I love the above suggestions, but also, try to time your discussion to a month or so before budgeting starts (if you know when that is); that way your boss may be able to insert your raise into the budget.

Open the door with your manager by saying something like, "I've been here for about 2 years and have made significant impact in that period. I'd like to discuss the possibility a raise/promotion with you; would sometime next week work?" This way, both you and your manager can come to that conversation prepared and ready to talk business. When you do go to that meeting, having data is key - show the impact that you've made on the company through your accomplishments. Research your industry to benchmark what you're asking for to ensure it's competitive, fair & realistic. Brainstorm with mentors/friends who are in similar roles or industries. Being as prepared as possible, being clear with your story and what you're asking for will help you feel confident going into and during the conversation. The worst your manager can say is "no." Good luck!

I have a couple of suggestions for you (I have mentioned these before on FGB, so my suggestions will be familiar to some) 1. Pretend to be someone else or Pretend to be your own Manager - when you need to write up your accomplishments for your annual review or write your cover letter or when you need to ask for a raise, pretend that you are "your manager", and write down everything that you are good at and all of your accomplishments as if you were writing the accomplishment and value of one of your direct reports. 2. Keep a Success Journal - Track your own successes. Since you are going into ask for a raise (and if you didn't keep track of your success as you went along), then take a few days to write down everything that you did, were involved in and had success doing. - keep a journal of your good ideas, your successes, your saves, your value. I use a note pad document that I keep on my desktop and every Friday, I jot down the big and little things that I and in my case, my team did. I reach out to other teams to get feedback on those projects and because I'm working on this list throughout the whole year, then it's easier to get feedback from other team because you have the time to ask and follow-up. At the end of each quarter or at least before my annual review, I open up that document, and review it. I am always amazed at the things that we accomplished that I forgot about. 3. Tell your own story After I have the data from the previous quarter or year, then I weave the narrative that I want to tell through the story of my year - Do I want a raise? then I focus on the value I brought. - Do I want to work on different projects or have the company to pay for my training/education? then I focus on the success I had with special projects. - Do I want to move into a people management role? Then I focus on the success I had as a people leader. Having a year-long contemporaneously-generated list of my accomplishments made it easier for me to talk about my value to the company - because all of my value is right there, and because I started writing this document months ago, it starts to read that someone else wrote it. 4. And practice -- find a friend or a loved one who you can tell your story too. If you don't want to lean on a friend or family member, then speak the words out loud to the mirror. Hearing the words spoken out loud will make it easier for you to say those words again during your meeting. Good luck

Hi Natalie - Peg Glover just posted this link on one of my posts - and while it's tailored toward resumes, I believe the "Formula" could also help when justifying a raise. Check it out: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume/ Basically, what you want to do is be able to show: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z] Hope this helps!

My organization purposely avoids reviews and compensation discussions so they don't have to give raises. The only time they will even entertain the conversation is if you can prove you have taken on additional responsibility or tasks or if you are clearly underpaid based on comparable roles. I would suggest putting together a market analysis of what your role is earning in other organizations as well as any increased responsibility you have taken on and present that to your manager. I would also put together talking points around what you plan to take on in the next year or two so they see your not going to stop working hard or trying for more.