Let’s face it: no one likes asking for a raise. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and you risk getting shot down. Moreover, the entire process feels a little unfair. After all, shouldn’t your hard work and dedication to the company be what determines whether you get a raise? The catch is that, in the real world, employers value tangible results over intangibles like loyalty and good intentions. That means if you want to boost your career without sacrificing any of your standard of living, you need to give yourself a raise without asking for one. If this sounds impossible, keep reading. There are numerous ways you can improve your career without any increase in pay. Here are 5 tips to boost your career without any salary increase:
Go above and beyond at work #
The easiest way to boost your career without any increase in pay is to do more than you’re currently being asked to do. If you want to earn a promotion—without changing your pay rate—you need to show your employer that you’re capable of taking on more responsibility. But how do you do that when you’re already cranking out 60 hours a week? Start by taking on small tasks that are outside your typical job description. Next, offer to help out coworkers in a way that’s actually helpful to them and the company. Then, analyse the work being done in your department or company as a whole, and identify any inefficiencies or pain points that need solving. Be the person who comes up with a solution. Employers value people who go above and beyond, so by doing just that, you can boost your career without a pay increase.
Network like crazy #
Getting a pay raise is almost always directly related to your level of seniority and experience in your field. That makes networking one of the absolute best ways to boost your career. Networking allows you to get in front of people who are already in your field, as well as people who oversee hiring for your field. Networking isn’t just about meeting people, though. It’s also about listening to people and finding ways to add value to their lives. If someone mentions that they’re looking for a new network administrator, offer to help them find one. If someone mentions that they’re having trouble hiring for a particular position, offer your skills and expertise. If your field is large, it can be difficult to know where to start, which is why we created a free networking guide to help:
Take (and continue taking) classes that’ll advance your career
The best way to advance your career and increase your value to your employer is to get additional training and education. Employers want employees who are continuing to advance their skills and knowledge—and, in many cases, are willing to pay more for employees who have put in the time and effort to become better at their job. For example, let’s say you’re a sales representative who wants to get a raise but doesn’t know how. One quick and easy way to boost your career without a pay increase is to take a sales training course. Taking this course will allow you to better understand your products and give you the knowledge you need to better present them to potential customers. That’s a big deal for your company, because it means that you’re bringing in more sales. More sales means more revenue for the company, which means that you’re providing more tangible value. Taking classes and continuing to take classes is one of the best ways to boost your career without a salary increase.
Find ways to produce tangible value for your company
Your company is a business, which means it’s built around producing a product or service that generates revenue. That’s why you get a salary (or hourly pay rate): in exchange for your time, effort, and expertise, the company agrees to pay you a certain amount of money. If you want to boost your career without asking for a pay increase, find ways to produce more tangible value for your company. That might mean looking at the products or services that your company offers and finding ways to improve them. It might also mean identifying pain points or inefficiencies within your company and coming up with a solution. Your employer is likely paying you to produce value for the company. If you want a pay increase but don’t know how to get one, start by finding ways to produce more value for your employer.
Negotiate a raise based on the value you’ve added
Some of the best ways to boost your career without a pay increase are also the riskiest. One way to boost your career without a pay increase is to negotiate a raise based on the value you’ve added to the company. The catch is that you have to have a specific, measurable argument for why you deserve a raise. Start by writing down all of the tangible values that you’ve brought to the company over the past six months or year. Then, figure out a way to quantify the value of each of those contributions. Once you have a list of all of the valuable contributions you’ve made and a way to quantify each one, it’s time to negotiate a raise. Negotiating a raise is not easy, but it is doable. Follow these five tips and you’ll be in a much better position to boost your career without a pay increase.
