What to use to discuss a salary increase at the end of the year with the boss?

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As the end of 2009 approached, professionals in the workplace became busy and stressed in order to meet year-end evaluations, secure year-end bonuses, and get opportunities for raises and promotions. The economic crisis has not yet ended; the profitability of many companies has declined compared to previous years, and numerous firms are even cutting staff and reducing salaries in an effort to control costs. Under such difficult circumstances, it becomes even more challenging for professionals to ask their bosses for a raise. However, as living costs rise and work pressures persist, those who have been busy at work all year long think to themselves that it is imperative to talk to their bosses about a salary increase. You won’t get it if you don’t fight for it. “Do you want it?” If you want it, just say so. How can I know what you want if you don’t tell me? ”This classic line from A Chinese Odyssey illustrates to professionals the necessity of taking the initiative to discuss a salary increase with their bosses; by doing so, there is at least a chance of getting an increase, whereas failing to do so means losing that opportunity. Career experts from 51job believe that if you want a raise, you must strive for it; otherwise you won’t get it. As long as the approach to asking for a raise isn’t too confrontational and doesn’t damage relationships, the worst that can happen is being rejected by the boss. Why not ask? You might just get a pleasant surprise! A user on 51jobBBS named “Feng Han” believes that asking the boss for a raise should not be done recklessly or without planning; one needs to think carefully and act in an organized manner. “\"Feng Han\" offers a relatively gentle way of starting things: 1. The approach of setting the stage, so that the boss knows you have something to discuss with him, by waiting near his door at the right time ； 2. The subtle approach: let the boss know that you have something important to discuss with him, but if an agreement can’t be reached, there will be no tension – just a simple wave of the hand ； 3. The indirect approach: talk to your boss about your family and other matters unrelated to work. For performance that cannot be quantified, it’s necessary to create a positive image through various tactics such as preparation, emphasis, and indirect suggestions… All of these actions are aimed at gaining the opportunity to talk directly with the boss about a salary increase. Having made up my mind to take action and talk to my boss about a raise, what should I use to have that conversation with him? When work cannot be quantified in numbers, how can we demonstrate our achievements to our boss? A user on 51jobBBS named “No Name Needed” believes that if an employee wants a raise, the first thing to consider is the company’s salary increase policy, and the second is one’s own abilities and performance. Career experts from 51job believe that it is first necessary to understand the salary system of one’s own company. If the conditions for a salary increase are met, then follow the relevant procedures ； If the company does not have a clear salary increase policy, and one feels that a raise is due, it is necessary to discuss a salary increase with the boss based on one’s performance in daily work. Next, consider work ability and work performance. Work ability and work performance can be divided into two types: one is work ability and performance that can be demonstrated with data, and the other is those that are difficult to measure with data. As long as the boss approves of the data, it’s much easier to get a raise based on evidence presented by the data. When work cannot be quantified with data, how can we then demonstrate our achievements to our bosses? Feng Han, a user of 51jobBBS, believes that performance that cannot be quantified can still be understood intuitively, and it is crucial to develop three habits: 1. Develop the habit of reporting on event status immediately; one must think as well as act carefully, so that managers can understand the severity of the situation and the difficulty involved in carrying out the tasks ； 2. Develop the habit of submitting solutions to issues promptly; employees should always think ahead and assist in solving problems for their bosses, so as to prevent the bosses from thinking that employees only know how to raise problems but not how to solve them. Submit to the boss, on his behalf, a detailed list of various alternative solutions to the problem along with the advantages and disadvantages of each option, so that the boss can make a decision and thus save himself trouble ； 3. Develop the habit of providing immediate feedback on the outcomes of events, so that the boss is aware of how things are progressing and what the expected results will be, allowing them to keep control of the situation and feel at ease. Throughout the process of communication and issue resolution, your boss’s perception of your abilities will **improve, and in the future they will give you more opportunities for promotion and a raise. In a crisis, how can non-core departments ask their bosses for a raise? In a typical company, non-core departments refer to those that provide business support, such as the administrative department and the human resources department. These departments do not generate profits directly for the company; rather, they represent costs for the company. During economic crises, in order to control costs, companies are forced to strictly limit the increase in salaries for employees in these departments. As the end of the year approaches, how should professionals in non-core departments ask their bosses for a raise? A user on 51jobBBS named “Feng Han” believes that there are two ways for non-core departments to secure higher salaries. The first is to become more central to the company’s operations: by moving away from providing services in peripheral areas and striving to become part of the company’s core business services; once the core business thrives, the non-core departments will naturally benefit as well. Second is the management-oriented approach to non-core positions. Any department places high demands on the abilities to lead, communicate, and coordinate. Throughout one’s work, it is important to strive to improve one’s communication skills and conceptualization abilities (by conceptualization abilities, we mean the capacity of public managers to have a macroscopic perspective, consider things as a whole, think systematically, and understand the big picture). Over time, as one advances in rank, their salary usually increases as well.