In order to discuss a raise with your employer, the best thing to do is request a private appointment. You don’t want to ask for a raise in front of your co-workers, you would be setting yourself up for defeat. Upon requesting a private appointment with your employer, you needn’t explain the reason behind the appointment. If you are asked for the reason behind the private appointment, just say that is for business matters.

At the meeting, be sure to have an outline behind the request for a raise. For example, if you have been assigned more work since you were hired, be prepared to explain the rationale behind your request. If you were hired to handle one department and you now handle two departments, your workload has increased. If you were hired to handle only one job responsibility and you have been assigned additional responsibilities, your workload has increased. If you have saved the company any money, that would also be a factor. Remain open, calm and peaceful. Don’t demand or attack your employer or manager. That would defeat the purpose and possibly alienate your self from your employer or manager.

Explain the reason you are requesting a raise. Have a rationale behind your request. Tell them that you really enjoy your job and have a more ideas on how you can save the company even more money.

If your request cannot be fulfilled by your manager and must be sent to Human Resources for review, ask them when you can receive an answer regarding your request. If after all this you still don’t receive a raise, you can either except the fact that a raise is not on the horizon and live with that decision or possibly look for employment elsewhere.

If you do receive a raise, always verbally thank them or send them a thank you note. I find a thank you note a more effective and personal way of thanking them.