Getting the Raise You Deserve - When Nothing Works, Know Your Bargaining Power (
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But sometimes nothing seems to work. Despite your best efforts, you may be met with the standard, “Three percent is the best we can do. Things aren’t so good at the company right now.”
But don’t give up. If you have done your homework, you’ll know how much bargaining power you have.
“If you get a negative response, you can reference the data you have collected. For example, if you can show that the average lead application developer has increased salary by 7.6 percent from 2007 to 2008, it shows that you know what you’re talking about,” Estes said.
If that still doesn’t work, you’re not out of options yet.
“Ask if the company has a separate pool of funds to provide project completion bonuses, performance-based bonuses, or quarterly or yearly bonuses,” Estes said. “Often, they set aside additional money for bonuses. Or ask if they will pay for a certification you have been wanting, or a class you want to take. There are many avenues to explore.”
Sometimes, however, nothing works.
“When it comes to raises, often it’s not tied to company size but company performance,” Mok said. “If a company isn’t doing well and as a result, even if you are a solid or great performer, can’t give you more than the standard 3 percent, it might be time to think about moving on.”
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