How to Ask for a Raise

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Warm-up

What was your first job? Do you miss anything about it?

If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose and why?

Exercise 2

Vocabulary

qualification

Noun

ˌkwɑːləfəˈkeɪʃən

a pass of an examination or an official completion of a course of study

It takes years to get the qualifications to become a judge.

University graduation is a basic qualification to work in a company.

The doctor was arrested because he worked at a hospital without a proper qualification.

The minimum qualification includes ability to multi-task and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

performance review

Noun

pəˈfɔːməns rɪˈvjuː

a meeting in which an employee gets feedback on how well they have been doing at work

I'm so nervous about my performance review next week!

raise

Noun

reɪz

an increase in the amount of money one gets paid

Most employees at the company receive a yearly raise.

He is working hard in order to get a raise.

I was nervous when I asked my boss for a raise.

budget

Noun

ˈbʌʤɪt

an estimate of a person's or organization's earnings and spendings for a period of time; the amount of money available or needed for something

Planning your monthly budget can be really difficult.

We have a small budget, so we need to be careful about our spending.

responsibility

Noun

rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti

something one is required to do as part of one's job, role, etc.

Beth will be taking over all of Owen's management responsibilities once he leaves.

Exercise 3

Article

How to Ask for a Raise

Asking for a pay raise can be difficult, so here's some advice to help you do it well.

Know your value

Before asking for a raise, figure out how much you should be getting paid. Look online or talk to people who have similar jobs to you.

A study from Columbia Business School suggests that asking for a specific number, such as $52,000, can show your boss that you've done your research and know your value. But you can also give both a specific number and a range, such as "$52,000 to $57,000," to seem more polite.

Prepare your reasons

Margaret Neale, a professor at Stanford Business School, says it's important to show how your skills have helped the company.

Make a list of all the different ways you've helped the company succeed, and how you can be useful in the future. Be ready to give specific examples if you're asked for them.

Time your request

A good time to ask for a raise is when you've just finished a big project, been given new responsibilities, or have received a new qualification.

But try not to ask during your yearly performance review because they often happen after the company budget has already been decided. Instead, ask for a raise about three months before the review, so the company has time to make it happen.

Also, research shows that people are usually more kind in the morning. Psychologist Suzanne Roff-Wexler says you should ask on a Friday morning because your boss will "probably be looking forward to a weekend [and] in a good mood."

Exercise 4

Discussion

Which of the suggestions from the article did you find most interesting?

What do you make of the claim that people are more kind in the morning?

Do you have a good relationship with your boss? Why? Why not?

What's the best thing about your current job? Please explain your answer.

Have you ever thought about getting a new job? If so, what sort of jobs interest you most?

What was your dream job when you were a kid? Please explain your answer.

What advice would you give to a friend who is trying to decide on a career path? Please explain your answer.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. - Unknown. Do you agree? Why? Why not?

Source

This lesson is based on an article by Guy Williams.