Vikram learned the hard way about asking for a raise. After his first year with a hot startup company, Vik earned high praise and no raise (his coworker was offered one instead).
Why was Vik passed over, after all his hard work? His programming skills were prized in the industry and he was a superb employee.
The High Price of Humility
The Americans have a saying: “It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” Vik wouldn’t dream of asking for a raise, being far too humble. He assumed he would receive a raise because he was quite obviously deserving of one. But this mindset hurt him in the American culture. By Vik’s silence, his supervisors simply assumed he was happy with the status quo.
Vik learned an important cultural lesson the hard way: In America, deserving a raise doesn’t get you one. You must ask for what you deserve.
Speaking up is critical—but it’s only half the battle. Preparation is the other half. When his moment came to negotiate his salary during the annual review, Vik wasn’t ready to shine. He had been brought up to believe it was bad luck to prepare for a meeting ahead of time!
There are no do-overs, but at least Vik now knows: his modesty may define him in life, but it has no place at work.
How to Ask for a Raise
Don’t ask for a raise unless you really deserve one. Be able to state your case convincingly:
- What do others earn in a similar role?
- What contributions have you made to the company that they will acknowledge?
- What makes you a difficult asset for the company to replace?
- Why do you matter to the company bottom line? (Remember, you need to help your boss justify your raise to his own boss.)
