Asking for a pay rise can be a daunting task, but if you are equipped with the right knowledge and a gracious approach, you increase the chance of success significantly.

Tips to tackling this challenging, but important conversation with your manager:

• State your case: when determining how to ask for a pay rise, you will need to present why you believe it is deserving. Consider and write down responses to the below questions to start creating a compelling case.
• Where am I today compared to 12 months ago? To answer this question, use data, notes, reports, appraisals and feedback provided to you throughout the year. If you note marked growth, consider this a great first sign.
• Have my duties changed? Taking on more responsibility, coaching or training others, and performing duties outside your job description are all changes that could warrant a pay rise. Note them down as they occur.
• How have I improved? If you have learned new skills, processes or programs, if you are excelling at those you already have and are participating more closely in the strategic development or projects, that is another tick.
• What have I contributed to the company? Have you worked on large scale projects? Is your team’s morale better than ever? Consider how your work and skills have contributed to wider organisational success.

When noting down your responses, give concrete examples, keep your language concise and use graphs or comparative charts where relevant. Did you reduce the time required to audit financial reports by 11%? Perhaps you responded to and satisfied 98% of customer queries? Whatever you achieved, note it down and be specific.