We all want to advance our career. We work hard to grow professionally, and we expect our efforts to be rewarded by upper management. Better working conditions, promotion or getting a raise are the essential things that we crave for in exchange for our time and knowledge. Nevertheless, it’s not that simple.
Let’s be honest. The incidents when our manager promises us a pay raise or a promotion and never keeps this promise are not isolated. It can happen. Whether your manager just says it to retain an employee or simply forgets about a promise, it’s still very disappointing.
Situations like this are very complicated; however, there is always a solution. We understand your feeling of being undervalued. Don’t get desperate though. Here are some tips on how to get a raise, a promotion or even how to ask for a bonus that was promised for holidays.
Keep Calm and Stay Professional
Yes, we know that not getting what you have been promised is frustrating. You can feel angry about a pay raise or promotion missing, but you should stay as professional as possible. Your main task is to demonstrate your manager that you are serious about this and you will fight for justice for yourself.
Ask Questions
Frankly speaking, it’s your manager who has to make sure all team members are getting paid properly. But if your boss forgot about your promotion or pay raise or simply avoids conversations regarding this, then you should take this initiative. Schedule a meeting with your boss. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. “How can we proceed with my promotion? / What’s the status of my annual bonus/salary raise?” From time to time you should check on the status of your promotion/salary-related question.
Be Fair
If you don’t get the promotion or salary raise promised but your boss is insisting on performing more tasks, you have the right not to do this. There is no promotion or raise guarantee unless it’s written on paper. Same here with your responsibilities. Don’t let them use your potential without rewarding you respectively. Sometimes a verbal promise of pay raise can be easily forgotten. If you don’t trust your employer regarding your salary raise or a promotion, ask them to write it down so you can have proof. Generally, a promise is legally enforceable even if nothing is given or received for the promise.
Consider Alternatives
Ask your manager for how long the company will be unable to get you a salary raise obligation or give you a promotion. If after a conversation with your boss you have realized that no promotion or salary raise is possible in the nearest future, figure out some alternative ways. You can consider a few extra vacation days or an opportunity to work from home for some time as a reward for your effective work performance.
Give It Some Time
Even if you didn’t get promoted or you lost your salary raise chance, it means you can work twice as hard and demonstrate that you are worth it. Prove your boss wrong. Show your manager that you deserve this career advancement more than anyone else in the company. Be assertive, and by using this approach your boss will definitely suggest a decent reward for you.
Don’t Stick to Your Job
Know your own value as a professional. If you were promised a raise and didn't get it even after negotiating this issue with your manager, go and get a better job. Reconsider your career path. The market is overflowing with diverse job openings and great companies. We bet you can sell your skills and expertise to other companies that will pay you more without begging. Start job searching and be open to changes in your life.
Use a New Job Offer
In case you don’t want to change your job, you can use a new job offer from another employer to show your current market value. It will definitely spur your manager to speed up the process of promotion or pay raise. The last thing your employer wants is to lose precious teammates. Who knows, maybe this job offer will shine a light on your skills or will open new career perspectives. Anyway, this option will never hurt.
Now you see that it’s still possible to get what you have been promised. It’s your career, and you have to take care of your professional prosperity. Seek for alternative ways, don’t be afraid to ask questions, be proactive and you will finally get what you want. The main advice is to act right now! And remember, you are worth it. Even if this situation occurred to you, look at it differently. Maybe it’s a great chance to assess your company level fairly. Perhaps it’s your time to move on and conquer other professional heights.
