open when the company is recruiting is also a way to guess how to evolve effectively. Finally, information is the best way to know what you can get. By motivating yourself for the negotiation!
