Being underpaid for your work can be a big source of stress and feelings of unappreciation. If you take pride in what you do and feel like you deserve better pay, don't be afraid to speak up.
A lot of people are afraid to ask for a raise at work. They feel like their employer has all the power and are afraid of rejection. To combat this, practice your pitch and negotiating skills with a friend.
No one is going to give a raise to an employee who is all talk and no action. Demonstrate your worth by outlining how you have taken a past business problem into your own hands, the steps you took to fix the problem, and the effect your efforts had on the organization.
Rather than focusing your pitch on a number, focus on what you can do for your manager. Find out their biggest business problem and propose what you can do to solve it.
Once you show that you can do something for them, you will be in a much better position to negotiate. Explain what you need to fix the problem and how much you should get paid to do it.
In pay negotiations, it's generally best to suggest a higher number first. If you're worried your proposed raise is too high, adding a little humor here can go a long way. Starting with a low number can compromise your chances of getting a higher raise if you deserve one.
Once your manager is aware of what you can do for them, they may have a good idea of how much the help you are proposing is worth.
