Tips on Asking for a Raise

Asking for a raise can be a tough conversation to have for both the employee as well as their employer.  In today’s blog post, we discuss some of the best ways to help your argument for a raise.  The most effective arguments include enhancing your professional or the company’s value, bringing new ideas or processes to help the company run more efficiently, and promoting yourself through top performance or unique specialization.  Some arguments employers don’t like to hear are I don’t like my position, I have been underpaid for years, or I have another year of experience. Examples of each effective argument are broken down in the following paragraphs.

At IEP Therapy, we love to hear how you have helped our company in some way.  For example, you could say, “This year, I referred a therapist to the company that works at xyz district”.   Referrals are a great and easy way therapists can help their company grow.  Finding great SLPs, OTs, and PTs can be hard and require substantial costs and valuable time.  Referring excellent therapists to IEP Therapy is an easy way to support your company while enhancing your value within it.  

Helping a company grow its mission is not easy.  Anytime a therapist can help the company grow, they have enhanced both their company’s value as well as their own.  So, when it’s time to discuss salary, you could say “Remember when I discussed how great IEP Therapy is at providing quality therapists to the schools with Samantha at abc district, which prompted her to call you for services this school year? “  

Another great point to discuss is your overall performance.  A contractor could say something like, “Last school year I built solid relationships within my district and was recognized for my excellent performance, which led to the school wanting to retain my contract.”  Retaining a contract for a company like IEP Therapy helps reduce costs and builds value with the customer.

A final point of discussion might be how have you helped others around you.  As a Speech Language Pathologist, maybe you mentored a new Clinical Fellow through their CF year or designed an innovative therapy material/idea.  In general, maybe you were able to identify ways the company can do things differently that help cut costs or improve efficiencies.  Highlighting the many ways you have contributed to a company overall can improve your chances of receiving the raise you desire.

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