How to ask for a pay rise (and get it) 5 step plan + script example, by StandOut CV on YouTube. 10 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Check the market rate for your job title in your country and region using a salary checker. Write down the range and note where your current pay sits inside it.
List three to five achievements from the last year and attach numbers to them, such as sales made, costs saved, projects delivered or hours cut. These become your evidence.
Read your job description and confirm you are meeting every duty on it. Note any extra work you have taken on above your level.
Set a target figure and a minimum you would accept. Ask for slightly more than your target so there is room to negotiate.
Write a short script covering four things: what you have delivered, what the market pays, the figure you want and what you plan to do next.
Book a short meeting with your manager and tell them in advance that you want to discuss your pay and development.
In the meeting, make your case in about two minutes using the script, then stop talking and let your manager respond.
If the answer is not now, ask what specific results would justify a raise and agree a date to review it again.
Send a short email afterwards summarising what was agreed and the date of the next review, so there is a written record.
Tips and common mistakes
Pick a time after a recent win, not during a busy or difficult period for the team.
Avoid quoting what colleagues earn, since you usually cannot prove it and it shifts the talk to gossip.
Do not threaten to leave unless you are genuinely ready to go.
Keep the conversation about the value you bring, not about your personal bills.
Questions
When is the best time to ask for a pay rise?
Ask after a clear win, such as a finished project or a strong review, and before the next budget cycle is set. Avoid the week of a big deadline or a company crisis.
How much should I ask for?
Use the market range for your role and region as your anchor, then ask for a little above your target. A figure within the going rate is easier for your manager to approve.
What if my manager says no?
Ask what specific results would change the answer and agree a date to revisit it. Get that in writing so the next conversation starts from a clear target.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
