Evidence of the value you add to your employer (including receipts, records, emails and any other documents that support your claims)

Information about salaries for positions similar to yours (garnered from advertised positions as well as industry reports)

Knowledge of your employer's financial state (based on official company reports as well as any "insider" knowledge you might have as an employee)

Internet access (optional)

Access to your public library

Patience (so you can wait for the right time to ask)

Tact (so that you'll ask firmly but respectfully)

A few days:

Two to three hours to research salaries

Two to three hours to document your accomplishments

One to two hours to draft any written correspondence, practice in front of a mirror, etc.

Plenty of time to decide exactly how much to ask for and when to do it

2torial #0488: Learn2 Negotiate a Raise When a slap on the back just isn't enough If you think you've been going above and beyond at work--and think your salary should do the same--it may be time to let your boss know how you feel. Easier said than done, of course. Knowing how and when to broach the subject of compensation is something of an art. Some people would rather walk across white-hot coals than make demands on their employer. Others relish conflict, and must be restrained from proclaiming their vast self-worth and threatening to quit if their demands are not met. Neither extreme is likely to result in better pay. Whether you're a shrinking violet or the cheeky type, the following steps will help you steer a middle course and construct a winning strategy. Warning! The following concepts may be totally unrelated: What you're paid What you deserve What you think you deserve What your boss thinks you deserve What your boss is able to pay A wide variety of forces are in play whenever you ask for a raise, and there's no clear-cut formula you can use to calculate the exact salary you should receive. You must ask yourself many questions: Is business booming or busting? Is your boss aware of any extra projects you've been taking on? How easy would it be to replace you? In many cases, managers aren't aware that an employee is unhappy with his or her salary. Say you've been mulling over your salary in private for quite a while. When you finally summon the courage to ask for a raise, you expect it all to go through immediately. Your manager may also need some time to consider your request. Even if he or she is receptive to the idea, it may take some time for your raise request to make it through the rest of your company's management structure. Because there's so much to consider, don't rush the process. Take plenty of time to decide how much to ask for, and how and when to ask for it. And be sure you take a good, honest look at both your performance and the financial health of your employer. Step 1