Published: September 06, 2008 12:39 am      

Getting a pay raise takes communication, planning

EDMOND — Shontesa Jones is a University of Central Oklahoma student working her way through college.

Jones said she works on average 30 hours a week as a film carrier, and her paychecks go toward her student-related expenses, to pay for her son’s private school tuition and for rent and utilities.

Jones, a junior, said she is anxious to graduate and find a full-time job in the oil and gas industry. Until then, she manages with what she has and ponders what it would be like to have more income.

“I think about it every day,” she said

For some employees, asking their boss for a raise is an intimidating prospect. Like many other aspects of life, getting a raise involves a process. A successful outcome is not as far fetched as it might seem.

Clint McKnight is a career counselor with UCO Career Services, which offers a variety of employment help to both students and non-students. Services offered include career counseling, résumé writing, interview training and coaching for things like getting a raise.

The service is free for UCO students, and it is available to non-students for a fee, McKnight said.

Regarding pay raises, McKnight said one of the biggest reasons people come in is they get high marks on a performance review from their employer, but then nothing happens.

“They come in and want to know what to do next,” McKnight said.

When they come in, McKnight said he needs some information for starters. He needs to know what happened in their situation in order to know what advice to give them.

McKnight said the most important step in the process is research. That includes researching current information about wages by area and occupation. Reliable sources include Yahoo! HotJobs and O*NET OnLine, a full access online version of the occupational network database.

Another source is the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), a site with wages by area and occupation information. It offers information at the national level, regional level, state level and metropolitan area level.

McKnight said it’s also important that an employee prove to their employer how they have benefited the company. That involves saving past evaluations and documenting things like special training and special projects they have done.

Also, knowing their boss is vital, McKnight said. Along those lines, employees should be courteous and responsible workers.

Before walking into your boss’ office and asking for a raise, practice the request speech with an objective, trusted individual, McKnight said. This part of the process requires delicacy, he said.

McKnight said the requester needs to be truthful about their accomplishments, in other words, do not embellish, just give facts. Other tips include dressing well for the request, treating it like an interview. It also is a good idea to take the boss to lunch to talk about it on a more neutral playing field, McKnight said.

Before enrolling at UCO, Jones was a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration. She said she had arrived at a point in her life where she needed a pay raise. Her boss was open and friendly and had a laid back attitude, Jones said.

“They were more than happy to give me a raise based on my performance and length of employment,” Jones said. “It was more than what I asked for.”

Jones said it is important to tell your boss why you need a raise and to keep records of your reviews and copies of any awards received.

McKnight said individuals who follow his advice come away with a raise or something else.

“Usually everyone gets something,” McKnight said.

In some cases, requests net non-salary things like more time off or a better schedule, he said.

Communication is the most important part of the process because if someone does not let their feelings be known, their boss has no way of knowing what those feelings are, McKnight said.

NEXT WEEK: How to ace an interview.