How to Ask for a Raise | Christine vs. Work

Make a compelling case for getting paid more. Then stop talking.

Asking for a raise can feel tempting, but also daunting. How do you bring it up with your manager? Are there things you should (or shouldn’t) say when negotiating pay? What’s the best way to articulate a desired salary increase?

00:00 Let's talk money
01:34 Meet Kimberly B. Cummings
02:05 Remote work is STILL work
02:39 Schedule a career conversation
03:07 Research your rate
03:44 Understand your impact
04:50 Prepare for the talk
05:57 Confirm a timeline
07:17 Practice saying it out loud
09:40 Let's try it out

Innovation Editor Christine Liu talks with Kimberly B. Cummings, career and leadership expert, founder of Manifest Yourself, and author of “Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning Into a Career You'll Love”. Cummings breaks down all the steps to build your pitch, lead the conversation, and frame this ask in an objective way.

Watch more about Confluence on their YouTube Channel:

Produced by Andy Robinson, Christine Liu, and Kelsey Alpaio
Video by Andy Robinson and Christine Liu
Editing by Andy Robinson
Animation and Design by Riko Cribbs and Karen Player

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Copyright © 2021 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

#negotiation #salary #raise

[vatssv]

I remember when I had this conversation for the first time at my previous workplace. I was nervous and asked for exactly what I wanted (in a single monotone). A week later: HR called and said, okay it's done. And that happiness of asking for it and getting it was really something else.

[ahmed_arsalan]

I watched this video seven times. Practiced my script for two days before going in front of my boss asking for a raise. It didn't go as I expected. But knowing that I tried made me feel accomplished!

[jennchun]

04:17 Dear HBR, I've decided to pay to read your articles because of this YouTube channel and the Christine vs. Work series. Christine (and the rest of the HBR YouTube team), feel free to use my comment when YOU negotiate higher pay with the HBR Big Bosses. 😉

[jmculan]

Thank you, Christine! I think this content you're putting out there is one of a kind. It is in a way that this is a tough conversation and just to go ahead and put a framework and ensuring it is value-based and evidenced based is, I think, quite helpful and solid guidance. In other words, it's not just asking a raise for the sake of it but there's a collaborative dynamic and curiosity to understand what does it look like to come into terms with that asked raise.

[JamesPhilip]

When I coach a friend that is climbing rapidly at a Fortune 500, I remind him that the people that sign the front of the checks are more focused on what you’ll do tomorrow more than what you did yesterday. This seems to be a grossly overlooked item on this subject. Consistency of adding value is the key to growth. Anyone can have one good year, but can they sustain it?

[fieldion]

Interesting topic today. In this past 1.5 to 2 years of virtual meetings & working from home, I believe it will take more effort to convince our managers we really need a raise.

[ifeanyiezeani]

I appreciate HBR for this video.
When I came across this, it drew my attention cos I was trying to discuss a pay raise at work.
After watching this, I summoned up courage and had the talk with the boss today.
He gave a +ve response (promised to look into it by January). I sent a follow up mail afterwards.
Fingers crossed 🤞.
Praying it works out.

[abhinavarya]

Excellent and very informative as usual, thank you! A topic which I am very interested in is how to talk about mid term and long term growth plans in a company where your manager is either unwilling to talk about it or they themself don’t have a plan.

[joyful]

I'd love to have more vids on networking within an organization. For example, how do I identify my peers leading other projects? How do I sustain internal relationships so people will remember me/my projects and want to share information? And how can I find ways to align with other projects so we are all more successful in our objectives?

[sukantamaikap]

Please cover how to deal with rude/aggressive co-workers effectively, especially in a remote environment.

[dindazahidah]

Hi Christine, thank you so much for this video. This topic is indeed one of the most scariest topic to be discussed ever, especially for women.
For the next topic, could you please do these : How to claim your work (elegantly) and How to complaint to your boss, without being seen as a complainer and make the relationship turn sour. Or is there any rule for complaint to our boss? Thank youuu

[Sayurih]

I have been regretting it for the past 3 days because i negotiated for a very less pay compared to my expenses and now this is on my recommendation.😐

[KaneDaggerfinn]

Interesting episode. A promotion at work, and making more money, needs to be a structured and well thought-through conversation. Yes, prove that you are adding value and are worth more than your current rate, but an important key is to present the data properly and in a composed and confident manner. If you've done the work, this should be no issue.

[SanjaWilliams]

Hi Christine, this is a great video. I do find for us who live and work in the UK, many organisations have pay sales and grades and you progress within the grade via spinal pay points. The grades are published internally so all employees can see them. Not all organisations but large ones, public sector ones would have it published. So you don't have a chance to ask for a pay rise unless you secure a role that is a higher grade. From watching this video and many others, it does look like the USA organisations don't have pay scales hence why all this negotiate for your salary can hard for many. Is this correct?

[deepikad]

Please share something on dealing with boss who is an obstruction in your growth instead of being a high performer... they just don't want you to grow... shall we change the job even if we like the company culture?

[indrajeetrajpoot]

Thanks, Christine💯; Next topic could be 'Active listening at the workplace'.

[inescolon]

Any suggestions for asking in a small business environment? It's very different then a corporation...

[Rohitchakra]

I want your insights on the following:

Let's take someone who is working in an MNC with hierarchy. There are a lot of things going wrong in the market, things which you don't have any control over especially because there is no clarity. Your immediate boss also has no clarity and she is afraid to take matters a step up. What to do in such a scenario? You have the potential to present to the decision-makers.

If we can have answers to such case studies it will be great.

[omiddanesh]

Hello dear HBR creatives, I have a question for you:
How to work for a boss that is younger, maybe less educated or less experienced than yourself. I mean it is not the end of the world but I never had a boss that was younger than myself and I feel at some point it may happen. What to do, is this something to avoid, what your experts think about it?

[snehasangle]

Thanks a lot for this video really helpful.
Till now I haven't asked for any raise or designation change, i am a graphic designer in a corporate company, the thing is I have a team of 6 and the work gets equally distributed so how do I say how great i am doing to the company what do i show them and how to even talk about it to the manager because there is nothing extraordinary to show. So what points do i come up with for him to consider my work and get a raise or a designation change? It would really be grateful of you to help me on this.