Help me ask for a pay rise!

[Tinkerbellisnotafairy]

Just that really - I've got my review coming up at work, been here 18 months, reached all my targets and then some. Currently working without a proper manager so taken on lots more responsibilities than original job description. Am not on a high salary at all, and where we have a graduate scheme at work (think big FTSE 100 company), have discovered that the graduates are on a higher salary than me.

How do I ask for a pay rise - and how much do I ask for?? Appreciate any help!

Sit down and go through all your emails and calendar appointments for the last year, so you have facts at your fingertips. ie, in the last 12 months, I have had 28 client meetings, I have set up 5 internal working parties that meet weekly, I have exceeded my targets in these three areas by x% and met them in these two.

And remember to ask for a pay rise and suggest what it should be. Don't mention a comparison to the graduates, just say that you believe that you should be achieving x level of pay and this represents a y% increase on what you are being paid now.

Be armed with evidence of why you are requesting a higher salary

• evidence of what target you have surpassed on how that compares to peer average
• evidence that all other KPIs (call time, availability, or your equivalent) have stayed within target
• list the responsibilities that your have taken on above and beyond your role (not all responsibilities are listed in job spec) see what others in your level are doing and what you do above this.
• some online tools will allow you to see average salary for your job, have a look and see how you compare.

Do you have a pay range for your role? If so I'd use that as a starting base for where you sit now and where you might sit after all you have achieved in 18 months.

I agree you need hard facts and figures to show how much you have achieved and the value you have added.

If there's anywhere that produces salary surveys for your role (some specialist recruitment agencies do) then I'd try to get hold of a copy of that too so you've got some factual material to back up what you're looking for.

Great, thanks everyone, that's really helpful.