Wages, salary, pay, compensation, earnings, income. These are a few words that are often synonymous with conflict. Ultimately, what you earn should engender positive feelings, but for many, reflecting on the topic can create feelings of discomfort. The two most common ways a worker can jump the wage barrier is by changing jobs or increasing workload and responsibilities. Unfortunately, these solutions are sometimes counterintuitive to the problem, because ultimately, both may eventually produce stress. As such, it’s not terribly surprising that the topic connotes negativity. Make the situation less taxing by positioning yourself for success to maximize your earnings potential:
1. Remember the term self worth. Self worth is a feeling and a reflection of self-esteem. Exuding confidence and being assertive during an interview process can lead to more lucrative job offers. So be bold!
2. Don’t fall into the shortcomings that many candidates do while interviewing. Share what you’ve learned at each position you’ve held and how you’ve impacted the businesses, then explain how it relates to the role you are seeking. Many people get caught up in why they weren’t successful, blame others, mention why they left former jobs, and provide unnecessary information that doesn’t set them up as a leader or a top earner.
3. Remember to highlight the teams you’ve worked with along the way who have contributed to your success. Team-focused managers with humility are often the most liked and the most apt to receive the best salary increases.
4. Keep a list of your successes, and review those with your superior at least twice annually. Make sure your boss is reminded of what you’re doing more than during your annual performance review. Most annual percentages are figured out before meeting with your supervisor for your review and will rarely be changed at that point. Secure your best raise by putting your accomplishments in a note to your supervisor at least semi annually.
5. Ask how you can help the business regularly and make an effort to seek out more responsibility without asking for money. Those who give and succeed are rewarded more often.
Finally if you are in a senior management role, remember it is your responsibility as a leader to create an atmosphere of fairness. Work with your human resources team to assure equality in your work environment for your employees, your company, your community, and, lastly, for yourself.
