Getting a pay rise is the goal of almost every employee anywhere, but it’s no mean feat. This is because people often mistake wanting a pay rise for deserving a pay rise, and an entitles attitude can push whatever pay increase you were due back for at least another few months. 

That being said, there are definitive signs that you are in fact due a pay rise, and here are five of them. 

1. Industry Competition

The way employers define pay scales is often by looking at what their competitors are offering, but not every boss will bother checking, in which case the job falls to you. A quick look on a job website like Reed or Indeed will show you what other companies are offering employees of your caliber. If you notice your job is routinely being advertised elsewhere for a higher salary, odds are, you’re due a pay rise. For the benefit of staff retention, most employers will be implored to give you one when you present them with the figures on how much other people in your situation are being paid. 

Away from competition, you might get word that someone else at your company who does exactly the same job as you is getting paid a lot more than you. This is another sign that you’re due a pay rise – especially if the gender pay gap is coming into play. 

2. Appraisals 

It’s best practice to review employees at least every three to six months to see how they’re doing, if they have anything they’d to voice or if there’s anything they need to know regarding their job. The problem is, not many employers actually give their employees appraisals very often. This is bad for a number of reasons, but least of all because employees could be doing an incredible job and they’re not being given the chance to be recognised for their efforts by those in charge. If you haven’t had an appraisal or performance review in the last 12 months, ask for one. Employment reviews are where you’re most likely to get a pay rise, and if you haven’t had one, how do you know you’re being paid a fair amount for the work you’re doing? Generally speaking, if you haven’t had a review in a year, you’re been doing a good job, and that’s a sign you’re due an increase.

3. Change in Responsibility

It’s very common to be hired to do one thing, only to find yourself doing 20 other things on top of the thing you were initially hired to do. Whether it’s because the company has grown or workers have left, you might well find yourself saddled with more than you signed up for, and if this isn’t grounds for a pay rise, what is? If you’re doing to job of two people or if you’ve learned something to new in order to undertake a new responsibility, your salary needs to reflect it. Collate a list of what you were hired to do vs what you actually do and present it to your employer in a bid to get a well deserved and probably overdue pay rise. 

4. Testimonials 

Do you work in a client facing role? Do you regularly receive glowing feedback from the clients you deal with? If so, you’re excelling in your job and you deserve to be rewarded for it. There’s a difference between doing what you’re paid to do and going above and beyond. Testimonials are usually a sign you’ve done what was asked of you and then some, and this is most definitely a sign that you’re due a salary increase. Again, compile the data and present it to your employer in order to highlight exactly how good you are and how valued you are. If they don’t give you a pay rise after that, look elsewhere because there will certainly be another employer who does and who will pay you for keeping their clients happy. After all, without happy customers, no business would succeed. 

5. Overtime

This is a big one. If you’re working overtime on a regular basis, this is indicative of two things: a) your workload is too much, or b) you really care about the company. If you work overtime for the latter reason, a pay rise is a reasonable request. Finding employees who are loyal in today’s job market is hard because competition is so fierce. For that reason, employers should be chomping at the bit to keep staff who actually care and who go out of their way and give up their free time for the benefit of their company. If this is you, make sure your efforts don’t go unnoticed and take it up with your employer because if anyone deserves a few extra pennies in their pack packet, it’s you! The key to getting a pay rise is backing it up with data. Collate information and ask politely – in person, not by email – and you might just be rewarded for your hard work.

Jane