Pay rise tips

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Gert Nzimiro, Regional Director at Reed Accountancy shares a few tips on how to get a little bit extra in your pay packet at the end of the month

Is there ever a right time to request a pay rise?

Timing is crucial, there may be times of the year which your employer has designated for pay reviews, or for other employees it may be part of your appraisal or PDP, chances are your employer will expect the question to crop up. During the appraisal is a great time to approach the subject as you are given the opportunity to discuss your performance and strengths, and of course you and your employer will be in a one-to-one meeting.

How do you know how much you’re worth?

Be prepared before you discuss a pay increase with your employer, what questions would you ask if you were in your bosses shoes and an employee asked for a pay rise, why are you worth it? Don’t compare yourself to others in terms of their workload or their salary, but single yourself out and explain what else you could achieve with a little more motivation!

You know your industry as well as your employer does, if it’s not been a great year in the industry, then don’t expect to hit the top of the pay scale. However, if you want to check the average earnings for your industry or location, salary surveys are often carried out or you can visits online sites like Reed.co.uk which has a salary calculator.

Time for negotiation

What is it that you really want and can justify earning? Aiming high can bring in room for negotiation, and shows ambition, however be realistic in your request. It’s likely that your employer will have limits to which they can work towards an if there are other plans for the team such as expansion or worse, redundancies this will of course impact on any pay agreement. There is no harm in you suggesting a figure as long as you believe in the reasons behind the request.

Be prepared for rejection

Take into consideration that your line manager may not be able to authorise the pay rise that you are looking for. If this is the case, consider what other benefits might support you whether it’s a car allowance or a targeted bonus.

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Notes to Editors
Reed Accountancy was the UK’s first leading independent finance recruitment agency. Specialist provider of Junior ledger clerk to part qualified level accountants, Reed Accountancy has been assisting jobseekers and Employers for over 45 years. A combination of a national network of over 75 branches and the industry-leading website, reed.co.uk which receives over 1 million job applications per month, mean that Reed Accountancy has the widest selection of skilled candidates and job opportunities available in the UK.

Contact details
Gemma Gibbard
Senior PR Executive
0207 929 8549
gemma.gibbard@reed.co.uk
reed.co.uk

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