Requesting Raises, Promotions, or Transfers
Guidelines and Alternate Phrases
State your reasons; then ask for the raise, promotion, or transfer. Elaborate on why you think the request is appropriate, emphasizing your qualifications, accomplishments, assumed responsibilities, and goals in light of the decision-maker’s standards for evaluation. Try to quantify past results—sales increases, new accounts serviced, increased productivity, reduction in costs, new employees trained and supervised, new skills acquired, and so forth. If you can’t claim any such accomplishments, base your request on the very monotony of the job, its risks, or its significance to the company.
I want to take this opportunity to outline some of my past accomplishments here at Fairfield and to suggest expanded responsibilities for this next year.
I want to review my contributions in the current job and to inform you of my interest in transferring to a new position in our Ohio division.
This past year has afforded me the opportunity to increase my territory with 42 new accounts, resulting in a total sales volume increase of 160 percent. In light of this extra effort, I want to suggest a salary increase for this coming year.
The very monotony of this task makes money my only reward; therefore….
Due to chemical exposure, I feel I cannot continue to risk health problems for my present salary. If the salary were higher, possibly I would reconsider….
I have completed my graduate business degree during this past year at night school and now feel I’m ready to put these new ideas into practice for the company.
As you know, my department has shown a steady increase of about 12 percent each quarter for the last two years.
In my present position, I’ve handled two similar projects—development of the Management Leadership Program and the Strategic Planning for Non-financial Managers—both of which required the exact skills this new effort will require. I think I can bring to the job creativity in course design, course facilitation skills, and the contacts necessary to encourage senior management support of the programs.
I’ve worked with Bob Newman for the past six months, observing his management style and interaction skills, and I think I’ve gained sufficient depth to take on a department of my own.
My present job has become routine and therefore offers no further challenge for me to develop my skills.
I think I’m ready to contribute to the company’s goals in a much bigger role because of my increased exposure to….
Don’t ask for a raise/promotion because someone else received one. Such a request falls into the category of playing little red schoolhouse, where David asks teacher to give him a “B” because Jerry got a “B.” Someone else may have received a promotion or raise because his work far exceeded yours; to be told such wouldn’t be pleasant.
Don’t ask for a raise/promotion based on financial need. Because supervisors cannot very well verify true needs (even needs related to heavy medical expenses, etc.), they will often react against heartstring manipulation.
Don’t whine: “But I’ve been doing this same old job and everybody else gets the best projects.” Or, “But you promised me last year if I…so I am…so why don’t you….”
Focus your request on the company’s standards for measurement. In other words, what do they value in an employee and do you possess that skill or trait?
I have the energy and perseverance such a job requires.
As you may know, I’m single and, thus, travel and long hours will be no problem for me.
I can be tough when the occasion calls for such decisions and can handle the unpleasant tasks this job will require.
If you have knowledge of the field and appropriate salary levels, name a specific raise amount. Be sure you request the highest figure in your range; often people “have not because they ask not.” At least this amount establishes a point of negotiation.
Since I’m the only engineer who has worked with similar designs and since this project will result in an approximate savings to the company of over $50,000 next year, I’d like to suggest a salary increase of….
I think an increase of $3,000 would signify your appreciation of these contributions.
May I suggest an increase of 15 percent for next year?
From my random survey of other corporations in the industry, a salary of $50,000 is not at all out of line for these responsibilities.
With an increase of, say, ten percent, I could be more positive about working the extra hours this project will entail.
Although my present salary is slightly higher than what the new job offers, I’m willing to make that adjustment for an opportunity to advance and to gain skills in this new area.
May I suggest $45,000 as a beginning salary—all of which I should be able to generate myself from increased sales during the next six months.
Emphasize the symbolic meaning of the promotion or raise rather than your need for the money.
Such added responsibilities and appropriate salary will, of course, allow me to feel as though I’m contributing significantly to the company’s growth.
This increase will confirm to me that you value my past contributions here at Metcalf.
This promotion will support the comments I’ve received from other staff working with me on the project.
This salary increase would solidify in my mind the future opportunities for advancement with Huffco.
This transfer, with the accompanying raise, will confirm your commitment to groom me for advancement within the company, as we have discussed on previous occasions.
The extra money will be useful, of course, but beyond that, I would look upon the raise as your expression of intentions about my future here at United.
Don’t threaten with another offer unless you’re sure the boss wants you to stay. Your threat of resignation may be the supervisor’s easy way out of financial strain or may make way for another, more competent rising star. If you do have another offer or feel you have no future with the present company, present your case as a “problem” about which you need your boss’s advice. You leave room for your boss to say either he can meet the offer or he can’t meet the offer but can promise thus-and-so for the future. Then you can make your final decision with all the cards on the table.
I’d really like to stay because I enjoy what I do and appreciate our working relationship, but you know how hard it would be to turn down a $4,000 raise.
Mention anyone you have trained as a replacement to minimize the decision-maker’s hesitancy about a disruption in the current operations. Or suggest the responsibilities of your present job are up to date and ready to be assumed by someone else.
Alice Whitaker has been involved in the Hellman project from start to finish and is fully capable of completing it.
I’ve trained Harriet Brownstone in all the duties of this job, and she is eager to assume this responsibility should you give the promotions your approval.
With as little as two to three weeks’ notice, I can fully train my replacement.
Bob Parkins has become thoroughly familiar with the job and could replace me quite easily.
With perhaps a month’s training, Sheila Stowers could assume the responsibilities here.
I’ve been working with Carole Jackson for the past year in developing the skills my present job requires. I think she is fully capable of taking on this work.
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