The 5 Things You Need to Do to Get a Raise

Gone are the days of annual reviews and yearly raises. Today’s workforce has to truly think (and work!) outside the box in order to earn their extra 5%. So if you’re looking to increase your income, you’ll need to start laying the groundwork down now in order to ask for a raise later.

Here are five ways in which you can ultimately ensure a raise at work.

While it can be hard to be objective, look at the workplace (and your relationship) from your boss’ perspective.

Let’s say that you have a project that’s due in a few days that your boss is eagerly awaiting. Send him/her an email staying abreast of your progress. That way you avoid constant requests for updates. By anticipating what's needed even before it's requested, it shows you can work independently and don’t need to be micromanaged. In turn, this makes your boss’ job easier—and makes him look better, too.

Sure, you do great work and you receive numerous accolades from the company. But unless you write down your successes, no one is going to remember them—and subsequently reward you for them.

So keep a log of your biggest accomplishments with the company. Maybe you were able to implement a new program that saves the company in time and money. Note your most noteworthy successes, and be prepared to share them with your boss when you ask for a raise.

One of the easiest reasons to ask for a raise is if you’re currently being underpaid.

While you can sniff around and ask colleagues in similar positions what they are earning, it’s more discreet—and professional—to seek out the information online. You can use Salary.com's Salary Wizard to find out how your earnings rank against others in the same industry.

You’re already clocking in long hours, but when you’re looking to get a raise it helps to show you’re willing to work even harder than you currently are. So add an extra duty or two to your job that will be significant, but won’t make you drown at your desk.

After all, if you take on too much, your overall job performance will suffer and negate the good you’re trying to do by pitching in.

Your company is going through a rough time, and there are whispers everywhere in the office about the overall fate of your industry. But instead of chiming in with the naysayers, be optimistic instead.

Try to be genuinely friendly with everyone you work with and avoid the petty office gossip. Your upbeat attitude can be contagious—and your positive outlook will be even more motivation for your boss to give you a raise.

If you don't know where you're headed, it's doubly tough to get there. In that regard, Salary.com can help.

The first thing you should do is research, so you're able to come to the table armed with the knowledge of what your job is worth. Use our free Salary Wizard below to find out what's a fair salary for your position. You can enter your location, education level, years of experience and more to find out an appropriate salary range before you negotiate.

Good luck.