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You’ve worked at your employer for several months (at least a year). You’ve received what’s called a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) raise of a small percentage to your pay rate, but you feel you deserve more.

Now you need to prove so to your manager.

That’s right:

Raises of any substance don’t happen every year automatically as a COLA does. If you want a substantial increase in your hourly wage or salary, you have to show your manager that the value you bring to the company is worth it. (This is critical.)

Don’t forget the real reason companies hire employees.

Employers hire people to solve problems.

Truly. That’s the real reason.

They have the problem of needing packages shipped, so they hire people to work in their distribution warehouse. They have the challenges of paperwork that needs filing, phones that need to be answered, emails that need replies, etc., so they hire administrative help. Customers have problems and questions, so a business needs people to respond and resolve those questions and concerns, so employers hire contact center representatives to answer and resolve them.

And so on.

Therefore, before you ask for a raise, ask yourself what problems you’ve solved for your manager.

Really. That’s the key to getting a raise: noting what problems you solve (which is the value you bring to a company) and then showing your manager.

You don’t do this just at your asking-for-a-raise meeting. Well, you could, but for best results, do this:

• As you work throughout the year, notice your accomplishments, particularly as they pertain to making your boss’ life easier (solving their problems).
• Did you increase your “customer issues resolved satisfactorily” by X percent this year over last?
• Did your line pick/packing accuracy increase by 50 percent? Did it double?
• Were you never late?
• Did you get certified in something that pertains to your job? Did you take some classes online that pertain to your job?
• Did you fix X thing that no one else noticed, but you did?

In other words, take some time and think about your successes. Write them down. Before you meet with your supervisor, send this list to them.

In fact, it’s best to send your successes to your boss regularly throughout the year.

Every month or quarter, send your boss a list of projects on which you’re working and their status. (If you never work on special projects, simply send your boss a list of your accomplishments.)

Doing so not only helps your boss see your great work in black and white, but it also helps you remember the great things you did two, six, or ten months from now when you meet with your manager.

Prepare a short speech as to why you deserve a raise.

Many people wait to ask for a raise at their annual review. You can do so, of course, but you don’t need to wait; if you feel you’ve done some valuable things in the last six months and you intend to keep doing them in the long term, it’s more than OK to go to ask your boss for a huddle and layout your reasoning for a raise when you meet.

As for asking for a promotion? Go for it! So long as you feel your accomplishments and skills warrant a step up in responsibility. Just be sure you have documentation to back you up (your list of achievements).

What if your boss says no to a raise?

Then you can stay, or you can go.

You also can ask what your boss would need to see from you to warrant a raise and when you can meet again about it. Then make sure you do those things and regularly let your boss know so (that list of accomplishments again.)

Yet, if you decide to leave, know this: you will likely receive a raise at a new employer in today’s market!

If you haven’t done so lately, take a look at our current job openings and then either apply or register with us so that we can get a hold of you quickly when a great opportunity comes along in our in-box.

Looking for a new job with career potential?
Consider searching for warehouse jobs near me!