Career Report
August, 2013 — Issue 162
Five Ways to Better Position Yourself for a Raise
With the U.S. economy still in the midst of a tepid recovery, the average worker can expect a pay raise of about 3 percent in 2013, according to a forecast cited in a recent article from CareerBuilder.com. Yet despite this, top performers may be able to secure more. If you consider yourself one of them, or if you’re striving toward that goal, here from the article are some ways to better position yourself for a higher-than-average increase:
1. Show up early every day — Don’t just show up on time; show up early. Especially if you live in a city with traffic issues, always give yourself more than enough cushion to arrive on time. On days you arrive early, get settled in and get your secondary tasks out of the way before it’s time to get down to business.
2. Never complain– We all have negative opinions about some things, just keep yours to yourself, the article advised. Neither your boss nor your co-workers want to hear about your problems; they want to hear only about your solutions. Present any constructive and proactive ideas to your boss in a professional manner, and you just might find yourself in an improved working environment and in a better position for a pay raise.
3. Create your own set of goals — Bosses love it when staff members come up with their own set of goals. It shows initiative, a desire to get ahead and the ability to think creatively. Write out your goals and ask your supervisor for a convenient time to discuss them. Maintain written documentation of all your accomplishments and use this information during your next review.
4. Consult with your supervisor — Don’t wait until your next performance review to find out how others think you can improve, the article pointed out. Ask your supervisor what you need to do in order to improve your performance today. This gesture shows initiative, a willingness to learn and eagerness to succeed — all of which sure to impress any boss.
5. Always volunteer — If you find yourself with extra time on your hands, volunteer for additional projects. Sometimes, other departments simply need more bodies rather than any particular expertise, so don’t be shy about exploring new terrain at the workplace. Keep an eye out for any upcoming projects and always put your name in the hat.
Final thoughts — Of course, the last thing you want is to be perceived as a suck-up to your boss, the article pointed out. So keep all your discussions with your boss professional and above-board and never gloat if you get any coveted opportunities. Let your actions speak for you. By positioning yourself for the highest possible pay raise, you can lessen the burden of your month-to-month finances and make it easier to attack long-term concerns, such as saving for retirement and college for the kids.
News from BLK
Berman Larson Kane thanks all our loyal clients for their business this past 6 months allowing us to achieve a record first half of 2013. We will continue to propel our unique talent discovery process forward, bringing the best talent to your team.
Our new BLK mobile website is currently in final prototype stages and will be launched the week after Labor Day giving job-seekers and clients easy mobile and tablet access.
The Berman Larson Kane Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/BermanLarsonKane) has exceeded over 1,000 page likes and over 100,000 views during July. Thank you everyone for your support; we trust you are enjoying our motivational postings.